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A SHORT SAMPLING OF WHAT THE Y OFFERS Child care • Swimming programs • Active older adult programs • Gymnastics • Dance • Yoga • Bible study • Writing classes • Movie making classes • Jedi training (yup) the Y for 35 years, now works with other YMCAs that are going through similar consolidation efforts. "One of the key things I've learned in working with Ys now: The first thing we have to work out is who's going to be the leader, know their position and know their future, nothing is going to happen. If they're indifferent about it, and don't really know where they're going to fall out in this thing, they have a hard time being supportive and being totally committed to the process." "I think it was really rare to have two leaders " Hauser says. "Until both CEOs of an organization come together with that type of commitment, "This merger is a real testament to Bill and Fred," Dieterich says. " going to be a collaboration and there's only going to be one surviving leader, and there was a fear that we might lose either Fred or Bill. " says Pawer. "Usually, you think that there's "The merger is a symbol of what the Fox Cities are about — the chambers (Appleton and Neenah-Menasha) merged first and then the United Ways followed. It took a while to get the two YMCA organizations to merge, and when they did, it I think it just blossomed in terms of utilizing resources efficiently to support the mission." MErgEr/ ConsolidATion rEsulTs Blossomed it has. The year 2002 was big for the Y not only because of the merger but because it saw the opening of the Heart of the Valley YMCA in Kimberly and the Fox West YMCA in Greenville. The organization also added the Apple Creek Y and the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve in 2009. "Had we been separate, we would've never had the financial resources or the community support to open those three facilities," Breider says. Membership has grown from 14,000 members at the original two Ys to 38,000 members at the five branches (another 27,000 non-members participate in programs). Program offerings and enrollments have tripled. Before the merger, the two Ys had 700 employees and now the Y employs 1,770, 87 percent of them part-time, Pawlowski says. The organization also has seen significant cost 30 | INSIGHT • October 2012 savings in operations because it has been able to centralize business offices, combine purchasing and procurement of resources and develop in-house training, Breider says. There were no layoffs aſter the merger, though several postions were restructured, with some employees taking on larger responsibilities. "Most importantly, we've been able to carry our mission forward in a much more united front and tell our story in a much more consistent, compelling fashion," he says. Despite some early concerns, each Y has retained its individuality and has different specialty areas: Appleton has strong child care and swim programs, for example, Neenah-Menasha focuses on arts and humanities programs and Heart of the Valley is known for its gymnastics. community support in the area for the YMCA, Hauser says. The new facilities, additions and expansions all take contributions and volunteers. A strong Y can be used as a part of a company's recruitment campaign just like churches, schools and other youth-serving agencies, he says. And now, the YMCA of the Fox Cities has become a model for other communities that are even Green Bay or Madison, he says. One of the reasons for that is the tremendous considering going through the merger process. "I've always said the Y at times was one of the best kept secrets in the valley," board member Pawer says. "Until you understand the breadth and depth of the programming, and the collaboration and what the YMCA is all about, you don't really have an appreciation for the broader organization." undErsTAnding whAT ThE Y is All AbouT In July 2010, the national YMCA organization Executive team members Joanne Rowicki and Scott Schanhofer. www. insightonbusiness.com as Colorado Springs and Oklahoma City, Hauser says. The Fox Cities Y is substantially larger than noT Your AvErAgE Y It's uncommon for a community of this size to have a Y system of this caliber. The YMCA of the Fox Cities has a $19.3 million operating budget for 2012 – a size comparable to communities such