Norm Johnson, CEO of YMCA of the Okobojis, spoke to the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary club at their regular noon meeting on Wednesday, June 15. Norm shared some of the history of the YMCA organization, which began in 1851 in Boston, MA. Camp Foster has been in the lakes area for 99 years and the Bedell Family YMCA has been here now for six years. Norm shared the philosophy of the Y – which is much more than a swimming pool or a soccer league. The Y has three main focuses – Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility – all with one goal in mind: to give everyone regardless of age or income the ability to thrive. The Y also promises to strengthen the foundation of the community. Norm then shared some of the upcoming events at the Y this summer:

·         Lavar Woods Football Camp

·         Lakes Regional Healthcare and the Y have formed a corporate partnership to promote corporate wellness

·         The Emmet county Kinship and the YMCA Kinship programs will become one together

·         Camp Foster will gear up to celebrate its 100 year anniversary next year (September 21-23) and will begin a road tour to start looking for alumni from Camp Foster over the years

·         86 young college staff are currently training at Camp Foster (all weeks of camp are filled this summer except two weeks that have a few openings left)

·         Phase II of strategic planning is underway to look at the next phase of the Y in terms of planning and programming for the future