When Nora Tomlin faced members of the East Dallas YMCA board for the first time, she was overwhelmed.
Not because she was frightened about being interviewed to be the Y’s executive director, but because of the intense interest the board showed in the organization.
“Within minutes of that first interview, it was obvious that the board wants the Y to be a success,” Tomlin says.
She knew the board and the Y had been through some difficult times, including a child molestation case two years ago for which a former Y staff member went to jail.
But she learned during the interview the board has ambitious plans, including building membership, expanding programs and, most importantly, constructing a new building.
Armed with a degree in non-profit management, a minor in marketing and 11 years experience working with the Y system, Tomlin was chosen to spearhead these tasks. She began her job this month, replacing Gigi Woodruff, who resigned to take a job with the Y in Conroe.
Fresh from Denver, where she served as membership director for the Central Denver YMCA, Tomlin has assigned herself the task of getting to know East Dallas.
She says her “To Do” list during her first 60 days includes meeting neighborhood association members, store owners, church leaders, PTA parents, chamber boosters, and anyone who has an opinion about life in East Dallas.
She says you’ll probably see her riding her mountain bike around White Rock Lake with 11-year-old son Christopher, eating Mexican food, and learning about our historic landmarks and neighborhoods.
After this initial get-to-know phase, Tomlin says she will set her sights on the program’s expansion.
Fund-raising efforts for the new Y building are expected to kick off in 1995, says board chairman Rick Bentley. No decision has been made about where the new building will be located or what it will look like.
Says Tomlin: “We have to first find out what the community needs, then build the building around that.”
As part of the process, all current Y programs will be reassessed.
Newer programs, such as those run by Teen Program director Mary Beth Brennan, are likely to expand. Brennan spends many hours at Woodrow Wilson High School, getting to know students and keeping her ears open about their needs and how the Y can help.
For example, when Brennan discovered that several Hispanic high school students needed help preparing for the English-only SAT test, she developed SAT Prep Seminars at the Y.
The SAT seminars, social nights and camp trips for teens have broadened the Y’s reach to include not only Lakewood teens, but also students living between Columbia and I-30.
The sports program, led by sports director Tim Holt, also has grown. This summer, participation in softball and T-ball exceeded expectations, Holt says.
If you would like to volunteer as a coach for any of the Y’s sports programs, call 824-8139, Holt says.
Y officials hope to continue boosting membership during the next year. The Y had 927 members in October 1992, compared with 716 members in October 1991.
With Tomlin’s experience handling Denver’s membership roster of more than 2,000, she will look to boost both individual and corporate memberships.
Besides orchestrating the expansion, Tomlin hopes to teach at least one aerobic class at her new post. A certified aerobics class at her new post. A certified aerobics instructor, Tomlin says the workouts help her health and her relationship with members.
“Titles can intimidate people,” Tomlin says. “But if you’re there in class together, it’s easy to talk to one another.”
