The YMCA for Canada

Wednesday, 10 February, 2010

YMCA CEO Forum - February 2010

YMCA Chief Executive Officers took a bold step in the direction of a shared vision on Monday. We endorsed the case for change which calls on YMCA volunteer and staff leaders to strengthen our federation for greater social impact. We began to discuss implications of the case for how we work within our respective communities. We also started to identify the principles which will guide us in working together differently in the years ahead.

The YMCA CEO Forum closed with agreement on next steps, including:

pulling together briefing tools;
facilitating dialogue on the case at board tables across the country; and,
equipping those who will be attending the Annual General Meeting of the National Council of YMCAs in May to engage in the next stage of these strategic discussions.

As Lon Cullen from Brandon put it, the days of talking about “the YMCA in Canada” are over. We’re becoming “the YMCA for Canada.” Everyone agreed that this forum should be an annual gathering — a tool for continued collaboration.

Looking ahead, we see only green lights on the road to the National Council’s Annual General Meeting. There is much work to do between now and then to make substantive dialogue possible. Stéphane Vaillancourt from Montréal offered the analogy of a letter of intent to describe the forum’s outcome. With our intention clear, we can start asking (and answering) even tougher questions.

In this video, you’ll hear six YMCA Chief Executive Officers share with me what they thought of the event: Steve Butz (Niagara ON), Pat Davis (St. John NB), Randy Klassen (Regina SK), Mary Kloosterman (Kingston ON), Stéphane Vaillancourt (Montréal PQ) and Helene Weir (Calgary AB). I hope you will be able to catch the excitement we feel — as well as the confidence we have in each other.

My next question for you is: what is the difference between the “YMCA in Canada” and the “YMCA for Canada” from your perspective?

Scott

PS: Click here for a slide show from the forum. As for the photo below, the Vancouver YMCA’s Bill Stewart had to leave early to keep a very important date. We wheeled a television into the meeting room to watch his historic run with the Olympic torch.

Bill Stewart and the Olympic Torch Relay

Tags: Brandon, burning imperative, Calgary, CEO Forum, change, Kingston, Montreal, Niagara, Regina, St. John

tom abbott

Hi Scott,
I like the use of the YouTube video. It allows those interested to have a better understanding of the conversation. Personally, I think a more concerted effort and impact of the YMCA in Canada is absolutely the right direction for our time. At the very least, it is a road that needs to be explored, not ignored or feared. I believe there is potential unrealized. Time to unlock it.
http://www.ymca.ca Scott Haldane

Hi Tom,

Thanks for checking the blog and YouTube video out. The good news is that 100% of the CEOs in Canada agree with you on the need to unlock the potential of a strong YMCA federation in Canada…a YMCA for Canada.

All the best,

Scott
http://www.cbymca.com Andre Gallant

YMCA FOR Canada: external focus – impact and outcomes

YMCA IN Canada: internal focus – the federation, governance and relationships

A stronger federation is irrelevant if it doesn’t lead to greater impact.
Susan Waterfield

Scott
Thank you for the update on the CEO Forum. I am so pleased that it went well. I feel very strongly that we do need a YMCA for Canada. This is going to take a commitment from all YMCAs and their volunteers. We look forward to what comes next and the AGM. Personally I am pleased that Tom Coon is going to be the lead with us on the International Strategy. Tom has a great vision and is very committed.
http://www.ymcahbb.ca Bryan Webber

On your question Scott, I think Andre Gallant nailed it.
http://www.ymcawo.ca Shaun Elliott

This is another great step forward in building the YMCA into an organization that focuses on the impact upon the lives of Canadians, that is able to successfully position itself in the minds of Canadians as an impactful charitable organization and further enhances its strong service delivery ability.
http://www.ymca.ca Scott Haldane

Well, it’s been quite a week…de-briefing the CEO Forum and working on the process map that will guide our work over the next two years.

Thanks, Andre, Bryan, Shaun and Susan for your endorsement of the concept of the “YMCA FOR Canada”…we’re certainly seeing the power of being FOR Canada in Vancouver and Whistler these days!

I’m meeting Tom in Simcoe/Muskoka on March 1, Susan. He has some great ideas about how we can be more strategic in our international work and will give great leadership to the implementation of the strategy that you and the World Relationship Committee have developed.

Scott

The YMCA for Canada

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