As the person who is fortunate enough to be head of the Y of Central Maryland, I spend a lot of time talking to people about the impact we have on communities across this great region. On the one hand, it’s an easy task, because the scope, scale and impact of what we do are so extraordinary. However, on the other hand, it’s that very scope, scale and impact that makes the telling of the story so challenging. Many wonderful organizations do one thing, and they do it to great effect, and in many ways that makes it easier to convey their story to others. At the Y, we have so many stories to tell.

So, what’s my favorite Y story to tell? Well, depending on the person I’m talking to, it might be a story about how our afterschool programs enrich kids’ minds and allow parents to know that their children are safe after the school day is over! Or, it could be about helping to keep seniors healthy and active in their retirement! Or, it could be about using chess to teach at-risk kids to use their minds and problem-solving skills to make a better life! Or, I could tell you a story about hardworking parents who rely on us to provide programs and facilities that allow them to build bonds with their children that last a lifetime! Or, the story could be about helping three year old kids get ready to be successful in school!...or, or, or…well, you get the picture.

It’s those stories that drive me to continuously expand our reach and to grow our footprint. Wherever I go, I see communities that need what we do; I see families that need more positive community assets (rather than shopping centers and video games) in their kids’ lives. I see pre-schoolers who need quality early childhood development opportunities to ensure that they are ready to learn when they get into kindergarten. I see the frightening and growing public health crisis of obesity and inactivity that is shortening lives, increasing the strain on our health care system, and lowering the quality of people’s lives. I know that the Y can do a great job in meeting these needs, and I know that being everywhere in Central Maryland all at once isn’t possible. But, that doesn’t make me feel better. In fact, it makes me even more restless.

Over the past four years, we’ve increased our capacity to serve families, youth and seniors by over 50%, whether you measure that by the number of memberships, the number of people we serve, or by any number of other measures. We’re working feverishly on both building new programs and on improving current programs, because there is no time to waste. That’s why we open new sites like our Parkville Family Center Y while we also keep pushing hard on all the complexities of redeveloping our existing Catonsville and Towson Family Center Ys.

People ask me all the time how we can juggle everything we’re doing, and I tell them it’s because he have to; because we are compelled to. That’s the special obligation the Y has in a community. We cannot be a “niche” organization. We need to make big and systemic impact at multiple levels - in individuals’ lives; in families’ lives; in the quality of life in neighborhoods. We work in the critical areas of fostering youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. That’s not a narrow mandate, but we aren’t a narrow organization. We have broad shoulders and we plan on continuing to grow for a very simple reason – because you need us to. And, we cannot do it without the community walking along side us all the way.

On this Thanksgiving holiday, I am thankful for my family, my health, the Y’s wonderful volunteers and staff, and for having the opportunity to serve this community through an organization as important as the Y.

Yours in Community,
John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Running Shoes 101

By now most of you know I am a competitive triathlete, therefore I run, slower than I would like right now, but nonetheless I run. This past weekend I realized I had reached the mileage limit for my current shoes and needed to replace them. You can probably get away with holding onto dress shoes a while, but clinging to an old pair of athletic shoes too long can cost you plenty.

I’d like to share with you an article I read by Jeff Waddle, a freelance writer, “Running Shoes 101.” I couldn’t have said it better myself!

Running Shoes 101
Jeff Waddle, March 25, 2010

The American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine reports that if runners don’t replace their shoes every 350-500 miles, they face a potential litany of injuries including stress fractures, plantar fasciitis, shin splints and heel spurs. Exactly how long shoes will continue to provide the needed level of protection depends on individual size and weight. I replace mine about 3 times a year. Average runners pound their shoes on the ground around 700 times per mile so it doesn’t require an active imagination to see how shoes lose their shock absorption rather quickly. And, once that occurs, it can change your stride and alignment, meaning pain and possible injury are just down the road. So, whether you’re a marathon-worthy runner or you just like to take a spirited walk or light jog around the neighborhood, here’s what to keep in mind when you shop for new shoes.

Anatomy of a Running Shoe

In a recent article I read by Jeff Waddle he points out the heart of running shoes is EVA, a polyurethane material that makes up the mid-sole, The part of the shoe between the hard outer sole and the insole, the mid-sole delivers the protective spring and cushioning that keeps you running smoothly. It’s also the first part of the shoe to wear out as its ability to rebound diminishes with miles logged. The article explains that it’s the technical mid-sole or EVA upgrades to shoes that separate a manufacturer’s introductory model found at many big box chain stores and the higher-end shoes sold by running specialty stores. Each brand has its specific technology and strategic placement of cushioning (like heel and forefoot gel pads), adding that plusher insoles with additional cushioning are a distinguishing characteristic of upper echelon running shoes as well.

Securing the Fit

To find the right shoe for you, most retailers urge runners to take their old shoes with them to the store. Specialty retailers with knowledgeable sales associates will want to analyze your old shoes for clues to how you run. There is an ideal wear pattern they like to see that’s central as possible part in the shoe’s forefront with wear on the outside of the heel which is part of natural outward/inward roll as you run, certain wear patterns that aren’t ideal, they can suggest a specific type of shoe to help correct it. One common condition seen is excessive rolling or over pronation, a potentially serious problem which frequently plagues runners (or walkers even) with flat feet. Pronation is the natural inward rolling of the foot as it strikes the ground and when it’s too pronounced, it can lead to painful plantar fasciitis or long-term joint issues in knees or ankles. For over pronation patterns, one might suggest a shoe that adds stability and more rigid materials to the medial or inside to help control the motion.

When they measure feet for length and width, they look at arches because that also can dictate style and fit. Some brands and models offer more arch support than others, on may consider an after-market insert that provide additional support. Thickness of sports socks also can affect fit, so bring the socks you normally run in with you shopping. Synthetic fibers that wick moisture are recommended to avoid blisters.

Once you find a shoe you like, the AAPSM suggests spending at least 10 minutes in them, walking about the store and even running a block or two outside—most good stores don’t mind. And, once you make your purchase, resist the temptation to run a marathon in them to avoid blisters and other race-day disasters. Break them in with a few short runs first to make sure they’re going to work for you.

Price Can Matter

Generally, specialty running shoe stores stock shoes in the $80-150 range, and a pair that will work well for most runners can be found somewhere in the middle. Price levels generally are a good indicator of quality in running shoes, and most runners should be able to get a good shoe at the $100 level.

Posted by Troy Weaver, Senior Vice President, Y Family Centers and Member Experience, Y of Central Maryland.

What Makes Life Worthwhile?

Shortly before his untimely death in 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy discussed the way we measure quality of life in this Country:

“We seem to have surrendered community excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things. Our gross domestic product…if we should judge America by that—counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances to clear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of our redwoods and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl. It counts napalm and the cost of a nuclear warhead, and armored cars for police who fight riots in our streets. It counts Whitman’s rifle and Speck’s knife, and the television programs which glorify violence in order to sell toys to our children. Yet the gross domestic product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages; the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither wit nor courage; neither our wisdom nor our learning; neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country; it measures everything, in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”

While Kennedy’s perspective is more than 4 decades old, some would argue that as a Country we are still challenged by the issues for which he called attention.

What makes life worthwhile for you? If your answer includes things like family, friends, good health, connection to your community, values and education, consider your time at the Y of Central Maryland to be an investment in not only your quality of life—but the quality of life of your community as well!


Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland.

Starting Off the New (School) Year!

Even though January marks the beginning of the calendar year, September marks the beginning of the real New Year for many of us. Whether it’s our first time sending a child off to school or twentieth time, there is a sensation of excitement with each beginning. A new lunch bag or backpack is a wonderful symbol of the season; fresh and ready to be filled up. This is a time ripe with hope and promise, and let’s be honest… anxiety and stress.

We want so much for our children to be successful that we may inadvertently be creating a stressful situation for ourselves and our children. Consider a few simple yet promised de-stressors as we launch the new year:

Set Routines

• Set the alarm clock early enough to avoid a dramatic start to the day i.e. yelling, threatening and rushing. Get yourself up first so that you can transition into the day before calling into action the rest of your household.


• Set boundaries and expectations for homework, TV and tech time. Monitor and establish positive and negative consequences.


• Check your child’s backpack daily; you might be surprised what you find.


• Establish and maintain one place in your home where the backpack is stored. Same for shoes, coats, pencils, paper, etc. Knowing where to find something is in itself a victory!


• Before going to bed, be fully ready for the morning departure. Have everything in one, consistent location – including both shoes. If your child takes medication in the morning, put it out at night; right next to their breakfast dish.


• Create departure rituals – blowing kisses, high fives or positive messages. Your child will remember this long after you do.

Set an Example

• Turn off the T.V. during homework time. Model the joy of reading a good book or the daily newspaper.


• Have dinner together. Talk about the successes and challenges of the day; yours and theirs. This not only grounds children, it creates memorable experiences and family closeness.


• Check your child’s homework and help them plan for long term assignments. Help them develop a plan and work that plan.

Set High and Achievable Expectations

• This is a brand new year. It’s going to be a good year! Communicate your hopes for the school year. Establish high expectations and provide the support necessary to achieve these expectations. Your child will work harder in a difficult class if you are cheering them on and providing the support that they need to master either a subject or a challenging relationship.


• Demonstrate resilience when disappointments or set-backs occur. Celebrate earned accomplishments.


• Communicate with your child’s teacher to share your expectations and your commitment to helping your child be successful. Remember that you are partners; nurture the relationship.

Set yourself up to enjoy the journey! Happy New Year!

Posted by Chris Ader-Soto, Senior Vice President, Family and Youth Asset Development, Y of Central Maryland

Remembering our Heritage as Americans

This past weekend we collectively marked the ninth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist strikes. That day inevitably stirs a wide range of emotions, fears and anguish in any thinking, feeling human being who was over a certain age that day. I was here in Baltimore, returning from a breakfast meeting with a colleague of mine at Sylvan (where I was working at the time). We were walking back to the office, and I remember remarking that it was such a beautiful, clear day; the kind of day that gives you an added bounce in your step and makes you feel more alive. Then, everything changed.

When I walked into my office, another colleague of mine told me to turn on the TV that I had in my office to CNN, saying that he had read on the internet that a “small plane had hit the World Trade Center.” About two minutes after turning it on, the two of us stood there and watched in horror as a second plane barreled into the other tower. We looked at each other, in an unspoken but instant realization that our world had changed forever. I was born in NYC, and had lived and worked in Manhattan earlier in my career. I had been in the World Trade Center many times. I could not believe my eyes and couldn’t control my anguish. Who could?

As a country, we mark the anniversary of that horrific day with the now traditional memorial services in lower Manhattan, the Pentagon and Shanksville (always dignified, stirring and irretrievably sad). Yet, this year we are also marking the ninth anniversary of the largest terrorist strike on American soil with an angry debate about a planned Muslim community center near Ground Zero, along with an unbelievable side-show of a so-called Christian minister threatening to burn the Koran. The contrast between the dignity of the memorial services and the angry shouting couldn’t be more obvious and disheartening.

I respect the feelings of people who are genuinely upset at the idea of a Muslim community center so close to a site that will always be associated with the vile hatred of a group of people who used the most extreme interpretation imaginable of the Islamic faith as a predicate for a barbaric, indeed, faithless act. Many feelings remain raw and have only been aggravated by the nine years since that time; years that have been dominated by two intractable wars in Islamic countries, resulting in thousands of deaths of brave Americans and countless acts of barbarism.

However, we are a nation founded on the principles of religious freedom and pluralism, the rights of private property owners, and the separation of church and state. We are a country of immigrants, and New York City, the place where the worst of the 9-11 terrorist acts took place, is our country’s most symbolic home to immigrants – with the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island welcoming “your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free.” It’s my impression that those words do not discriminate based on religion or place of origin. New York is also the most diverse city in the U.S., where people from every country in the world have settled to make it both rich in culture and joyously chaotic in its unique manner. Somehow, it all actually works pretty well. Radical terrorists hijacked not only planes that day, but also a sense of who we are. They hated the freedom found in the Western world; in fact, they hated the whole concept of modernity, and tried to draw us into a way of thinking about the world that is the very antithesis of our constitution and cultural tradition. Those protesting the right of law-abiding Muslims to peaceably practice their faith in lower Manhattan are, in my view, essentially giving in to the will of those who committed the heinous act in the first place. What makes us great as a nation, and as a people, is our tolerance of those unlike us. I applaud people across the political spectrum, like NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch and President Obama, all of whom have spoken out passionately and forcefully in favor of tolerance.

So what does all of this have to do with the Y? Well, quite a bit. The Y is an institution that strives for inclusion and that asks a community to overcome its differences to become part of something larger. Intolerance has no place in the Y. Founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association, the Y has reinvented itself on a continual basis to meet the needs of a changing and increasingly diverse society. The largest Y association in North America is in Toronto (another place I’m proud to have lived in). Earlier this year, long-time YMCA professional Medhat Mahdy was named its President and CEO. Medhat is a very smart, capable and funny guy. He’s a universally respected leader. He’s also a Muslim. Another of the largest Y associations is in Los Angeles. Its President and CEO is retiring this year after 40 years of incredible service. He’s an astute, acerbic, big-hearted guy who has become a legend in the Y. Larry Rosen, a Jewish American, leaves an incredible legacy of accomplishment.

The YMCA started over 160 years ago in London as a place where young Christian men gathered to learn, grow and gain support from each other in troubled times. Then, as now, the focus was on building community. The community at that time and in that place was relatively homogenous. Today, our world is anything but homogenous, but the Y is still here building community in an exceedingly complex and diverse society. We will never turn anyone away based on their religion, gender, income, politics, sexual orientation, race, country of origin or any other trait.

We welcome everyone at the Y because exclusion leads to a lack of understanding, which leads to fear and a weaker country and community. As a people, we are better than that.

Yours in Community,

John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Why is Breakfast Important?

A healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes your blood sugar (glucose) giving you the energy necessary to start a new day. In addition, a growing body of evidence indicates that breakfast is good for both your physical and mental health. Studies show that people who eat breakfast, especially a healthy breakfast, are more likely to:

• Have better concentration and be more productive throughout the morning


• Control their weight


• Have more strength and endurance


• Have lower cholesterol, which reduces the risk of heart disease


• Consume more vitamins and minerals and less fat and cholesterol during the day

While eating breakfast is important for all ages, it is especially important for children and adolescents. According the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast are more likely to have: better concentration, problem solving skills, and hand/eye coordination. They are more alert, more creative, and less likely to miss school.

A healthy breakfast should consist of a variety of food. To make a healthy breakfast each day, choose one item from at least three of the following food groups:

• Fruits & Vegetable


• Grains


• Dairy


• Protein

So start the day right with a good health breakfast!

Posted by Troy Weaver, Senior Vice President, Y Family Centers & Member Experience

The Y’s New Horizons II Summer Camp – A Lifeline

As a parent, it is built into my DNA that protecting, encouraging and nurturing my children is one of my primary responsibilities on this earth. Ensuring that my three kids are safe, happy and hopeful is deeply imbedded in my psychological make-up. If you’re a parent reading this, I suspect you feel exactly the same way.

Now, imagine that you are homeless and that you and your 15 year old daughter have to leave your shelter by 8 a.m. on a hot, Baltimore summer day, with nowhere to go until the evening, when the shelter reopens.

A terrifying thought, for sure. Where is your teenager going to go, and what dangers face her while you are struggling just to find a way to get through another day and get yourself back on your feet?

The Y’s New Horizons II summer camp at the Druid Hill Family Center Y serves those middle and high school kids who meet the state’s legal definition of homeless. This year, 65 young women and men come to the Y every weekday for a morning of academic support, artistic enrichment, physical activity, financial literacy and other skill and character-building programs delivered by caring and wonderful Y volunteers and staff.

In the afternoon, all of the kids hop on public transportation and head to a worksite where they learn professional skills, the importance of being on time and following directions, and the self-respect of earning a paycheck. Yes, all of the young people are paid a work stipend every week as part of the program.

Jonathan Brice, Executive Director of Student Support and Safety for Baltimore City Schools (and a new Y board member) and I had the opportunity to spend some time with these special young people last week. As always, I was struck by their resilience and determination in the face of odds most of us cannot really understand. When we asked how many of them were going to college, they all put up their hands. Will that end up being the reality? Perhaps not. Yet, to aspire to college is to aspire to a better life, and that’s the key. Their determination to get off the streets, to go to college (almost all of them wanted to get out of Baltimore, away from the influences and environment that hinder their success), and to make a better life for themselves is palpable.

To the New Horizons II kids, the Y is a lifeline. It is the place where they can go to be challenged in a positive way, to grow, to be engaged, and to be loved. It is the very definition of a “Third Place;” except in their case, it’s really their “First Place.” We run 20 summer camps around Central Maryland, and we serve kids who come from every part of the socio-economic spectrum. What’s inspiring to me is that, at their core, all of those kids, including the homeless New Horizons II kids, are the same down deep. They all need to have fun, and they also all deserve our respect, our assistance, and our love. They all need the developmental assets that are critical to becoming successful adults in our community.

When you support the work of the Y, you support the young women and men of New Horizons II. You also support kids all over Central Maryland whose families need just a little help to have those kinds of experiences that most of us take for granted. When you support the work of the Y, you support your community in the most tangible and real way imaginable.

Yours in Community,
John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

10 Reasons Why It’s Important To Warm Up Prior To Exercise

We’ve all been guilty of skipping our warm up before a workout session, especially when we’re crunched for time. Well, according to ACSM’s James Peterson, Ph.D., there are some very important reasons why we need to slow it down and take the time to warm it up.

1. Warming up helps break down the chemical complex of oxygen. So what? Well, this enables it to separate from the blood and increases oxygen delivery to the muscle, crucial during a workout.

2. Warming up reduces the potential for muscle and connective injuries and increases body temperature.

3. It increases blood flow to exercising muscles and guess what? The more blood that reaches the muscles, the easier the delivery of nutrients required for energy production.

4. It increases blood flow to the heart. This one is key since more blood to the heart means a reduced risk for exercise-induced cardiac problems.

5. It decreases muscle viscosity (aka resistance). Warming up makes muscles suppler.

6. It helps promote sweating and sweating is great! It reduces the amount of heat stored in the body, something your body spends a lot of energy doing.

7. It enhances the speed of transmission of nerve impulses. What? Makes your motor skills better! You know how your body feels really slow in the morning when you’ve just gotten out of bed? You’re not warmed up.

8. Helps more blood reach muscles and connective tissue. The more blood reaching the muscles, tendons and ligaments, the more elastic the tissues. This means better performance and a reduced chance of injuries.

9. Lets the cardiovascular system know what’s coming. When you work out, you demand more blood and oxygen. Warming up helps the heart and blood vessels adjust to this idea.

10. Lets muscles know what’s coming. Warming up may actually make you less sore the next day.

So don’t skip that warm up and jump right in – the warm up is important!!!!

Posted by Troy Weaver, Senior Vice President, Y Family Centers and Member Experience, Y of Central Maryland

An Easy Pill to Swallow!

Imagine a pill that could make you look better, feel better and have more energy! This medication could decrease your chances of heart disease, certain types of cancer and could slow and possibly reverse the aging process. This “drug” might even help you handle stress better, think more clearly and improve performance in all aspects of your life.

Believe it or not, this “wonder pill” actually exists, but not in the traditional capsule or tablet form. This “drug” is a health and wellness oriented lifestyle. Covert Bailey, author of Fit or Fat, writes, “If the benefits of exercise could be packaged in a little pill, it would be the most heavily prescribed medicine in the history of man.”

It is this belief in the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle that motivates the staff at the Y of Central Maryland. We believe we offer one of the most valuable services available today. The fact that we can help to influence the health and overall well-being of so many people is incredibly energizing. We understand that in order for you to realize these benefits, we must work in partnership.

Your role in this venture requires that you invest time and energy by coming to the Y on a regular basis and that you follow the advice of our trained staff. Additionally, we depend on you to tell us how we can assist you and how we can improve (share your thoughts with our staff, fill-out the satisfaction surveys, talk to us on Facebook). Our role is to appropriately respond to your suggestions, to ensure that our facilities are clean, safe and equipment is well-maintained, that our staff are properly trained and engaged in helping you accomplish your goals.

Finally, research from institutions such as Harvard and the National Institutes of Health is clear that the happiest, and subsequently some of the healthiest people are those who reach out and help others. Consider donating to our Annual Campaign and/or volunteering at the Y…If we work together, you can realize the benefits of this “wonder pill” while helping others to reap the same benefits!

Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland

Camp Season at the Y!

As you may have noticed, I’ve taken a little time away from my blog, but I’m back. Like many of you, I took a vacation with my family recently. Since I’m not one of those people who can use the word “summer” as a verb, I am now back at work and full of excitement about all of the great things happening here at the Y of Central Maryland.

Of course, at the Y, summer means that camp season is here and going strong! We have kids experiencing the joys of Y camp at 24 different locations around Central Maryland. By the end of the summer, we will have engaged over 3,500 kids in a summer of learning, meeting new friends, getting bone tired, exhibiting the Y’s core values and having good old fashioned fun. I try to get around to every one of our 24 camps during the course of the summer, and I always come away energized by the kids, our great staff, and the importance of what happens at the Y every summer.

The Y became involved in camping in 1867 and, over the years, as more Ys believed the camping experience nurtured young people’s values and leadership skills, camps would expand and change to serve males and females of many ages, abilities and incomes. Today, more than 1,600 Y day camps serve more than 500,000 children across the U.S. every summer.

From the 50th Anniversary issue of Sports Illustrated, November 10, 2003, the president of Sports Illustrated, Bruce Hallet, writes about the impact of Y camp experience in “I AM A Y KID…”

“…But on this last night of camp, Tom (camp counselor) was not laughing. Instead, in the blackness of the cabin, Tom took up a place on a trunk in the middle of the room and began to tour through the summer and recall highlights of our adventures. We listened as if it were the best ghost story of all time. Then he did something else. He addressed each of us individually. He told each one of us what he liked best about us and what he expected from us. Although I don’t remember what he told anyone else, he said to me that I would be an ‘All-American.’

‘I don’t know what sport it will be in,’ he said, ‘but you will be. You’re an athlete, you work hard and you really, really hate to lose.’

He was wrong, of course. I would never be anything close to an All-American. But he was right to know that the words he said to me that night could and would inspire me from that day to this. It was a gift I had not expected, but which I continue to treasure. I am sure I didn’t say it then. So let me say it now. Thank you, Tom. Thank you, Y.”

Over 1 in 4 kids in our camps are there because of the scholarship dollars you help us raise. We still have kids on waiting lists in almost every community. Please help us share the joys of Y camp to more kids.

Y camps are a perfect representation of the “Third Place” that I have been talking about. In this case, we are the summer place where over 3,500 kids can feel safe, have fun, build relationships, try new things, act silly and grow within a community of kids and adults who care about them.

Yours in Community,

John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Sun and Water Safety

Summer is here and with it comes pool parties, barbeques, trips to the beach, gardening and other outdoor activities. I just returned from a week of swimming, biking and running in beautiful Lake Placid NY. I finished my week with an 8 hour drive back to Maryland to race on Assateague Island. Now, I drove the entire way from NY to MD with the top off my Jeep. Fun right? Well, had I not remembered my face stick with SPF 35, it could have made for a miserable evening. To unwind from the drive, I decided to take a little R&R next to the hotel pool. As I sat at the unguarded hotel pool, I was a nervous wreck (once a Guard always a Guard). While the sun and water feel wonderful after cold winter weather, I want to remind you to be safe. Here are some tips that can help you and your family be safe in the sun and water.

Did you know...

• Exposure to the sun during childhood and adolescence plays a role in developing skin cancer in the future.


• Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among children ages 1-9.
  

Save Your Skin

1. Minimize sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the sun's rays are the strongest.


2. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Apply 15-30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply after swimming or every two hours.


3. Wear protective, tightly woven clothing, a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses.


4. Seek shade when outdoors.


5. Make sure children six months and older are protected with sunscreen, hats and protective clothing. Infants should stay in the shade.


6. Check your skin regularly for signs of skin cancer, including changes in size, shape, color or feel of birthmarks, moles and spots. If you see changes, consult your doctor.

Water Safety

In and Around Pools:

1. Empty and turn over wading pools immediately after use.


2. Enclose your pool or spa with fencing at least five feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates.


3. Learn CPR and keep rescue equipment, a telephone and emergency numbers beside your pool.


4. Teach your children to swim, but never rely solely on swimming lessons to protect them from drowning.


5. Teach your children never to run, push or jump on others around water.

In Open Water:

1. Never allow young children to swim alone. Make sure older children always swim with a buddy or adult.


2. Be sure your child wears a life jacket when on a boat or near water and that it fits correctly.


3. Make sure children swim in designated areas in open water. Look for clear water with little or no current and check the depth of the water before swimming.


4. Alcohol use while around the pool or open water impairs your judgment and may slow your reaction time, creating a safety hazard for you and your family.

Rock On!!!

T

Posted by Troy Weaver, Senior Vice President, Y Family Centers and Member Experience, Y of Central Maryland

A Present of Time – For Father’s Day and Everyday

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”
--Elizabeth Stone

What an incredible journey it is to be a father! My wife and I are fortunate to have two beautiful daughters who have provided so many blessings in our life.

The best advice I received upon the birth of Lynn (our first daughter) was to enjoy every moment, because children grow up so quickly. It’s amazing to think that they’re now 23 and 20 years of age. Time certainly has flown.

Of course the joy and excitement of having a child is tempered with the realities of raising and financially supporting that child. One of the fallacies of being a father is the belief that giving our children “quality time” can make up for not being an integral part their life. With children, there is no such thing as quality time—they just want our time. They want us to be present with them. Present at their school events, sporting events—present when they’re discussing the events of their day.

Blaine Lee, in the book The Power Principle, may have summarized it best, “Some believe that there is nothing which can compensate for failure at home. If that is true, then perhaps the greatest, most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home.”

Father’s Day is not just a single day, it is an opportunity every day for the rest of this year to consider giving yourself and your children a gift—the gift of time together. Bring them to the Y and workout together, play basketball, splash in the pool, race up the climbing wall…give them the present of your time. They’ll be glad you did—and so will you!

Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland

Train Hard, Train Safe

For years I have been asked one question more than any other regarding cardio exercise which is: What the best cardio exercise for maximum results?

My answer is the same every time, simply put, it’s the exercise you will do day in and day out consistently. Choose one which you enjoy doing and don't be afraid to mix the exercises up. Interval cardio work consists of moving from one exercise to another in set time intervals. For example, you could do the ARC trainer for 15 minutes, then switch to the stationary bike for another 15 minutes and finish off on the treadmill for the last 15 minutes. Interval training is a great way to keep everything fresh!

There are two schools of thought when it comes to cardio training. The "slow & steady" group and the "high intensity" group. These two groups breakdown like this:

Slow & Steady Cardio
· Long duration (45min - 1 hour)
· Low intensity
· Burn fat and not carbs
· Preserve joints

High Intensity Cardio
· Short duration (20min - 30min)
· High intensity (interval training)
· Burn tons of calories & rev up your metabolism throughout the day
· Treat cardio like weights - explosive movements (sprinting, etc)

Which Cardio Exercise Burns the Most Calories?Below are some examples of cardio exercises which burn the most calories in 30 minutes.

Step Aerobics - Step Aerobics mainly target your legs, hips and gluteus, and can burn approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.

Cycling - stationary or outdoors is a great cardio exercises, depending on resistance and speed can but 250 to 500 calories in 30 minutes.

Swimming - Swimming is a great cross-training for other cardio activities. Doing the breast stroke can burn approx. 400 calories in 30 minutes.

Rock Climbing - is not only a cardio exercises, but also uses arm and leg strength and power. Rock Climbing can burn up to 380 calories in 30 minutes.

Cross-Country Skiing - whether on a machine or outdoors on snow, is an incredible cardio exercises as it involves both upper and lower body. A 145 lb person can burn approx 330 calories in 30 minutes.

Running - Running is an excellent cardio exercises because all you need is a pair of quality running shoes. Running burns serious calories. A 145 LB person can easily burn 300 calories in 30 minutes.

Elliptical Trainer - is an excellent cardio exercises and a great way to build endurance. A 145 LB person can burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.

Rowing - is both a cardio exercises as well as giving your arms an incredible workout. 145 LB person can burn about 300 calories in 30 minutes.

Walking - Brisk walking is a less strenuous form of cardio exercises. Walking can burn up to 180 calories in 30 minutes. Sprinting, adding hills or an incline can increase amount of calories burned.

For the real high intensity cardio people out there who love the H.I.I.T training (High Intensity Interval Training), below are the top three cardio exercise which will provide amazing results!

Jumping Rope - This is one of the simplest, yet most effective exercises one can do. In just 15 to 20 minutes, jumping rope will give you an unparalleled total body workout. Jumping rope is ideal for cardiovascular endurance and enhances performance in virtually any sport - tennis, basketball, football, skiing, volleyball and more. This simple exercise is also great for eye-hand coordination, lateral movement, foot and hand speed and agility.

Sprinting - Sprinting not only burns HUGE amounts of calories while sprinting, it also keeps your metabolism flying for days after. Sprinting combined with running / jogging can bring amazing results

Indoor Cycling - These high-intensity workouts to music simulate a challenging bike ride, complete with hills, valleys and varying speeds, all dictated by the group instructor.

Train Hard, Train Safe

Posted by Troy Weaver, Senior Vice President, Y Family Centers and Member Experience, Y of Central Maryland

Growing Good Kids at the Y

We know from experience that programs designed to support the development of the whole child (body, mind, and spirit) keep kids engaged. Every day, thousands of Y kids receive academic support and enjoy choosing from a multitude of activities designed to support their development as artists, writers, dancers, chess players, legislators, scientists... contributing and valuable citizens of this amazing world we live in. Young people vote with their feet. If they don't like or value an Out-of-School-Time (OST) program, they won't attend. Even in our most at-risk communities, the Y's programs consistently maintain a 90% attendance rate.

The places, opportunities, and relationships that young people experience in their families, schools, communities, youth programs and religious congregations provide the foundation on which youth develop.

If these settings support and stimulate development, as well as provide appropriate boundaries and limits, children and youth will most likely grow into healthy and productive adults. When youth don't experience positive, supportive relationships, places, and opportunities, the chances increase that they will get involved with unhealthy behaviors such as alcohol and other drug use, school problems, and violence. The Y, in partnership with the Search Institute, believes that purposeful and intentional OST programs build assets in young people.

Traditionally, policy-makers, funders, and program planners have considered the role and impact of youth programs from a problem-focused perspective (ie.delinquency, teen pregnancy, etc.) The asset-building approach is grounded in the literature on "risk and resiliency". The Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development reports that participation in comprehensive youth development programs can lead to reduction in high-risk behaviors and promotion of pro-social behaviors.

The framework of developmental assets is grounded in extensive research on child and adolescent development, resiliency, health promotion, disease prevention and public health. Numerous researchers have found that assets provide strength for children and youth. In addition, through surveys of almost 2 million young people from all types of communities and cultures, Search Institute has found consistently that the more assets young people have the better.

For instance, the more assets young people have, the more likely they will grow up to be caring, competent, responsible adults. The more assets young people have, the better their chances for contributing to society and finding a meaningful purpose in life. On average, young people with more assets:

· Engage in fewer negative, high-risk behaviors, such as using drugs and alcohol or having premarital sex
· Exhibit more positive behaviors, such as succeeding in school, assuming leadership roles and valuing diversity
· Demonstrate resilience in the face of challenges, stresses and difficult situations

The challenge that the Y and communities face is that, according to the most current Search Institute research, the average young person has about 19 of the 40 assets in his or her life. Our job is to continually refine what has been proven to work and continually look for ways to build upon successes to give these young people the support they need.
OST programs are an effective means of delivering this support.

Given our leadership in this effort and clear successes, the Y of Central Maryland is committed to deepening our investment in after school programming. In fact, increased after school programming is a centerpiece of our long term plan.

You too can be an asset builder! Each of us has the opportunity and responsibility to “grow” the next generation. Consider the many ways that you can intentionally reach out to young people. It can be as simple as addressing a young person by their name and engaging in conversation. Or go deeper…and volunteer in the Y’s Building Future’s mentoring program. For more information, call Michelle Cuebas at 410-728-0945.

Posted by Chris Ader-Soto, Senior Vice President of Family and Youth Asset Development, Y of Central Maryland

The Third Place

You may have heard the term “third place” bandied about in this or other Y blogs, and you may be a bit confused or befuddled by it. Allow me to provide some context and an explanation, if I might.

According to this generation’s encyclopedia – Wikipedia – the “third place”…

… is a term used in the concept of community building to refer to social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. In his influential book The Great Good Place, Ray Oldenburg (1989, 1991) argues that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement, and establishing feelings of a sense of place.

Oldenburg calls one's "first place" the home and those that one lives with. The "second place" is the workplace — where people may actually spend most of their time. Third places, then, are "anchors" of community life and facilitate and foster broader, more creative interaction. All societies already have informal meeting places; what is new in modern times is the intentionality of seeking them out as vital to current societal needs. Oldenburg suggests these hallmarks of a true "third place": free or inexpensive; food and drink, while not essential, are important; highly accessible: proximate for many (walking distance); involve regulars – those who habitually congregate there; welcoming and comfortable; both new friends and old should be found there.

Well, that idea of an “anchor of community life” is the very definition of what we work to make your family center Y be. I often tell people that a Y is really a community center providing healthy, active and positive opportunities for all. That’s why we have spent so much time in the past few years rethinking our programming and spaces – and why we’ve made and continue to make significant changes to our design and programs.

Consider this. All of our new and renovated Ys have and will have family rooms. They have teen and senior spaces. They are designed to foster interaction – not the walling off – of people. We want families to be able to come to the Y together and participate in activities together while they’re there. Of course, if they want, we want family members to have the option of choosing different activities based on individual interests and ages, but to be able to do so at the same time. We want people of all shapes, sizes, ages, races, interests, beliefs, orientations, etc. to see the Y as a comfortable, inviting, friendly place where those differences don’t really matter.

On a visceral level, a Y membership is about belonging in a time when people have fewer and fewer places where they feel they truly belong. The feeling of belonging is something that you just feel in your gut. “I fit here. I am welcomed and accepted.” It’s also a fluid and dynamic thing. In the beginning it might be about losing weight or staying in shape. As time goes on, it will hopefully come to mean more:

· connecting with other members and being a more engaged part of your community
· knowing your neighbors
· learning new things and challenging yourself
· reinforcing who you are as a human being
· feeling a part of something bigger and more important than just you
· being rewarded for giving back
· demonstrating your values to your children, friends and neighbors
· improving in spirit, mind and body
· strengthening your family unit
· volunteering and giving back to the community at large

As a result of an on-going, long term commitment to one’s health and well-being (in the broadest sense of that term), an opportunity for on-going relationships (with other Y members, staff and volunteers) occurs. While for most, the initial motive for becoming a member is self-focused; as members’ lives are impacted (in spirit, mind and body), they become far more focused on giving back and investing in their community. Because membership in the Y of Central Maryland is available to all, regardless of age, race, religion, gender, income or any other difference that may divide us, Y membership is a crucial asset that keeps one connected with the larger community.

As such, we are working to move our programming beyond the “body” (what is currently most commonly understood to be part of a Y membership – fitness, aquatics, group exercise, basketball, etc.) to include programming aimed at developing the “mind” (book, chess and travel clubs) and “spirit”(parenting classes, meditation, etc.). It seeks to accomplish all of that within the context of a community-enhancing model – i.e. bringing people together around common interests who may have never known each other if it wasn’t for the Y. In the end, the member’s experience becomes fuller and more meaningful.

Join us.

Yours in Community,
John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Way to Go Michelle!

Upon the release of The Whitehouse Taskforce on Childhood Obesity’s report, First Lady Michelle Obama stated, “For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family and one community at a time.”

Given the fact that over the past quarter century the obesity rate for children has doubled (and tripled for adolescents), it’s critical to treat this issue as the serious epidemic it has become. The long term risks to our youth are significant given that obese young people are more likely than children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer and osteoarthritis. Additionally, obese children are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

So why has youth obesity become a major epidemic? While we can debate the influence of a multitude of contributing factors, we can clearly isolate two key issues:

· Poor Nutritional Choices: This is the “supersize” generation, consuming large portion sizes of high fat, high sugar foods and beverages.

· Limited Physical Activity: Kids today simply aren’t using their bodies like children of previous generations. Video games, technology and general conveniences of modern day life make spontaneous physical activity less likely for our current (and future) generation of youth. In his book, Getting Physical, Art Turock writes, “If when we were born, our bodies came with an owners manual, its basic message would be three words long, and that message would be, ‘use it regularly.’” In other words our bodies are made to be used—the more we use it, the better it functions, the less we use it, the more likely it will malfunction.

To blame our children for these habits would be to side-step our own responsibility. We know that environmental factors are key to the habits (good and bad) that we develop. As a society we’ve essentially said its okay for companies to target kids with their high fat, high sugar products. We’ve created urban environments with little or no green space and sidewalks. We’ve allowed our schools to limit or totally cut physical education while serving high fat foods in the school cafeteria.

In order to right some of these wrongs, the Task Force, under First Lady Obama’s leadership, has made important recommendations that if adopted, will help to reverse this alarming trend. The ultimate goal of the plan is to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity from the current 32 percent to a rate of 5 percent within one generation (for more information, visit letsmove.gov)

The Y of Central Maryland will continue to provide a wide variety of ways to help children and their families enjoy the benefits of a healthy active lifestyle: from parent/child programs to specially designed youth fitness classes; from swim lessons and sports programming to fun, traditional camping activities. Visit our website or ask one of staff for more detail on the dozens of opportunities to help Central Maryland accomplish the First Lady’s goals—Today!

Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland

Enriching Children’s Lives

In today’s blog, I’d like to reflect upon issues impacting children and youth in our community, and what role the Y is playing. As the father of a 14 year old son and twin daughters who are all of nine weeks old, these issues hit home to me – as I’m sure they do for most of you.

Sadly, a significant and growing percentage of Maryland children of working families lack the kind of supervised, active and enriching forms of out of school time (after school and summer) that are critical to supplementing their in-school activities. According to the Afterschool Alliance, of Maryland children of working families:

· More than 25% are unsupervised in the afternoons
· Only 11% are in afterschool programs
· An alarming 28% are “latchkey children” with no adult supervision in the afternoon

Research tells us that children who do not participate in afterschool activities are:

· At greater risk of being victims of crime
· More likely to participate in anti-social behaviors.
· 49 percent more likely to use drugs
· 37 percent more likely to become teen parents than those participating in after-school activities

A recent survey of high school students, for example, revealed that students in after-school programs had greater expectations for the future and were more interested in school than their peers. Juveniles are at the highest risk of being a victim of violence between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. The peak hour for juvenile crime is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the first hour that most students are dismissed from school.

Although Maryland’s public schools are rated #1 in the country, about 27,000 Maryland students in 2007 failed to graduate from high school. The state's overall graduation rate is about 76% percent, but urban graduation rates are well below 50 %. The divide between urban and suburban graduation rates in Maryland is the highest in the nation. In 2007, Baltimore City school's graduation rate was only 35%, compared to 81.5% in Baltimore's suburbs. Among the nation's 100 largest school districts, Baltimore has the 98th lowest graduation rate. Baltimore City School’s relatively new CEO, Dr. Andres Alonso, has done a phenomenal job focusing on student achievement and gives us all hope that these measurements are heading in the right direction. However, there is much work to do and many issues inherent in such data.

The literature tells us that the critical time for youth in forming long-term patterns is during the middle school years, when the behaviors and academic habits are formed that ultimately determine whether one stays in school, gets to high school and eventually graduates.

In a Baltimore Sun article a few years ago, Maryland’s State schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick, stated that "dropping out is a process that does not begin in high school, it begins very early on.” Teachers as early as elementary school could predict that a student will struggle later, she said. "We have a responsibility to intervene early and provide services at the very beginning of a student's academic career." According to the Baltimore Sun, “Grasmick pointed to the primary indicators of problems by the end of sixth grade: poor attendance and behavior, and failing math and English. Students showing those signs have a 10 percent chance of graduating on time and a 20 percent chance of graduating a year later, she said - and those who repeat middle school are 11 times more likely to drop out.”

What you may not know is that the Y is the largest provider of services for children and youth in Maryland, including traditional full and partial day pre-school, Head Start, after-school (largely school-based), summer camp programs, youth sports, Youth in Government and a wide range of other unique programs. We operate in over 80 sites doing this work. Other than the public school systems, no organization in Central Maryland plays such a fundamental role in working with families to prepare children for success in school and life. Over one-third of the approximately 17,000 children and youth we serve are on some form of subsidy.

The Y’s continuum of programming for children and youth seeks to provide the appropriate level of support, encouragement, enrichment, responsibility and developmental assets as children make their journey from early childhood, through their youth and teens and into adulthood. That’s why our Youth Asset Development strategy operates under the sub-brand called Y Journeys for Children and Youth. Our continuum of programming guides children through their individual journeys to achieve a happy, productive and balanced life. We provide the tools and expertise to equip children to successfully manage and enjoy life’s journey throughout every stage of their development.

By providing high quality programming that is built around the Search Institute’s Developmental Assets model, our clear focus along that journey is to intentionally increase and enrich the developmental assets present in children and youth’s lives with strong emphasis on reinforcing the Y’s core values and promoting healthier, more active lifestyles.

In all of our programming, we structure our curriculum and activities around the Search Institute’s model and focus on measureable outcomes to ensure that our strategies are working. Those measurements include:

· Increased school attendance
· Increased school promotion rates
· Increased graduation rates
· Reduced obesity rates
· Reduced teenage pregnancy rates
· Increased number of youth assets (as defined by the Search Institute’s Asset Development model)

It’s our fundamental belief that all children and youth are at-risk if families and the larger community don’t pay attention to providing an asset-rich environment. Please join us as we work to make our community better for all of our children and youth.

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Tis the Season!

Yes, it’s camp season again and we at the Y are going full throttle to get our 20 camp sites ready for our over 3,500 campers and families! As our website totes, summer at the Y means a summer of fun! It's a time for children to grow, make new friends and learn lessons that last a lifetime!

The Y is the leader in summertime fun because we literally invented summer camp! At the Y, children get to bask in the sheer joys that define a child's summer at its best: getting wet, playing hard, being silly, making new friends, tackling new and challenging skills, learning and growing all along the way.

We pride ourselves in making Y camp the summer fun adventure it should be for all our children, but we also take pride in knowing that we are serving an even greater purpose…

Did you know that?

· Research spanning over 100 years shows most children score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than at the end of the school year, according to Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Summer Learning.
· A University of Missouri study shows that the average child loses one month’s worth of instruction in reading and math during summer vacation. Math computation and spelling skills suffer most — at times the equivalent of more than two months of progress — resulting in an estimated four to six weeks of review in the fall, researchers say. This gap is further widened for low income students.
· Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer. Most children – particularly children at risk of obesity - gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school on summer break (von Hippel et al. 2007)
· Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure their children have something productive to do. (Duffet et al. 2004)

Well, how does the Y’s “fun and the sun” camp plan address such chronic issues:

· Our camp curriculum is infused with daily literacy learning opportunities – from reading to journaling - with weekly themes such as “Wacky Science” and “Lights! Camera! Action!” Peg Smith, American Camp Association's chief executive officer, says the solution to summer learning is "not to confine children to classrooms for year-round school," but instead "the answer lies in much more natural, developmental settings that promote experiential learning, improve social skills and physical fitness, teach kids to take calculated risks in a safe environment, and expand the creative mind allowing for the possibility of innovation" (Smith 2009) – which is exactly what Y camp does. Further, Y camp is filled with opportunities to develop essential social skills. Our camp offers the opportunity for children to gain a wide exposure to different people in different walks of life. Our campers come from diverse socio-economic classes, different backgrounds and different family structures. Therefore, children quickly develop compassion and empathy for fellow human beings - and what a wonderful by-product this is.
· To address the physical fitness challenge – well, that’s not only what the Y does, but it is core to who we are. The children literally begin with physical fitness in the morning, have repeated games and “test of endurance” throughout the day, and end with a high-energy physically- charged closing rally. Now, you see why they fall asleep before you make it off the parking lot!
· In terms of the parent’s concern, we pride ourselves in being a safe place for kids. Our camp day runs from 7 AM to 6 PM (including before and after care hours) allowing the working parent to go off to work worry free, knowing their children are not only in a safe place, but are actively engaged in fun-filled activities that support spirit, mind, and body for all.

All this clearly disguised as good ‘ole fashion fun! Who could ask for more?

Well, I guess I can! Join us for camp this year – and if you can – help send other children to camp. Donating is as easy as going to http://www.ymaryland.org/ and clicking on “Donate Now.” Your kids will have a great summer – and we can keep that “learning thing” between us…

Posted by Michelle Becote-Jackson, Senior Vice President, Y Journeys for Children & Youth, Y of Central Maryland

Water or Coke?

I will be the first to admit I like a good, ice cold Coke especially the mini in a glass bottle, but… as you read the information below, you decide…


WATER

#1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (likely applies to half the world population).

#2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger.

#3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%.

#4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.

#5. Lack of water is the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.

#6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.

#7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.

#8. Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79% and bladder cancer by 50%. Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day?

COKE

#1. In many states the highway patrol carries two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.

#2. You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days.

#3. To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.

#4. To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola.

#5. To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.

#6. To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.

#7. To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminum foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.

#8. To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield.

Now, I can only verify numbers 5, 6 and 8 for the Coke – these I have tried. (I will not try # 2 – no way am I wasting a good piece of red meat!)

The next time you have a choice, you make the call!

Interesting. I know, Right?

Posted by Troy Weaver, Vice President of Health & Wellness Operations, Y of Central Maryland

Our "Lifesong"

As those close to me know, despite the fact that I can’t sing, dance or play an instrument, I love music. And while I love “classic rock” from the 70’s (think Queen, Aerosmith, Kiss, Van Halen), I have grown to enjoy and appreciate many types of music. One of my favorite bands today is a contemporary Christian band known as Casting Crowns. Their songs are thought provoking and at the same time encouraging. One of their songs that I have come to appreciate is “LifeSong” which essentially challenges us to think about “the things we say and the things we do” as our own personal song to our creator and to the world.

Our objective at the Y of Central Maryland is to impact people’s lives in a positive way. That impact occurs through programs and services that bring families and communities together, that help people grow and improve in spirit, mind and body. Essentially, we are people (our staff) helping people (our members) improve. I believe one of the key reasons that we are able to have such a significant effect on so many lives is because we have so many staff members who believe that a key purpose in their life, or their “Lifesong,” is to make a difference.

Additionally, health researchers tell us that those who have a sense of purpose in their lives and are focused on helping others and contributing to the greater good typically experience a higher level of health than those who feel lost and disconnected. In other words, good health is achieved through more than regular exercise and good nutrition. What’s your purpose? What’s your “Lifesong”?

Setting aside one’s own theology for a moment, just think of the powerful impact we can have on people, our communities—and subsequently ourselves if we think of our own actions and words on a daily basis as our song to the world.

Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland

The Need for Community Assets

I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility leading the Y during this era in our community. We live in times of both exhilarating opportunity and abundance in the United States and Central Maryland, but these are also times that are fraught with serious dangers to our families and communities. The list of challenges is daunting, among them: the inevitability of globalization, the deterioration of our natural resources, a growing income gap, the continuing segmentation of our society, increasingly unhealthy and inactive behaviors leading to an alarming national public health crisis, academic performance and drop-out rates that threaten our children’s and country’s future, to name just a few. These issues, which are complex and well-documented, underscore the need for much stronger community assets for individuals and families, coupled with personal responsibility, to improve the prospects for a better life and an ability to contribute to a healthier, more enriching and well-rounded community.

As our society and family life have become more and more sedentary, as public and school recreation options continue to decrease, and healthy and nutritious food has become less prevalent in people’s lives (either by choice or by lack of access), obesity and alarming health problems are becoming epidemic. This issue is touching people across the socio-economic spectrum, and Central Maryland is no exception. While approximately 15% of the population remains strongly focused on their health and fitness, the majority of people and families struggle to achieve a healthy lifestyle despite an underlying desire to do something positive about the problem. Those “Health Seekers” are looking for affordable, accessible, welcoming environments and opportunities for them and their families to change the rhythm and reality of their lifestyle.

The statistics are troubling:

· Childhood and adolescent overweight prevalence has more than tripled in the past 4 decades
· Over 27% of children, ages 5–10, have one or more adverse heart disease or diabetes risk factors
· Over 60% of overweight children, ages 5–10, have one or more adverse heart disease or diabetes risk factor
· By age 10, 30–60% of youth will exhibit at least one risk factor for heart disease
· Less than 50% of children ages 5–8 have adequate cardiovascular endurance
· More than 35% of all youth do not participate in vigorous physical activity
· Approximately 29% of public high school students are overweight or at-risk (37% in Baltimore City)
· 28% of children aged 2-4 in Maryland’s WIC program are overweight or at-risk.

According to Jeffrey Kaplan of the CDC, "overweight and physical inactivity account for more than 300,000 premature deaths each year in the U.S., second only to tobacco-related deaths. Obesity is an epidemic and should be taken as seriously as any infectious disease epidemic. Obesity and overweight are linked to the nation's number one killer--heart disease-- as well as diabetes and other chronic conditions."

Today, seniors (defined as those aged 65 and above) comprise 12 percent of the total population. By 2050, the senior population will increase by 147 percent. Keeping seniors active and engaged in their communities is both a health care and social imperative. Shopping malls, casinos and even senior centers do not necessarily have the kind of stimulating and healthy environments that seniors deserve. Seniors need to socialize and stay active to maintain a healthy life. A country that shutters its older citizens off to environments in which they see and interact almost entirely with those their own age is a country that wastes one of its most valuable assets – the wisdom and vitality of its older generations. Keeping generations connected and active is both a moral and social imperative.

Senior citizens living alone should interact often with others if they want to maintain their ability to communicate, a new University of Michigan study showed. Furthermore, the study showed that lifestyle with organized activities seems to provide the best social opportunities for the elderly, according to University of Michigan’s Deborah Keller-Cohen. Approximately 40% of people aged 70 and older report not performing any type of exercise at all. Benefits to exercise are not only limited to improved balance, and therefore the prevention of falls, but also to good cardiovascular health, an improved sense of well-being and control over life's many obstacles.

Overwhelmingly, research and common sense tells us that the presence of strong and loving families is a critical, but fragile factor, in the health of individuals and communities. However, many societal factors contribute to the growing strain on families in Central Maryland, including, but not limited to: the growing prevalence of (and financial necessity for) both parents working, the continuing increase in the divorce rate, the increasingly “over-scheduled” nature of family life, and decreasing amount of time that families spend together in productive, healthy activity.

Over two-thirds (68%) of women cite financial strain as a major threat to the American family, followed by divorce (48 percent), loss of faith/spirituality (47 percent), and the impact of dual wage earner household (28 percent). Six in ten women are concerned about being able to pay their bills each month - especially high among single mothers with children under 18 (80 percent). Most research also indicates that for all families, but especially when both parents work full-time jobs, the need for a work/life balance is essential for an enriching home environment.

In my upcoming blog entries, I will talk about issues impacting children and youth, and what the Y is doing now about all of these challenges, and how we are the “Third Place” for families, youth and people of all ages in our community.

Yours in community,
John

Posted by John K. Hoey, President & CEO, Y of Central Maryland

Y Youth and Government - Developing Leaders

This past Saturday, more than 125 middle and high school youth from across the state spent their day back in the classroom learning not only the democratic process of government, but more importantly finding their voice, articulating their values, and demonstrating their poise and emerging confidence.

Y Youth and Government is a program designed to educate middle and high school students about the principles of democratic government. Started in New York in 1936, the Youth and Government program was the brainchild of Clement "Pete" Duran, the Boys' Work Secretary of the Albany YMCA. Duran felt that America was in need of better educated politicians with real character and integrity. He believed that the way of providing such politicians was to form programs for young people that developed these character traits. His idea of model youth legislatures continues to be the guiding idea in today's Youth and Government programs, and the motto for his program, "Democracy Must Be Learned by Each Generation," is the motto for all Youth and Government programs in the United States.

The Maryland Y Youth & Government program, in operation for more than 60 years, provides a practical experience in civic education and leadership development for more than 150 high school and middle school students. The program focuses on developing skills, such as research, writing, debate and parliamentary procedure. Students from across the state form delegations, delve into the legislative process; debate issues that affect citizens of their state, write bills and campaign among their peers. The culminating event is a three day mock assembly in Annapolis.

As a result of the program, young people learn about the democratic system and are trained in parliamentary procedure, legislative committee process, debate, press relations, and lobbying techniques. Delegates learn by doing and have the opportunity to try their hand at leadership in an open and receptive learning environment

During the 2009 session, 139 students, from 10 delegations, participated in the program.

The task for the delegations on Saturday was two-fold; elect key leadership and rank the 150 + bills that were submitted. I was introduced to the newly elected cabinet and couldn’t help but think that I was looking into our future. The Youth Governor introduced himself first and was followed by the rest of the cabinet. Dress code for the meetings requires suit & tie/business dress. These young people were poised and confident; albeit transitioning as young adults. I then visited classrooms where bills were being ranked in committee. Education was ranking a student bill disallowing dropping out of high school. The writer of the bill was being questioned by a delegate about exceptions to the proposed bill. Public Safety was debating a student bill related to self-defense and appropriate force. Delegate questions to the writer were thought provoking and required young people to really examine their beliefs. On a lighter note, another bill was presented that banned the use of child leashes (harnesses). In each of these committees, parliamentarians were monitoring the exchange for correct protocol.

Y Youth and Government is an asset rich program that supports young people with the experiences and relationships that become building blocks for healthy development. Perhaps the best way to sum up the program and conclude my thoughts is to share the experience of a Youth and Government student:

Y&G played an integral role in my high school years. I could talk for hours about the typical clichés that students walk away from Y&G with. I could tell you that Y&G gave me a chance to really stand up and take hold of my opinions and to formerly debate them with opposing views. I could tell you that Y&G brought me closer than ever to my best friends and to this day, I have remained even closer with them, now 4 years out of the program. I could also tell you that Y&G gave each and every one of us the chance to believe in not only our values and opinions, but each other. But, you can read all of that in a brochure. To me, Y&G was a way of life, a growing up, and a coming-into-my-own. It taught me to open my eyes to each and every aspect of my beliefs as well as my peers’. It gave me a chance to walk into a room and fight with every part of me for what I believed to be right. It humbled me when I did not succeed and encouraged me when I triumphed. I will not speak for everyone but I can, and will, speak for myself when I say that Y&G stands true to the conviction that the youth of this nation is where we place our cards for the future. With this indescribable and invaluable program, there is no finer way to better prepare the next generations for leadership on communal, national, and global levels. - Emily Rich, class of 2005

Posted by Chris Ader-Soto, Vice President of Child and Family Development, Y of Central Maryland

Drinking Water in Winter

“I tend to forget drinking water even when it’s hot, and you expect me to remember to do that when it’s cold?”

Odds are that something similar came across your mind when you read the headline. No wonder – we’re very good at forgetting that we need to drink water. Even if we’re dying of thirst, there’s a good chance we won’t even notice it!

Everyone tells us when it’s hot, we should drink plenty of water. And while they’re right, that same rule applies to the times when it’s cold too. In winter, our water balance is easy to disrupt, if we don’t know what to do.

Our bodies need water for many purposes. Cooling down is only one of them. You need water to remove toxic waste from your body and to transport minerals in and out of the cells… just to name a few. You need to drink water every day no matter if you’re hot or not. Your body will need this water to keep itself running.

What happens if you don’t drink any water? The body takes that as a sign that you are living in an environment where there is little water. So it cuts down on its use. This makes you perform worse than normal, but at least you are alive. If you start drinking plenty of water, you will teach your body that there really is enough for it to keep going. After a few days, you will start getting thirsty more and more often. Your body will be working at full speed. So basically, we get enough water to survive from the food we eat. But if we are to feel energetic and good about ourselves, we need to drink water no matter if it’s summer of winter.

Posted by Troy Weaver, VP of Health & Wellness Operations, Y of Central Maryland

Youth Obesity

One of the most alarming trends in our country is Youth Obesity—a trend that has significant impact beyond just the weight of our community. Research is clear that poor nutrition and physical inactivity has broad reaching consequences. America’s childhood obesity rates have tripled in the last 30 years, exposing 9 million kids to a variety of potential long-term health consequences. Experts are concerned that this will be the first generation of American children who live sicker and die younger than the previous generation.

In every crisis, there are opportunities. At the Y of Central Maryland, we believe the opportunities in this crisis extend well beyond meeting the need for properly planned and implemented weight control programs. Research is clear that those who lead a healthy active lifestyle not only have lower incidence of health related diseases and disorders but are more productive in all aspects of their life. Additionally, healthy, physically active students actually perform better academically. Unfortunately, in an attempt to improve academic test scores, most school districts have dramatically limited physical education opportunities for students. Not only has this had devastating consequences from a health perspective, but from an academic perspective as well. One study done at Virginia Tech showed that cutting gym class and allocating more time to math, science and reading did not improve test scores. Yet research performed by the California Department of Education has consistently shown that students with higher fitness scores also have higher academic test scores.

In order to meet this need within our society, we offer a wide variety of programs for youth—from Youth Cardio and Teen Strength Training programs to Healthy Kids Day, Karate and Cheerleading, our objective is to find ways to help kids (and their families) get excited, and committed to a healthy active lifestyle. One such program which we’ve developed in conjunction with CareFirst and the Healthways Foundation, has shown a 32% weighted average improvement on six measures of fitness for enrolled children. This kind of holistic approach to overall well-being offers a major weapon in the fight against childhood obesity. This epidemic is symptomatic of other challenges we face as a community. Just as the medical community has discovered the benefits of treating the person vs. just the disease, the same logic holds true with the obesity epidemic.

Posted by Bob Brosmer, Chief Operating Officer, Y of Central Maryland