En route home from the NAYDO conference in North Carolina last weekend, I marked my 100th day at YMCA Canada.  This milestone is only important in so far as it reminds me that it is time to give you a report on the five priorities outlined at the start of the year.
 
We have checked three of the five off the list, including developing a Case for Change, convening a YMCA CEO Forum, and distributing a set of milestones to guide our work over the next year and a half.  The last two – a course correction to the current strategic plan and a process for developing the next one – will be completed by the time we convene the National Council of YMCAs’ Annual General Meeting in May.

Further, a process similar to an Association Review (that we called a ‘capacity check’) was completed by a team of YMCA CEOs and senior staff from a cross-section of Associations in March.  Based on the team’s recommendations and other input, I announced a new management structure.  Within existing resources, the new structure will emphasize three areas of work at YMCA Canada: (1) federation strategy, (2) Association support and development, and (3) shared services.

Laura Palmer Korn

I’m pleased to announce that Laura Palmer Korn has agreed to take on the role of Senior Vice President for Federation Strategy.  Laura has an impressive 30-year record of achievement as a YMCA professional, most recently as Senior Vice President for the National Resource Creation and Capacity Building Initiative.  The two other Senior Vice President positions will be posted in the weeks ahead.

Until these positions have been filled, VP Association Services and Leadership Development Janet Emmett, VP Program Development and Research Ida Thomas, and Chief Financial Officer Hanna Goschy will continue to report to me.  VP International Development and Relations Mary Anne Roche is continuing in her role and as one of my direct reports.  Franca D’Angelo takes on a role with additional responsibility as General Manager of the National Office, which includes acting as Executive Assistant to the senior management team.

In March, we launched an online forum for YMCA board and staff leaders to help them prepare for their board discussions on the Case for Change in April.  Board chairs have begun posting highlights from their discussions in the forum.  These early returns indicate wide support for the conversation itself and reveal a diverse set of perspectives on the key issues that we’ll examine more closely at the AGM.  Between now and then, the YMCA Canada staff and I are focused on –

• finalizing the course correction for the 2007-2011 YMCA Canada strategic plan;
• organizing webinars for delegates to help them prepare for dialogue and decision-making; and,
• producing a new kind of national meeting — one that preserves the best of the past (like a memorable retirement banquet,) provides a new platform for working together to advance the YMCA federation agenda, and includes a few surprises.

I continue to be grateful for all your support and encouragement, and hope that you’ll keep commenting on my blog, sending your feedback via e-mail and staying in touch by telephone.  Wth these first 100 days behind us, I’ll be reporting to you quarterly and using the course correction as my guide until a 2012 – 2015 strategic plan has been approved.
 
I’d like to end on a word of congratulations to Medhat Mahdy who was named the YMCA of Greater Toronto’s new President and Chief Executive Officer just yesterday.  The residents of the Greater Toronto Area and their YMCA are the first and greatest beneficiaries of this decision.  However, the Toronto Board’s decision also strengthens the YMCA federation — and our worldwide YMCA movement — in many ways.  With Medhat at the table, we are wiser, sharper and more able to lead with confidence — individually and collectively.
 
What an exciting time to be involved in the YMCA!
 
Scott
 
PS:  If you attended the NAYDO conference last week, what insight, lesson or idea did you take away to use in your Association?