20 questions, or what I learned from our YMCA members

For about a year and a half now, we've been blogging here and trying to get the word out about the stuff going on at the YMCA. From post to post, our topics have ranged from updates about new programs to news about success stories and stories about lives we've touched. It's our hope that you've enjoyed the posts and that maybe you've learned a few things about your YMCA. However, we want more out of this post, and we want it to be even more useful to you.

Beginning today, we'll try to use the posts in this blog to engage you, our members and participants. We'll discuss topics and ask questions that we want you to answer. For over 150 years, the YMCA has been built on the idea of relationships, genuine and honest ones, with members and participants. Sure we have tons of programs and activities for kids and adults, and lots of opportunities for sports, fitness and service. But at the heart of it all, we're about relationships.

That's the reason we ask about grand kids or spouses. It's the reason we notice when you've been out for a couple of weeks. It's why we send flowers to new mothers or sick parents, and why we love celebrating birthdays.

With that in mind, going forward, I'm going to use this blog to pose questions to those of you who read it. The questions that I'll ask will sometimes be serious and sometimes be lighthearted, but they'll all have a purpose. As the Y moves forward we want to continue to be more connected to you, and so I want to find out things like:

-What you like most about what we're doing at the Y

-What's the most important part of your membership

-How we can do better to help you build a healthier spirit, mind and body

-What Y staff members are living our mission in their interactions with you

-When we're exceeding - and not living up to - your expectations

-Anything else you want to tell us

So as we go forward, let me invite you to come along, and help your Y reach it's full potential. We're prepared for honesty, as long as it's tempered with respect, and as long as it's focused on fairness and jives with our mission. We want to get better at what we do, and we need your help to get there.

With that in mind, let's start with an easy question, and you can leave your answers in the comments section or respond via email:

Q. What's the most important part of your YMCA membership? The part that brings you back, or that you couldn't live without? And why?

Thanks in advance for your honest, respectful answers and we'll get to work right not to make sure we learn from your answers.

-G