Illinois Valley YMCA
 News
February 19, 2007

Dear Members,

I hope you enjoy the YMCA e-mail newsletters. The purpose is to update you on the many activities the YMCA offers. It also lets you know that you are a big part of an organization that helps many in your community. We continue to work on making your YMCA experience exceptional! I want to know if we can offer more services, additional classes or help you solve a concern. Please contact me at: d.potthoff@insightbb.com
Many members have given our staff suggestions and solutions to improve the YMCA experience. I welcome all your input.
Sincerely,
David P. Potthoff
Chief Executive Officer

Tell your Friends about YMCA Membership Drive  ends February 28th!

Join now and save $50.00 off joiner fees until February 28th at the Illinois Valley YMCA

Our 2007 Y Care Campaign begins on March 1, 2007

Below is a letter from our Illinois Valley YMCA Board of Director's President, Kevin Hextell, and the Board of Director's "Y" Care Committee members, Mike Schmidt, Greg Vaccaro, and Herb Klein.

Dear Friend of the YMCA,

In the calendar year 2006, the Illinois Valley YMCA offered scholarships to children, adults and families who could not afford to use the services of our YMCA. The total scholarships of the last few years amounts to over 300 yearly with an annual benefit exceeding $74,000 a year. The dollars put towards this effort do not come from membership and program fees, but directly out of our operating budget.

As a charitable non-profit here in the Illinois Valley, the YMCA is dedicated to being available to all of our children and their families. It has been the policy of the Illinois Valley YMCA Board of Directors to provide this scholarship benefit so that no child, adult or family would be turned away because of the inability to pay. And it's why we're asking for your support and involvement to assure its success.

Only with your help can we provide more children with a safe and nurturing place to go after school... or give teens the guidance and creative outlets they need. together we can give every family a "place to go" and "a chance to grow".

As a contributor, your money will stay at the Illinois Valley YMCA for the benefit of the community. It's an investment in the future that pays off in more ways than you know. We will be sending out a pledge card that will allow you the opportunity to have a designated amount taken monthly directly from your checking account or you can donate a one time amount. The campaign's success depends on the charitable contributions from friends like you.

Visit the YMCA web site at:
http://www.ivymca.com

YMCA has video surveillance for your safety

Weight Watchers at the Illinois Valley YMCA

 Weight Watchers being held at the Illinois Valley YMCA has met with a huge response. Most meetings are filled. The speakers are motivating and inspirational. If you need to take off a few of those holiday pounds or if you want to finally get the healthy eating lifestyle you always wanted, try a Weight Watchers meeting at the Illinois Valley YMCA. Below are days and times.

Monday Evening - 6:00 pm
Thursday Morning - 8:30 am
Thursday Morning - 10:00 am
Thursday Afternoon - 12:00 pm
Thursday Evening - 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 8:30 am

Fall registration is off to a great start for Preschool Enrichment

 Enrollment for the 2007 school year started on January 15th for currently enrolled students. Below is the current line up for 2007-2008 school year. If you haven't signed up or know of someone else who would benefit from these innovative classes, we still have a few openings in each class! Call 223-7904 for details.

Kinder Prep 1: (4-5 year olds) Mon.- Fri., 8:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Fee: $93 monthly,
Kinder Prep 2: (4-5 year olds) Mon./Wed./ Fri., 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Fee: $75 monthly,
Kinder Prep 3: (4-5 year olds) Mon - Fri., 12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Fee: $93 monthly
*KinderPrep includes swimming

Supertykes I: (3 year olds) (4 days M, T, W, TH), 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m., Fee: $77 monthly,
Supertykes 2: (3 year olds) (3 days M, W, F), 1:00 pm-3:00 pm.., Fee: $70 monthly,
Supertykes 3: (3 year olds) (3 days M, W, F),10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m., Fee: $70 monthly,
*SuperTykes includes occasional swim days

Just For Twos 1: (2 year olds) T/TH., 9:00 a.m.-10:00 am, Fee: $38 monthly,
Just For Twos 2: (2 year olds) T/TH.., 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Fee: $38 monthly,
Just for Twos 3: (2 year olds) T/TH., 10:45 a.m.-11:45 a.m., Fee: $38 monthly,
*Not necessary to be toilet trained, but we do not change diapers.

Sherwin Williams gives rebate to YMCA

The Illinois Valley YMCA will receive a percentage of all your purchases at Sherwin Williams location in Peru. Located next to BlockBuster off 251.

Save every time you shop at your neighborhood Sherwin-Williams store! Their neighbor to neighbor program makes it easier for you to plan your home decorating project. Every time you shop at Sherwin-Williams in Peru and use your Neighbor-to-Neighbor card*, you will Save 20% on all regular priced merchandise and Save 5% on all sale priced merchandise!

(Please note :this program is for retail customers only.)
*Subject to terms and conditions printed on the card.

Every time you use the Neighbor-to-Neighbor card, the Illinois Valley YMCA earns a CASH BACK bonus in its own Sherwin-Williams account. The more purchases you and others make, the more the Illinois Valley YMCA earns.

Stop in at the Courtesy Counter and pick up your Neighbor-to Neighbor card and visit the Sherwin-William's store at 1400 Midtown Rd in Peru. 815-220-1125.

Corporate Challenge 2007
February 5 - February 28

If you work for a corporate that has a discount with the YMCA you can get a team up and participate in our Corporate Challenge. We encourage as many participants as possible. Non-members may also participate as long as the employed spouse is participating. It's a great way to boost a healthy lifestyle and foster company team work! There is still time to get a team together. Register by calling the YMCA with your team names, email us at ivymca@insightbb.com or you can fax us a list at 223-7955. For complete information, please call or email.

Adult 4 on 4 Basketball League

This League began on February 7th. We still have openings for the league held on Wednesday nights. Get your team together and call the YMCA at 223-7904.

YMCA Wellness Magazine to make debut soon!

WATER WELLNESS CLUB 50 MILE SWIMMERS!

Have not joined the free Water Wellness Club? Join today! Record-keeping sheets are located on the pool deck near the multi-purpose lap pool. Swim at your own pace. There is no time limit. Take a week, a month or a few years! Those who complete the 50-mile swim will receive a complimentary gift. This club is not a swim lesson and is recommended for swimmers who can swim several lengths of the pool at any pace.

Congratulations to the following YMCA Members for completing 50 miles of swimming or more for the Water Wellness Club.

UNDERWATER EGG HUNT

Celebrate Easter in a unique way this year. On March 24, Join the Easter Bunny early to search the depths of our heated Family Fun Waterpark for colorful floating and sunken Easter eggs with a special prize inside.

Age group 0-3 participants will receive an age appropriate toy at the end of the egg hunt. 

Age groups 4-10 will have eggs with special markings inside that can be redeemed for larger Easter baskets. Limit one large prize per child. An adult 18 years or older must accompany each child that is 8 years & under. Cost is $6.00 Y-Members and $8.00 Non Y-Member. Register today!

TIME/AGE:
12:30pm for ages 0- 3 yrs
12:45pm for ages 4-6 yrs
1:00pm for ages 7-10 yrs

BENEFITS OF WATER EXERCISE

Keeps joints moving this winter!

Pain in your joints may make you want to hold them very still, as moving can be painful. However, immobilizing your joints or not using them will, over time, cause the joints, ligaments, and muscles to lose range of motion and weaken. Muscles may also shorten and tighten up, causing you to feel more pain and stiffness and be less able to do the things you want to do.

Regular exercise helps keep joints moving, restores and preserves flexibility and strength, and protects joints against further damage. Exercise can also improve a person's coordination, endurance, and ability to perform daily tasks, and can lead to an enhanced sense of self-esteem and accomplishment.

Exercising in water is a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles. The buoyancy of the water supports and lessens stress on the joints and encourages freer movement. Water may also act as resistance to help build muscle strength. Consult your doctor to determine whether water exercises are appropriate for you

PBS AND ILLINOIS VALLEY YMCA JOIN FORCES FOR NATIONAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND ACTION CAMPAIGN

In the face of increasingly critical health problems, PBS and the YMCA have formed an innovative partnership to help Americans “take one step” toward better health. The YMCA has joined as a community partner in Take One Step: A PBS Health Campaign, which launches this week and includes two PBS documentary programs and extensive community outreach this year. To help raise awareness about urgent health issues in our community the Illinois Valley YMCA will distribute informative materials among its members and the community.

The partnership kicked off with the PBS premiere of a heart disease program on Valentine’s Day, and a program focusing on obesity is set for April 11. The community outreach efforts will focus on specific segments of the population, targeting 35-70 year olds at risk for heart disease and emphasizing early intervention with nutrition and exercise for children up to age 12 to help them avoid obesity.

The Illinois Valley YMCA has joined this effort as part of YMCA Activate America™, a national initiative that is rallying YMCAs across the country to help children and adults discover and sustain healthier ways to live, especially those who struggle to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle for themselves and/or their family.  In addition, Illinois Valley YMCA is also strengthening its commitment to community-wide efforts to promote healthy living, while intensifying collaborations with community partners to support the effort. 

The following statistics outline how many people are affected by heart disease:

·        Heart disease is the top reason for American deaths.

·        Twenty-three million Americans have heart disease, 13 times the number of people with Alzheimer’s.

·        Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women: nearly 500,000 a year, more than the next six diseases combined.

·        About 700,000 Americans will have a stroke this year.

·        Heart disease is the No. 2 killer of children every year.

·        Americans affected, by age:

o       ages 35-42: 23% men; 18% women

o       ages 45-54: 53% men; 56% women

o       ages 65-74: 68% men; 75% women

·        In 2005, the estimated direct and indirect cost of heart disease was $393 billion.

The statistics for obesity are just as alarming:

·        According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 127 million Americans, or 64% of the population, are overweight. Half of these Americans are obese, meaning their weight is dangerous to their health. These numbers have doubled in the past 25 years.

·        Deaths caused by obesity have increased by 76% since 1991.

·        Fifteen percent of children ages 6-19 are overweight. Twenty years ago, only 5% were.

·        Overweight children have double the risk of heart problems and high blood pressure, and three times the rate of diabetes, as normal-weight children.  The vast majority of children who are overweight at age 12 will remain that way all of their lives.

·        The health risks later in life for obese children are so severe that if the current rate of childhood obesity continues to climb, today’s children may be the first generation in history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

·        Health care costs have skyrocketed over the past 15 years, and obesity is responsible for 27% of that increase.  In 2000 alone, the combined direct and indirect costs of obesity-related medical problems were $117 billion.

YMCA Tumbling Program

Next Session: starts February 26 and runs until April 14, 2007

Tuesday 

Wednesday

Thursday

Saturday

(If you have trouble reading this newsletter from the email, enlarge it by double clicking on the email message in your inbox and then maximize it from there)

Special thanks to the many businesses who have contributed to the YMCA Invest in Youth Advertisers Campaign.  Thank you to the following:

2006-2007 Invest in Youth Supporters

Click on the business name to take you to their web site or to the location of their business. If the link does not work, please email us and we will try to correct it. If you are a business that does not have a link here and you have a web site, please email us with the address.
Anne Francis Salon
Aplington, Kaufman, McClintock, Steele, Barry, Inc.
Apple Press
Biederstedt Appraisal Co.
C.A. Smith Builders (Gold Club)
Chamlin & Associates
Chapman's Mechanical (Gold Club)
Citizen's 1st National Bank (Gold Club)
City of Peru
Connecting Point Computers
Cosgrove Distributors
Debo Ace Hardware
Drs. Derango & Mueller DDS (Gold Club)
Eureka Savings Bank
Financial Plus Credit Union
First State Bank 
Fran Szott's Carpet & Flooring
Future Communications
Gary & Deb Dahl
Henry Hackman State Farm Insurance
Hueneburg Financial Group (Gold Club)
Illinois Valley Community College  (Gold Club)
Illinois Valley Community Hospital (Gold Club)
Illinois Valley Food Center
Jeff Perry Buick
Letterkraft Printers
MCS Advertising (Gold Club)
Machinery Maintenance
McNabb Veterinary
Mittal Steel
Richwoods Enterprises, Inc.
Schweickert & Ganassin
State Bank of Cherry
The Pro Body Shop
True Vision Enterprises
Tupperware
Wilcoxson & Associates, Ltd

 Upcoming Spring Programs at the YMCA. Please call for more information. All fees are due on the day you register.

NHL Street Hawks Hockey

This program is sponsored by NHL, YMCA, and the Chicago Blackhawks. 5 weeks

YMCA Youth Super Sport Winners Girls Volleyball Program (Ages 8-14)

YMCA winners is a values based competitive program in YMCA Youth Super Sports. Players learn the tactics and skills of the game, the rules and traditions of the sport, important fitness concepts and character development. 5 weeks

T Ball Fundamentals

Rag balls, batting tee, and smaller bats are used to teach baseball.

Group Fitness Update

Hopefully, it's time to start thinking about Spring. We are all tired of the cold and snow! Watch for details on a Spring Group Fitness Open House/Marathon.

Our Mind/Body Open House was a success with about 50 people attending. Thanks to everyone who attended and those who made food and shared recipes. This event helped to add a few more people to our Yoga and Pilates family. "The fruits of Yoga mature with patience and care."

Check out our new Fit over 50 class on Tuesday and Thursday at 8 am. (Not everyone attending is over 50, so don't let the name bother you!) The class consists of 20 minutes of cardiovascular work with very simple choreography, followed by toning with weights and then a thorough stretch. This kind of weight bearing exercise is critical for bone health.

Drip & Dry Group Fitness Classes

Fit Over 50

Join our new fitness class geared to men and women over 50 years of age. Cardio and weight bearing exercise for bone health. This class will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8 am beginning on February 6th. $10/members and $30/non-members.

YMCA  Parties

Pool parties, tumbling parties, open gym parties and theme parties. Every party offers: YMCA staff, lifeguards, invitations, party room/poolside area.

*2 hour parties *Basic or Deluxe party

The new party room attached to the pool and concession stand will offer complete services. Tumble, swim, gym games, set-up, clean-up and supervision of any party is included in the new YMCA Party Service. We will even have a mascot for your party.

Call Karry at the YMCA at 223-7904
to set up your party today! Email Karry at:

k.duever@insightbb.com

Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do teaches self defense as well as improves self confidence, discipline, coordination, and physical and mental capabilities. Through Tae Kwon Do, students learn to become leaders, not followers, and they develop the ''yes, I can'' attitude when facing daily challenges at home, school or work.
The Illinois Valley YMCA's Tae Kwon Do is a branch school of the Won Jung Martial Arts Association of Rockford. Mr. Chris Kleckner, a 5th degree black belt, is the instructor with more than 15 years of experience.

Walking Club

The Walking Club has 17 regular participants. The following group of members walked 5,010 miles in 2006:

Jeanette Korosec
Mary Jane M
Marilyn Hurley
C. Pillai
Irine Kurtz
Anida Chamlin
Dee W
Mary Lamps
Connie Tonarelli
Don Selbrede
Wanda B
Martha Patelli
Mary Medely
Rob B
Ellen B
Leo W
Charlene Smith

Jeanette Korosec led the group with a total of 1,418 miles. Congratulations to all of them for their efforts!!

Corporate Challenge Results as of February 15th

Dolphin Division:
Team First Student A - 110 laps
Team AmerenIP - 528 laps

Red Division:
Team Trinity Catholic A - 820 points
Team Trinity Catholic B - 735 points
Team Machinery Maintenance - 290 points
Team Ameren IP - 290 points

Blue Division:
Team State Police - 260 points

White Division:
Team First Student B 300 points
Team LaSalle Elementary 235 points

Gold Division:
Team NCBHS 350 points
Team First Student C 15 points
Team First Student D 280 points
Team IVCH ER 500 points

14 teams with 87 participants altogether.

YMCA to work on Senior Programs!

The YMCA has made an emphasis to work on developing social and physical enrichment  programs for the community Senior population. Programs will be developed and the Y-staff is looking for ideas on what to be offered. Please feel free to contact the staff by e-mail, phone or note. Click on the link below for contact information.

http://www.ivymca.com/contact.htm

Need some one on one Personal Training?

The YMCA can provide you with one on one personal training designed to meet your personal fitness needs. The American Council on Exercise Certified Trainer can assist you:

• Provide a personal fitness program that is specifically designed to your needs and goals.
• Instruct you on the importance of your personal program and how it works with your body.
• Encourage and support.
• Help motivate you in staying with your program.

Your personal trainer is ACE certified and YMCA trained. Sessions are 1 hour

Fees: 1 Session $20
          2 Sessions $35
          3 Sessions $55
          4 Sessions $70
          5 Sessions $80
Schedule with the YMCA at 223-7904.

Rent the YMCA for your group

The YMCA is open for group rentals! Have a party or special night for your company. YMCA can off exclusive use of the water park, concession area or other areas. Great way to get together in a healthy environment.

Water park can open Wednesday nights,
Sunday nights, or Saturday nights.

Schools, Day Care's, companies, and
family groups are always welcome.

Lockers Available

YMCA has permanent lockers available for a cost of $10.00 per month. Contact the courtesy counter to get a permanent locker today! This is also available to be paid through monthly bank draft.

The difficulties of life are intended to make us better, not bitter.

Hardening of the heart ages people more quickly than hardening of the arteries.
     Franklin Field

A friend is a person who goes around saying nice things about you behind your back

Becoming number one is easier than remaining number one.

Adolescence is the age at which children stop asking questions because they know all the answers.
     Jo Petty

It wasn't until quite late in life that I discovered how easy it is to say, "I don't know."
     Somerset Maugham

One of the most important trips any person can make is to try to meet other people halfway.

I am not young enough to know everything.
     Oscar Wilde

We are all faced with great opportunities...brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.

The biggest risk in life is not risking.

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.
     Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

It's so simple to be wise. Just think of something stupid to say, and then don't say it.
     Sam Levenson

We were given a mouth that closes and ears that don't - which should tell us something.

If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive.

Leaders must be close enough to relate to others but far enough ahead to motivate them.
     John Maxwell

How far would Moses have gone if he had taken a poll in Egypt?

If you would like to unsubscribe to this newsletter, please click on the link below and put UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line and send back to us
ivymca@ivnet.com 

We are always looking for suggestions to improve your YMCA. Email us,  at ivymca@ivnet.com , fill out a solution paper at the training desk, or give Dave Potthoff a call at 223-7904.