ALLIANCE UPDATE: 
NOVEMBER 2017
In this edition:

• Year Round Advocacy - Local Advocacy Day
• Membership Qualifications 
• 2018 National YMCA Special Events Calendar
• Funding Opportunities

BUILDING COMMUNITIES 
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE -
LOCAL ADVOCACY DAYS & ENGAGEMENT

Many of our Ys will be hosting community events over the next few months, we encourage you to invite & engage local elected officials at these events. These events are a great way to build relationships with State and Local officials in times that they are home in their district. 

As a reminder, State officials will be in Tallahassee during the following Committee Weeks: 

• Monday, Nov. 6 - Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017
• Monday, Nov. 13 - Friday, Nov. 17, 2017
• Monday, Dec. 4 - Friday, Dec. 8, 2017

PRO-TIP: Sending an invite to their office can still start to build relationships, even if you know they can't attend!

STRONGER TOGETHER
Y-USA MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS CHANGES

ASSOCIATIONS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE NEW QUALIFICATION

YMCA member associations voted overwhelmingly to approve the proposed child protection and aquatics safety membership qualification.

More than 92 percent of associations participated in the vote (773 of 836 total associations). Collectively, they cast 97 percent of eligible votes, and 97 percent of those votes were in favorof the proposed qualification. For the qualification to be approved, 60 percent of eligible votes needed to be cast, and 60 percent of those votes had to be in favor. The voting results were audited by Crowe Horwath, LLP.  

The new qualification will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. Every association will need to submit to YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) an approved board resolution affirming compliance with the child abuse prevention and aquatics safety practices specified by the National Board, in 2019 as part of the Annual Reporting process. So, member associations have the remainder of 2017 and all of 2018, if necessary, to come into compliance. Y-USA will stay in communication with associations throughout.

To find out more about these qualification changes around child safety & aquatic safety, visit the Membership Qualifications page on exchange. 

NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
2018 NATIONAL YMCA SPECIAL EVENTS CALENDAR RELEASED

​The 2018 National YMCA Special Events Calendar is posted and ready for use! Take a look at the calendar and see what special events fit into your Y’s 2018 planning. Or use the calendar for ideas to insert your Y into local conversation about a national topic.

See a preview of the 2018 National YMCA Special Events Calendar and consider how they can help you reach your YMCAs Marketing & Media goals next year.

TRANSFORM YOUR GAME 
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Big Read for Community Reading Programs
The Big Read, a program of the National Endowment for the Arts, aims to restore reading to the center of American culture. Managed by Arts Midwest, the program provides organizations with grants and comprehensive resources that support efforts to inspire their community to read and discuss a single book or the work of a poet.  Find more information here
 

KidsGardening Invites Applications for 2018 Garden Packages
Since 1982, KidsGardening has awarded Youth Garden Grants to schools, nonprofits, and youth programs across the United States, contributing more than $2.9 million in support of youth gardening initiatives. As in the past, the 2017 Youth Garden Grant program aims to support school and youth educational garden projects that enhance the quality of life for students and their communities.  
More information here.
 

Financial Managers Conference
November 13-15, 2017
Minneapolis, MN

Build Your Board Capacity Workshop for CEOs & CVOs
November 16, 2017
Lake Buena Vista, FL

Florida YIG: Fall Delegation Convention
November 17-18, 2017 
Lake Buena Vista, FL

CEO Meeting
November 30, 2017 
Orlando, FL

Small & Midsize YMCAs Conference
January 31- February 2, 2018
Clearwater Beach, FL

Program & Membership EXPO 
February 27 - March 2, 2018
Denver, CO



Tampa Fall Regional Training Event
October 1 - December 31, 2017
Event Information



Contact Rhonda McVey, Regional Training Director, YUSA Training Partner YMCA, for more information.

• Central Florida Metro YMCA  
• Florida's First Coast YMCA
• Highlands County Family YMCA  
• Lake Wales Family YMCA
• Manatee County Family YMCA
• Greater Marco Family YMCA
• Greater Naples YMCA
• North Central Florida YMCA
• YMCA of Northwest Florida
• Palm Beaches Metropolitan YMCA
• YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg
• Sarasota Family YMCA
• The SKY Family YMCA
• YMCA of South Florida
• YMCA of South Palm Beach County
• YMCA of the Suncoast
• Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA
• YMCA of the Treasure Coast
• Volusia/Flagler Family YMCA
• YMCA of West Central Florida