By Sue Loughlin
TERRE HAUTE — The Terre Haute Family Y is working through tough financial times and it is in the process of hiring a new executive director.
“We’re like everyone else now. We’re struggling,” said Tom Jones, board president.
The Y needs about $800,000 in annual revenues to operate, he said. This year, he anticipates revenues will only be about $650,000 to $700,000.
“We’re going through a whole process of evaluation of all programs and what we are doing,” Jones said.
Because of the economy, some people have stopped attending the Y and paying membership fees because they may not have the disposable income, he said.
The Terre Haute Family Y is not closing, he said.
In fact, it’s in the process of hiring a new executive director to replace Don Morris, who left “on good terms” in October, Jones said.
Morris, who was employed at the Y for about four months, approached the Y board and told them the budget and incoming revenues didn’t support the salary that he was making, Jones said.
Morris said his leaving was by mutual agreement. “They couldn’t afford me,” he said.
When he started there, the books were in “total disarray,” Morris said. “In defense of the board, they didn’t know how bad it was. I got the books straightened out, but they couldn’t support what I was making.” Morris believes the agency’s doors will remain open. “With a little restructuring and a little board involvement, which I think has been sparked by my leaving, they’ll be in good shape,” he said.
Jones said the Y board is optimistic about the agency’s future. Otherwise, it would not have gone through a search process to hire a new director.
The Y hopes to announce a new director in the next week or two and have the person on board sometime between Dec. 15 and the end of the year.
“The person we’re bringing in will be a recognized face,” Jones said. “I think it will be a great hire for the Y.”
Because of the budget difficulties, the salary “will be significantly less than what we had been paying,” Jones said.
The salary will be incentive-based, and as the Y’s budget situation improves, the director’s salary also will improve, he said. “We must live within our means,” he said.
The board is looking at its fee structure and also how it can maximize use of the facility to bring people back or attract new members.
The board is looking at potentially decreasing or even increasing fees. Reducing fees somewhat might help bring people back.
“There will be a rate change by Jan. 1,” Jones said. The decision will be based “on what’s best for the community. It may go up or down a little.”
Currently, an adult membership for one month is $44, although there is a discount for paying three months in advance. A discount also is available to those who pay through automatic bank draft.
Jones said the Y has to “rethink what we’re doing.” Board members have met weekly to evaluate current programming and to ensure the operation is as lean as it needs to be.
There are new fitness centers in the community that may have taken away some of the Y’s members. But the Y needs to be viewed as more than a fitness center, Jones said. “We need to make sure we position the Y as a place for the entire family,” he said. “Hopefully we’re taking the right steps to get things leveled off” so that the agency can address its budget shortfall and have a surplus next year, he said.
The interim agency director is Brandy Pierce, who also serves as financial coordinator.
