YMCA LA YOUTH IN GOVERNMENT ATTEND CONFERENCE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS

On July 1, 2012, twenty-two high school students from around the state of Louisiana participated in the 45th annual YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs. The conference was held June 30th to July 5th in North Carolina. YMCA Youth in Government participants made a strong showing at the Conference on National Affairs by passing proposals and remaining in the top 25 for the third year in a row. At the conference there are four stages in which proposals have to pass in order to be accepted as a passed proposal. Of the 22 Louisiana student delegates, 10 proposals passed first committee and moved on to second committee. Of the ten that moved on to second committee, four moved on to third committee. The final stages of the committee structure are General Assembly and Plenary where action is taken on proposals. Three Louisiana student delegates proposals passed all stages of the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs. These proposals included a plan that mandated at least 45 percent of a families SNAP allotment would go to the purchase of healthy foods. Another asked for the removal of the eyewitness line-up procedure. A third proposal, offered an alternative for prisoners of non-violent crimes, suggesting that in exchange for a full term sentence, prisoners could choose to serve in the active duty military for the second half of their sentence. YMCA Youth in Government is a national program of the Y that involves thousands of teens nationwide in state-organized, model-government programs. Since 1962, the YMCA of Louisiana through the Youth and Government Program has been educating youth across Louisiana the importance of fellowship, respect, responsibility and leadership through the judicial process of local and international governments. The YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs was started in 1968 as a follow-up to the outstanding state Youth in Government programs conducted by the YMCA throughout the US.

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PRACTICE BEGINS FOR THE YS SPECIAL OLYMPICS SWIM TEAM

Viewers of the 2012 Olympics know that a true athlete evolves from the hard work of a courageous and determined individual. In Baton Rouge, the same courage and determination thrives in the 15 members of the YMCAs Special Olympics Swim Team at the C. B. Pennington Jr., YMCA. Meeting every Monday and Wednesday at 6 p.m., swimmers practice to compete with other Special Olympic swim teams throughout the state. Collaborating with Arc Baton Rouges recreation coordinator Molly Orr, the Y started the Special Olympics Swim Team and Terric Turtles Swimming Lessons, in order to provide special needs participants the chance to participate in an organized sport centered around their skills and ability. Designed for children 8 years to adult, classes are separated by capability level and teach assisted swimming with oatation, long distance swimming and all four strokes-freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and buttery. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have less access to programs that typically developing peers have access to, said Orr. These programs offer an opportunity for this population to learn how to swim, as well as swim recreationally and competitively. By offering these opportunities, the YMCA is providing a much-needed outlet for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. For twins, Candace and Stephanie, the Special Olympics Swim Team allowed them to share their love of swimming at an organized level. Since becoming members, their parents began to see improvements in the girls attitudes and performance. We have twin special needs daughters who are very energetic and outgoing, said the twins father Scott Montgomery. The program that the YMCA is offering has been wonderful. Our daughters enjoy going and their swimming skills and water condence has steadily improved. Montgomery went on to compliment the Ys staff for their part in helping his daughters achieve in the program stating that it is obvious that they are passionate about helping these special people succeed. Since starting the program, the Y hopes to expand its partnership with the Arc and Special Olympics to include more programs and events in its facility. Soon, the Y plans to introduce Fitness Buddies, a program where a person of intellectual or developmental disabilities is partnered with of member of the Y for tness training.
To learn more contact the C.B. Pennington Jr. YMCA at 225-272-9622.

2ND ANNUAL BEYOND THE GREEN GOLF TOURNAMENT

The YMCA is teeing off for its Annual Beyond the Green golf tournament on Monday, October 15th, beginning at 8:00 a.m. to help raise money for the Changing Lives Campaign. The tournament will be held at the University Club golf course, located at 15333 Memorial Tower Drive. The Changing Lives Campaign is the Ys primary means of reaching out to the community for support. Contributions to the Changing Lives Campaign make it possible for the Y to provide assistance to countless children and families in the community who need YMCA programs and services but are unable to afford them. Through YMCA programs, the Y is offering members of the community the chance to learn, grow and thrive. Of the money raised, 100 percent of the proceeds will go towards the Changing Lives Campaign. The YMCA of the Capital Area will present the Beyond the Green Award during the golf tournament. This award is to recognize a member of the community who exemplifies the Ys mission and its areas of focus: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility. Like the Y, this individual does all he can to ensure that people in the Capital Area community have access to the essentials to learn, grow and thrive. For more info visit ycmabatonrouge. org/golf.

THE EXXONMOBIL YMCA RECEIVES A LIFETIME DONATION GIFT OF $1,000 FROM THE DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY BATON ROUGE SIGMA ALUMNAE CHAPTER INC.
On Tuesday, July 24, the ExxonMobil YMCA received a lifetime gift of $1,000 from the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Baton Rouge Sigma Alumnae Chapter Foundation Inc. The donation will help fund the Ys Annual Community Support Campaign, a monetary campaign that provides nancial assistance to those in our community who need Y programs and services but are unable to afford them. Donations ensure the Y continues to fulll their mission of strengthening the foundations of community. Scholarships funded through donations provide low-income families with memberships, childcare and access to the Ys diverse programs. One hundred percent of the donations are used for scholarships and all donations are tax deductible.

THANK YOU!
Thank you to the Executive Women International, EWI, Baton Rouge chapter for donating 20 bags of towels and goggles to our Splash program participants from the Greater Mt. Carmel Batptist Church.

CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Dow Westside YMCA lifeguards: Steven Cope, Landon Williams, Logan Williams, Matthew Begue, Kristin Domangue, Roberta Starnes, Rebecca Kleinpeter, Madeline Bordelon, Savannah Midyette and Keith Washington, for winning this years YMCA Lifeguard Olympics. Competitors competed in a team relay, team rescue, unknown scenario and scanning. Thank you to all who participated!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sept. 1 and Sept. 15th Rock Climbing at the Paula G. Manship YMCA, helps to improve your flexibility, strength, balance and cardio! The rock wall and zip line is open to families ages 5 and up. You must be 18 or older to attend without a parent or guardian. Members: $5, Program Participants: $10 Sept. 3 All YMCA location will be closed for Labor Day. Sept. 9 Grandparents Day! Sept. 10 Oct. 1 Session one begins for the Ys Community Shape Up challenge! The Community Shape Up challenge utilizes classes and seminars to instruct participants on how to live and stay healthy through good nutrition and exercise. For more information visit ymcabatonrouge.org/communityshapeup. Sept. 13 Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children training at the A. C. Lewis YMCA. Darkness to Light is a revolutionary training program that focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse. Classes teach adults how to identify, prevent and react to child sexual abuse. For more information visit ymcabatonrouge.org/protect. Sept. 21 Parents take a night off and send your kids to the C. B. Pennington Jr. YMCA for Parents Night Out. The Parents Night Out program gives parents a chance to go to a movie, run errands, or simply relax while the children have a fun filled night. Starts 6pm to 9pm. Sept. 27 Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children training at the Paula G. Manship YMCA. Darkness to Light is a revolutionary training program that focuses on the prevention of child sexual abuse. Classes teach adults how to identify, prevent and react to child sexual abuse. For more information visit ymcabatonrouge.org/ protect. Sept. 28 Visit any YMCA location for free!

YCONNECTION
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YMCA OF THE CAPITAL AREA September 2012 www.ymcabr.org

CELEBRATE WITH THE Y

Host your next birthday party with the Y. With so many different locations and packages to choose from your child is sure to have a happy birthday! Activities include: Swimming Bounce house Ropes Course and more!

I WANT YOU TO PROTECT ME

One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before age eighteen. In 90 percent of those cases the abuser is someone the child knows and trusts. The reality is horric, but because of statistics such as this, the YMCA of the Capital Area is working to change the way our community protects each and every child. With a ve year goal to educate 6,000 adults in the Capital Area, Darkness to Lights evidence-based training will create widespread awareness about how to recognize, prevent and react to child sexual abuse. The YMCA of the Capital Area takes child protection very seriously. We recognize the need for leadership at every level to be involved and engaged in protecting children from sexual abuse. Thats why the Y is providing the nationally-recognized Stewards of Children training, emphasizing that preventing child sexual abuse is an adult responsibility. Twenty percent of sexually abused children are under the age of eight. Darkness to Light is taking a proactive approach to diminishing this social ill by partnering with YMCAs across the country. The trainings facilitate discussion about the incidence and consequence of abuse and present information about child protection policies and mandates. At the Y, We believe that every child deserves the chance to discover who they are and what they can achieve in a safe and nurturing environment, and thats why partnering with Darkness to Light for this program is so important to us, said Kristen Hogan, Marketing Director of the YMCA of the Capital Area. Protect Me workshops will be held monthly at five area Ys including the ExxonMobil YMCA, Paula G. Manship YMCA, C. B. Pennington, Jr. YMCA, Dow Westside YMCA and A. C. Lewis YMCA. For more information visit: ymcabatonrouge.org/protect.

Activities vary by location and party package. For more information visit ymcabatonrouge.org/party

STAY CONNECTED:
ymcabr.org Facebook.com/YMCABR @YMCABR YMCA of the Capital Area

The YMCA Bicycle Ministries program needs your help in gathering supplies for its weekly bicycle repair. Supplies needed include bicycle lights, tires, bicycle chains and bicycle locks. These items can be dropped off at any of the Ys eight locations. For more information about the Ys Bicycle Ministries program visit: ymcabr.org/community.

BICYCLE MINISTRIES