FROM THE Y By Tom Libassi With big plans for the future, the Y continues to uprgrade their programs, from aquatics to Yoga.
The South Brunswick Family YMCA board of directors and staff hopes your new year has started off on the right step.
The past year has been an exciting year for the Y. We have upgraded our programs, added lacrosse including lacrosse teams in a local competitive league for Spring 2005, restructured the aquatics program, added new aquatics programs based on member input, and improved the look and feel of our facility.
The South Brunswick Family YMCA now offers yoga for all ages with the YogaFun program taught by the well-known Jennifer Decker.
Summer camp enrollment exceeded expectations as we upgraded the programs.
Membership has steadily increased as our community has begun to embrace the positive changes.
Our success is directly related to the support we receive from the community including members, residents, township officials (Mayor Frank Gambatese, the council and Township Manager Matt Watkins), Board of Education officials (Superintendent Gary McCartney and staff) and Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Bill Baroni and Senator Peter Inverso. The South Brunswick Family YMCA has also been supported by many local businesses, too numerous to list here.
We are looking forward to 2005 and beyond. A long-range strategic plan for 2005-2008 is currently being reviewed by the staff and the board of directors, which will put us firmly on the path to expansion.
We anticipate finalizing plans to sell 17 acres to the township as open space and using the funds to begin a much needed and anticipated expansion. In 2005, we expect to begin renovations to the remaining 13,000 square feet.
Preliminary plans call for a new fitness center, a wellness program and additional programming space.
We will be contracting with an outside agency to conduct a community assessment to ensure the input of members, local leaders and the residents of South Brunswick, Jamesburg and Monroe.
Currently, we are working with a local architect to determine if the unused space can accommodate a second floor. If possible, the offices would move upstairs, which would provide additional room for programming as well as an expanded Kid’s Korner.
In the near future, we expect to begin a capital campaign to raise the total amount of money required to build a gymnasium and competitive swimming pool.
To meet the needs of local businesses, the Y developed a corporate membership program for the facility and childcare. Over the past two months the Y unveiled the program for all Board of Education employees. We expect to begin offering the program to township employees in the near future.
In addition, we have met with a number of local businesses to assess their needs. As a result of their feedback, we added new aerobic and step classes during lunch hour (a noon and 1 p.m.).
In March, the South Brunswick Family YMCA will be meeting with the Zoning Board of Adjustment to obtain approval for a new entrance sign. The Middlesex County Vo-Tech masonry students indicated their willingness to construct the sign. In addition, a Y member (who wishes to remain anonymous) has offered to cover the cost of materials.
This is a great win-win-win situation as well as another example of the changes taking place at your local Y.
Tom Libassi is executive director of the South Brunswick Family YMCA. He can be reached at (732) 329-1150, ext. 205, or via e-mail at [email protected].

