SIDNEY – On Thursday, March 25, 2021, The Sidney-Shelby County YMCA celebrated its 2020 accomplishments and volunteers at the 53rd annual meeting of the association on Thursday, March 25. The evening was led by outgoing current Board President Rhonda Keister and CEO David O’Leary.
The theme of the evening was “Pulling Together During Difficult Times: Getting through the COVID-19 Pandemic”, which highlighted the many ways that the Y continued to help those in the local community, despite the struggles that the pandemic brought about.
O’Leary highlighted the many great things that happened at the Y in 2020, due to the hard work and commitment of staff and volunteers and the support of the Sidney Shelby County community.
“We opened a Pandemic Child Care Center for first responders and essential employees, filling a critical need and we offered virtual classes and events to keep members and our community engaged during a difficult time,” said O’Leary. “Once we were able to open back up, albeit safely and slowly, we brought back programming and services, and were even able to offer 24-hour access to our members.”
Staff accountant Dawn Herrick spoke for the Y’s Mission Moment about her recently celebrated 25 years of service at the Y and the importance of the Y in her family’s life.
Volunteers of the year were recognized as follows:
• Administration – Craig Albers and Nathan Burns
• Aquatics – Rachel Stir
• Kinetics – Vanessa Fitzgerald
• Youth – Bryson Long
• Child Development Center – Ashley Reithman
• Membership – Rhonda Smith
• Wellness – Becky Michael
Keister thanked Will Balling for his two years of service as Past board president after his tenure as the president of the Y Board and 10 years of service as a volunteer and board member of the Y, and also handed the gavel off to incoming Board President John Grazioso.
“We are so grateful for Rhonda’s many years of service to our Y as a volunteer and board member,” said O’Leary. “She has brought so much experience to a wide variety of areas over many years, and we were incredibly lucky to have her leading our Board Team as we faced the challenges of the pandemic.”
Nominated and confirmed for the next two year term were Grazioso as president, Keister as past president, Nate Burns as secretary, and Craig Albers as treasurer.
Nominated and confirmed as incoming Y board members were Jackie Davis, Mutual Federal, Adam Freytag, Freytag & Associates, Mollie Hansen, Airstream, Jay Westerheide, Westerheide Construction, and Allen York, CBT Company
“This past year was one full of challenges we never could have anticipated,” said David O’Leary, CEO, “We are grateful to the community who helped sustain our organization and mission and looking forward to wonderful things in 2021.”
