March 15, 2020
TO: The YMCA of Central Massachusetts Community
FR: David Connell, President and CEO
RE: IMPORTANT FACILITY UPDATE – Effective March 16, 2020
As we navigate the community health crisis brought on by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, I wanted to keep you informed about the response and actions of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. Our primary goal is to protect the health and well-being of staff, members and program participants to the greatest extent possible, while maintaining a supportive community presence.
The YMCA’s strength as a relationship organization positions us to help in multiple ways. We bring people together – large numbers of them, from all backgrounds and circumstances – and create personal connections. Our proximity to people and communities is an organizational asset.
The coronavirus is a global pandemic and a national emergency, and nobody is certain what the next days or weeks hold. On Saturday, we updated the Y’s social media platforms regarding changes to our programming and within a few hours it was announced that Central Massachusetts had its first confirmed case, necessitating further action.
We recognize that there is no easy solution; please know that we are diligently working to make the best decisions with the information we have available to us for our members, our staff and for our Y. Through multiple leadership discussions, we wrestled between our commitment to individual and community health and our need to do everything possible to “flatten the curve.” We have an organizational responsibility to do everything in our power to prevent the spread of this virus.
We will provide frequent communications to our members and program participants to outline the services of the YMCA and encourage our community to maintain healthy habits. Effective March 16, 2020, all branches of the YMCA of Central Massachusetts will be closed.
I am continuously monitoring the situation, understanding that it is constantly changing and requiring a swift response. We are taking direction and adopting practices from the CDC, locals Boards of Health, State Agencies, such as the MA Department of Early Education and Care, and local and state governments. In addition, we are partnering with the Alliance of MA YMCAs and YUSA for information and best practices sharing. I am conducting regular conference calls with our Executive Leadership Team and branch leadership. Collectively, we have been working to support the efforts of the school systems throughout our service area and will continue to complement their efforts where appropriate (such as adjusting our food initiatives to provide snacks and meals to participants in our child care programs where available). In addition, we’re expediting developing strategies to offer virtual workouts that our members can do from home to promote well-being, physically and mentally, throughout this difficult time. Stay tuned!
In the coming weeks, the Y’s leadership will continue to work with an urgency that the current circumstances demand. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we maneuver through these unprecedented times. Please contact your local branch should you have any questions. Most importantly, take care of yourself and your family, and I look forward to seeing you soon at your YMCA.
Member Update CEO March 15 pdf download
