By Ernie Smothers
smothers@mckenziebanner.com |
MCKENZIE- In order to lead effectively, one must possess
persistence, passion, dedication, relentless intensity,
attention to details large and small and unshakeable
commitment to the task. In addition, a leader must be able
to assess areas of weakness and work determinedly to
strengthen them.
Armed with all these essentials, McKenzie YMCA Director
Hunter Jones is prepared to add another intangible to the
list: education.
Sitting in his office in the rear of the YMCA building
located at 103 Main Street, Jones takes a sip of coffee,
leans forward in his seat and began, “The thing I am most
passionate about right now is helping to educate people in
McKenzie and the surrounding region about what the YMCA
truly stands for. A lot of folks have in mind that this
organization’s main emphasis is weight-lifting and fitness.
That’s not it. In reality, only 20 percent of our
organizational energy is based around fitness and health. It
isn’t our main priority or sole means for our existence. It
goes a lot deeper than that.”
He continued, “The truth is, our organizational mission is
to be a witness for God in all the programs we provide
within the community and region. Since the very beginning of
the YMCA, it has always been that way. The “C” in YMCA
stands for Christian, and we are not the least bit shy or
hesitant to state that our reason for existence is to serve
God.”
Meet Hunter
In his second year as director of the McKenzie YMCA, Jones
is no stranger to the organization. Having previously worked
for the YMCA in his hometown of Jackson for seven years, he
along with wife Wendy, who teaches third grade at Hollow
Rock-Bruceton Central Elementary School, relocated to
Huntingdon after his accepting the McKenzie directorship.
Motivated, passionate, and prepared for the task at hand,
Jones said, “I often work late during the week and work on
Saturdays, too. I am committed to do whatever it takes to
continually build up strong relationships with business
organizations, schools, churches and individuals within our
community and surrounding region,” he said.
Transformer
Jones stated that he was excited about the relationship the
YMCA had cultivated with the students, parents and
administrators at McKenzie Elementary and Middle School.
He said, “Principals Davey and Frye at McKenzie elementary
and middle school have been very receptive to us and have
allowed us to begin instituting programs for the young
people there. I want to put together some neat after-school
and Saturday programs like tumbling classes, push-up clubs
for middle school boys, girl’s night out parties for
youngsters, and art clubs and Bible study meetings. We want
to take an active part in promoting the spiritual and
physical well-being of young people in McKenzie. We are
having a girl’s night out for grades kindergarten through
fifth grade at McKenzie Elementary School on February 23. I
thank God for all the wonderful avenues He is opening for
the Y.”
An unprecedented crowd of 130 Central Elementary students
gathered in the middle school gymnasium to enjoy McKenzie
YMCAs movie presentation “How to eat Worms”.
Something for the Grownups
He said, “Here at the Y, we also want to focus on putting
together programs for adults like five kilometer runs, flag
football, adult basketball and Bible study classes.” He
added, “Ty Butler, director of Sportsworks Inc. located at
the McKenzie Hospital, has been like a brother to us and has
gone out of his way to help us. I appreciate his enthusiasm
regarding our efforts.”
Jones enthused, “We are currently working in conjunction
with Sportsworks to provide the community with a weight loss
program patterned after the popular television show “Biggest
Loser”. The program will consist of competing participants
vying to lose the most weight in order to win health-related
prizes. We are planning to kick the program off in March and
hope the public will participate. It will be a fun contest
that will also provide participants with an opportunity to
improve their health and well-being.”
Road Show
Jones noted that although his primary mission as Y director
is to provide programs of interest to youth and adults in
McKenzie, he is also interested in extending the
organizations reach to other communities in Carroll County.
Smiling, Jones said, “It is my intention to literally take
the YMCA show on the road. For example, we planned a movie
night for the young people at Central Elementary School (CES)
a few weeks ago. CES principal Jennie Nunamaker, who has
been so good to us, told us that she was uncertain regarding
the turnout we would have. She estimated that perhaps only
forty young people would attend. When the final attendance
count was taken that night, there were at least 130 young
people present in the middle school gym to watch the movie
“How to cook worms”. It just couldn’t have gone any better,
and turned out to be one of the best events the center has
done in quite a while. I was deeply touched by the response
of the young people and parents at CES and plan to continue
to reach out to them as well as other schools located in
Huntingdon and Trezevant in the future. In addition to
showing movies, we want to include sleepovers and all kinds
of fun and interesting games and activities to the mix for
the young people. We are excited about branching out into
the surrounding area.”
 |
Central Elementary School teacher Wendy Jones
enjoys the festivities at CES with husband and
YMCA Director Hunter Jones.
|
Works Both Ways
Jones noted that although he is committed to expanding the
role of the McKenzie YMCA, much will depend on the
receptivity of the community.
He said, “It could be a beautiful thing if people in
McKenzie and the surrounding area are made aware of what we
as an organization are about and are informed of our sincere
desire to help the community.”
Earnestly, he continued, “The People of McKenzie are my
boss. If a parent walks into this facility and tells me that
their child is interested in a sport or activity that we
don’t currently provide, I will strive to make that happen.”
He continued, “But what people need to know is that it works
both ways. I need people to express themselves and give me
ideas. I need people to connect themselves to our program.”
He added, “No matter how diligently I work to promote the Y,
it is the input and participation of the community that will
ultimately provide for the success of our organization. The
bottom line to me is that the existence of the YMCA is good
for our community and area.”
Jones stated that he was thankful for the assistance and
support of Bethel College, McKenzie elementary and middle
schools, numerous surrounding churches and the McKenzie
Banner in focusing a positive light on the YMCA.
“Public awareness is crucial to our organization’s being
able to maintain and expand our presence in McKenzie and
throughout the region.”
McKenzie YMCA Board of Directors
Jones stated that the McKenzie YMCA is built on a solid
foundation provided by the organization’s Board of
Directors.
He said, “Fred Morris serves as the McKenzie YMCA chairman.
Board members are Jill Holland, Tracy Webb, Pamela Castleman,
Billy Hollowell, Rusty Newman and Brent Bradberry. They do a
fantastic job.”
He also noted that the existence of the YMCA in McKenzie
would have never occurred without the persistent diligence
of many unidentified townspeople.
“A lot of people stepped up in this community years ago and
worked hard to bring the Y here. I don’t know all of these
people personally, but I want to thank them and express my
appreciation for their contributions to bring the Y here.”
He said, “Our YMCA board works hard to provide funding, and
we are very appreciative for all monetary donations provided
to us by individuals and businesses in our community.”
Jones stated that it was imperative that the not-for-profit
organization continue to acquire additional means of
financial donation in order to provide perpetual
continuation of services.
He said, “It is crucial that we receive financial
contributions in order to keep the ball rolling. We charge a
fee of $29 a month for membership, and need to receive the
full amount to pay for our operational costs. There are
times, however, when a person will approach me who
interested in joining the Y but just can’t afford to pay the
total monthly fee. I will talk to them and together we will
work to make our program available to them at a cost they
can afford. I am committed to doing whatever it takes to
make it possible for that person to benefit from
participating in the YMCA.”
Concluding the interview, Jones smiled as he stated, “The
role of the McKenzie YMCA is really simple: We are here to
serve God and help our fellow man. I am thankful for the
blessings God is providing us daily, and encourage everyone
to come by and check out the McKenzie YMCA.”
Did You Know?
The YMCA was founded by London garment draper George
Williams (1821-1905) on June 6, 1844. It was his intent to
provide fellow traveling workers infiltrating the big city
during the Industrial Revolution (1750-1850) an opportunity
to substitute Bible study for unhealthy social conditions
found on the street.
Arriving in North America in 1851, the YMCA was first
established that year in Montreal on November 25 and Boston
on December 29.
In 1853, the first YMCA for African Americans was founded in
Washington, D.C., by Anthony Bowen, a freed slave.
By 1854, there were 397 separate Y’s in seven nations with
total membership of 30,369.
Inspired by the YMCA’s success in crossing the rigid lines
that separated churches and social classes in England to
eventually include men, women and children, regardless of
race, Queen Victoria knighted Williams in 1894. In an honor
reserved exclusively for the nations’ heroes and statesmen,
Williams was buried in 1905 under the floor of St. Paul’s
Cathedral. A large stained glass window in Westminster
Abbey, complete with a red triangle, is dedicated to Sir
George and his organization’s efforts during World War I.
A Partial listing of YMCA Firsts
1881-Boston YMCA’s Robert J. Roberts coins the term
“bodybuilding”.
1885-Sumner Dudley founds the nation’s oldest continually
operating YMCA camp.
1885-The world’s first indoor swimming pool is built at the
Brooklyn, New York Central YMCA.
1891-James Naismith invents the game of basketball at
Springfield, Massachusetts’s YMCA Training School.
1895-William G. Morgan of Holyoke, Massachusetts YMCA
invents volleyball.
1895-Professional football began at the YMCA in Latrobe,
Pennsylvania as John Brailer was paid $10 plus expenses by
the local Y to replace the injured quarterback of their
team. The NFL, however, decided to go along with Pudge
Heffelfinger’s claim that he was paid to play for the
Allegheny Athletic Association in 1892.
1906-George Corson of Toronto, hired by the Detroit YMCA,
revolutionizes water safety and teaching with mass swimming
lessons.
1950-Joe Sobek creates the game of racquetball at the
Greenwich, Connecticut YMCA.
1970-Jackie Sorenson creates the dance exercise “Jazzercise”
at the Towson, Maryland YMCA, setting off an “aerobic
dancing” craze in the United States.
1971-YMCA’s Way to Physical Fitness program establishes
national fitness testing standard.
1976-YMCA launches nationwide cardiovascular health program.
1986-YMCA of the USA introduces “YMCA Fitness Leaders,” a
program that became the standard for training and certifying
fitness instructors.
1992-YMCAs conduct first national Healthy Kids Day to
encourage healthy development of youth. The event is now
celebrated annually.
2004-2004 YMCA of the USA, with the aid of senators Arlen
Spector (Republican-Pennsylvania and Tom Harkin
(Democrat-Iowa), unveils YMCA “Activate America” initiative,
a multi-year plan for leading community-based solutions to
combat the nation’s declining health and rise in obesity and
chronic diseases.
