09 May 2012

NEWS UPDATE: South Bend Tribune reports that Jim Milliken earned five gold medals competing in the first Buckeye Wheelchair Games on April 27-29, 2012, at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio.

To read more about Jim's story: here's a blog post from last September.

08 May 2012

“Answer me one question,” implores Scrooge, in the Charles Dickens’ classic story, A Christmas Carol. “Are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be, only?”

In the news today, a Duke University health economist forecasts that by 2030, 152.7 million Americans (42% or more than 2 in 5!) will be obese, bloating related health care costs to $550 billion. That's billions, with a B.

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01 May 2012

Starting May 1st when you join the Y you could save big! How? Depending on the day of the month you sign up for a Y membership determines the cost of your joining fee. Say you decide to join us May 1st. Your joining fee would only be $1!!! What about May 19th? $19! So the sooner you join the Y the more you save. But hurry, this offer only last through the month of May.

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17 April 2012

The Y is a cause for strengthening community. Several students involved with a unique YMCA afterschool program are taking an active role in bringing about meaningful, enduring change, right in their own neighborhood. And we believe this will help them to stay in school.

“Strong communities don’t just happen; they’re the result of steady leadership and stewardship of strong values. And that’s the Y,” says Antonius Northern, director of the YMCA Innovation Delta in South Bend. “We make a difference by focusing on three key areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. By investing in our kids, our health and our neighbors, we are ensuring that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to thrive.”

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16 April 2012

Introduce your preschoolers to a sport appropriate for their age and interests, suggests Mike Pott, Director of Youth Sports for the Michiana Family YMCA.

“The interests of the child, the attitude of family members, and the demands of the sport all interact to affect the child’s experience,” says Pott.  “When grownups establish realistic goals for a child, we know kids work harder because success feels possible.”

Above all, according to Potts, emphasizing that sports are fun to play will help your child stay active and benefit from all that playing sports can offer. It appears at least two local physicians agree, according to Sunday's South Bend Tribune.

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04 April 2012

Kaiser Health News staff writer Julie Appleby, working in collaboration with USA Today, reports: "Gone are the days of just signing up for health insurance and hoping you don’t have to use it.”

In a story published Monday, April 2, Appleby writes that more and more employers are using the carrot and stick approach to cutting health care costs. Blood tests and exercise areas are becoming more and more common. The results of the tests become the basis for the employee’s health insurance premium.

The trend is expected to continue, as the incentives and penalties allowed by law are scheduled to increase in 2014, from 20% to 30% of the cost of the insurance plan.

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27 March 2012

Load up the kids and head over to the Y for a Spring Break Staycation! We've got a great line up of activities April 2-6. Developing new physical skills encourages kids’ self-awareness and self-confidence. Our Lessons also boost learning and enhance strength and endurance; in turn improving wellness and helping your children build social skills. Oh, and they'll have fun too. Choose from our SPLASH, FLIP, KICKS and Spring Adventure Day Camp and don't forget about our Friday Family Fun Day in the pool!

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22 March 2012

Conventional wisdom is that we should work on improving our weaknesses.

But then conventional is not necessarily the path taken by innovators. Famous innovators and entrepreneurs found success another way: they played to their strengths.

At the Y, we are strengthening the foundations of our community with innovative programs that help kids stay in school, get excited about math, science and technology while building the leadership skills necessary for a secure future.

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16 March 2012

To say that we're proud of our Stingrays would be an understatement.

We are amazed every day by the dedication the kids show in everything they do. The Stingrays work hard to be great in the water, in the classroom, and at home. We feel lucky to work with them.

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29 February 2012

"She who succeeds in gaining the mastery of the bicycle will gain the mastery of life." - Frances E. Willard

Ms. Willard wrote a book called How I Learned to Ride The Bicycle, published in 1895. She said that riding a bicycle requires the same skills that made her successful in life: strong spirit, patience, persistence and willingness to fail before she mastered it.

And she was not the only person to see the metaphor.

Albert Einstein once wrote that “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” Ernest Hemingway noted that riding a bike allows you to know the countryside in a much more intimate way than by motorized vehicle. In an article entitled “Taming the Bicycle,” Mark Twain urged, “Get a bicycle. You will not regret it, if you live.”

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