For over 60 years, the YMCA at Glen Cove has enjoyed being a vibrant and necessary member of the Glen Cove and surrounding communities, serving people of all ages. More than 6,000 members currently enjoy YMCA at Glen Cove’s programs, which include child care and pre-school, FREE pre-teen and teen centers, summer day camp, aquatics, fitness, and senior programs.

Many people know that the Glen Cove Neighborhood Association holds our lease, and it’s about to expire at year’s end. Without a renewed lease, the Y cannot move forward with more than $1 million in capital improvements and program enhancements that impact lives every day. Despite the uncertainty of our future, our staff continues to serve its members with passion, dedication, and excellence. Recently, there have been many misrepresentations of the facts regarding the Glen Cove Y and the lease negotiations. By way of this document, the YMCA of Long Island and the YMCA at Glen Cove seek to clarify the facts and set the record straight.

 

The CLAIM:

“Unfortunately, the Advisory Board was recently dismissed by the LI-Y when thirteen of its members signed a letter to the LI-Y detailing a number of problems that were putting the continued operation of the Glen Cove Y at risk.”

The TRUTH:

The Advisory Board’s prime responsibility is to support the YMCA in its mission and existence. Advisory Board members’ responsibilities include: advocating for the Y, promoting its mission and programs and raising money to fund scholarships, programs and facility enhancements. Unfortunately, some Glen Cove Advisory Board members lost sight of that responsibility. They refused to sign a Petition signed by more than 1,000 families to keep the “Y” in Glen Cove. The Advisory Board of the YMCA at Glen Cove was disbanded for the failure and refusal to support the continued existence of the branch, not for writing a letter detailing “problems.”

The YMCA at Glen Cove members deserve an Advisory Board that is committed, and united in working to achieve the best for the YMCA at Glen Cove families. Accordingly, the Advisory Board was disbanded and immediately reconstituted with the six members of the disbanded Board who stood behind the petition to renew the lease and with other community members, all of whom embrace and support the mission and continued existence of the YMCA at Glen Cove.

The CLAIM:

 “The people who are in charge of the Neighborhood Association want the LI-Y to address the issues that were raised by the Advisory Board before it agrees to give the Long Island Y a long term lease.”

The TRUTH:

The LI Y and the YMCA at Glen Cove first reached out to the Neighborhood Association last summer (2014) to negotiate a new lease. Another attempt was made in the fall. Several meetings were ultimately arranged since January of this year with members of the GCNA board and we continue to meet in effort to finalize a lease that is mutually agreeable and will ultimately benefit the members of the facility. The “issues” raised by the now disbanded Advisory Board were not raised thus far (meetings at which the Mayor was not in attendance). The YMCA welcomes the opportunity to discuss any issues the Neighborhood Association may have.

The CLAIM:

 “The Glen Cove Y is a critical part of the group of YMCAs on Long Island because its profitability helps offset losses to other facilities. So, instead of reinvesting all of the profits from our Glen Cove Y in the Glen Cove facility, the LI-Y has decided to use a substantial part of our local money for non-local purposes.”

The TRUTH:

The YMCA at Glen Cove is indeed important to our Association. However, it is also the second smallest on Long Island. Over the last eleven years, the Long Island Y has given/loaned more than two million dollars to the YMCA at Glen Cove. In fact, should the Neighborhood Association provide a long-term lease, the Long Island Y has plans to invest millions more into the facility.

The YMCA is grateful for the support of the Glen Cove Advisory Board over the years. However, despite its efforts, the Glen Cove Advisory Board has never raised enough funds to underwrite the improvements to the facility and programs. The LI Y provided the necessary funds to meet the shortfalls so that we could continue to meet the needs of the community.

The CLAIM:

 “Key local resident employees of the Glen Cove Y have been unceremoniously let go…”

The TRUTH:

 This statement is simply inaccurate. Over the past several years, certain long time employees celebrated their retirements. Another moved out of state. Yet another long-time staff member was promoted to serve at the YMCA’s largest branch in Bay Shore. New members have also joined our staff – helping the YMCA at Glen Cove grow in new areas. The bottom line: The YMCA at Glen Cove values its employees and understands the importance of having a staff that reflects the communities it serves.