A Changing Of The Guard At The Mahaska County YMCA
Outgoing Mahaska County YMCA Executive Director Dawn Collins meets with community members Wednesday afternoon at a reception to welcome the new director and thank Collins for her 5 years of service to the Y.
Oskaloosa, Iowa – It was a changing of the guard at the Mahaska County YMCA this past week. Friends, family and community members came out to wish two outgoing YMCA administrators well in their future, and to welcome a fresh face to the community.
After 5 years at the helm of the Y, Executive Director Dawn Collins stepped down from her position. Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Director Ryan Harkema also stepped down to take a position with the City of Ankeny Parks and Recreation Department.
Madonna Bowie, Mahaska County YMCA Board President said of Collins departure, “Dawn has felt like she has done as much as she can do for the Y, and thinks a fresh look at things will help us move forward.”
Bowie helped to introduce the new Interim Executive Director David Phelps. Bowie says Phelps has experience with building new Y’s and growing Y’s and came on the recommendation from the national YMCA organization.
Bowie explained that Phelps is here on a minimum 6 month commitment “to see and help us focus on the next transition of the Y.”
The question on how funding for the Y will go into the future was brought into the public forum during a recent debate on franchise fees, and if the City of Oskaloosa would be able to help back the Y financially. That measure failed, and Bowie says that, currently, the Y has a commitment from MCDG “in helping us through this next transition period.”
David Phelps, Interim Executive Director Mahaska County YMCA says, “My goal here, in the next 7 months, is to help the Y become more sustainable so it can stay in the community and continue to serve the members of our community.”
Phelps landed in Oskaloosa after the National YMCA Resource Director helped introduce Phelps with the Mahaska YMCA Board.
“I’ve been in the Y for 28 years, so I’ve seen a lot of different YMCA environments and I have a good working knowledge of operations. So that’s my expertise I bring,” added Phelps.
“The objective long term is for the Y to survive in Oskaloosa. For it to thrive and become an integrated part of the community, or continue to be an integrated part of the community,” says Phelps.
Phelps first day at the Y locally was on Monday, January 26th. Phelps says that initially they are taking a critical look at operations in an attempt to help streamline the Y, to help make an impact on the financial capabilities of the Y to survive.
When it comes to seeing what sorts of hurdles the Y will have to make, Phelps says “it’s way too early to tell.”
Phelps says that Y members that have concerns or questions are welcome to come to the office “and share with me what their thoughts are in this whole process. I believe with all my heart that this can be done. The Y can sustain long term, you just have to create a different business model that’s going to allow us to remain viable in the community.”
Ryan Harkema remains at the Y until February 8th. He wanted to stay until the final swim meet of the year took place.
Harkema started at the Mahaska County YMCA 4 1/2 years ago, “but I tell people I’ve been here for 35 because I grew up in New Sharon, so I’ve been here my whole life.”
Harkema will take over as an aquatics supervisor for the Ankeny Parks and Recreation Department. His hope is to still be able to help with safety training at Y in Oskaloosa and in Ankeny.
Harkema talked about the difficulty of sustaining a Y in a smaller community. “Why the Y’s so specials is, it’s a sense of community. It’s invaluable for a small town the size of Oskaloosa to really grab a hold of a place like this for the youth development and the healthy living.”
Dawn Collins said the day was filled with “lots of mixed emotions,” and she spoke about her decision to step away from the Y.
“I’m a person that believes that if you recognize your not the right person, or you have reached your limit in terms of effectiveness, then it’s time to step aside and to find somebody else who can do a better job.”
Collins doesn’t have any plans for the future at this time, except for a retreat vacation by herself to recharge her batteries. “So I’m beginning my recovery,” says Collins.
“I’m going to miss the people desperately. I’m going to miss the interactions with people, who I love very much, every single day, whether they are seniors or babies,” added Collins.
