AUBURN - A much-respected YMCA leader will take a giant step toward helping the community.
James Courtney, 56, executive director of the Auburn YMCA-WEIU, will chair the 2008 United Way Campaign in Cayuga County. Courtney will retire from the Y in September, just as the campaign gears up.
The kick-off date is Sept. 24, with a wrap-up date of Dec. 10, when results are announced. Contributions, however, are accepted through the end of December. The goal for campaign contributions will be announced at the kick-off.
“I was very honored when they asked me,” Courtney said. “It's an important organization in Cayuga County,” he said of the United Way. “It helps many not-for-profit organizations. As director of the Y, I have been able to see what the United Way can do first hand.”
He views the chairmanship as a way of giving back to the community.
“There are tremendous volunteers for the United Way,” he said. “I'm excited about working with the volunteers and staff to help improve the quality of life in Cayuga County.
“We've just started some discussions with the campaign committee and the board of the
United Way,” he said. “There are dozens upon dozens of volunteers in the agencies and businesses we contact.”
“The bulk of the work will be in the fall,” he said. “We'll be busy.”
Courtney, who began his Y membership from the time he was about eight in Lisbon, Ohio, said he's been around the Y for more than 40 years. He graduated from Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. While he had been a Y director in Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier, he was drawn to Auburn in 1988 because he wanted to be in a small community.
He started out as a youth director and fitness director, eventually moving into administration and programming.
“In the Y, there's not any one idea,” he said. “We try to do things as a group.” He said that new programs, changes and improvements at the Y facility were part of a group process.
“I like coming down here on Saturday morning and seeing all the kids and the families down here,” Courtney said. “It just makes you feel good.” Parents come down to work out while their children are swimming.“
Since he started in Auburn, the Y membership has increased to about 5,500 members. The Y-Pals program for school-age child care has taken hold, and the Y Camp has expanded. Numerous fitness programs have also been added to the calendar.
Courtney is a coach for a CCYO basketball team. He is also on the board and actively involved.
“My son Chris, is hooked on basketball,” Courtney said. “It takes up a lot of time in the winter, but everybody gets to play.”
John Latanyshyn, United Way president, said qualities that the board looks for in a chairman include proven leadership, involvement in the community, and the ability to communicate effectively, especially with agencies supported by United Way.
The board members submit the names of eight to 10 individuals, and the executive committee meets for the selection process. There are presently 18 members on the board from all facets of the community, although the board can have as many as 25 members.
“We usually ask our number one choice and he accepts. Nobody's ever said no,” Latanyshyn said. “In this case, that's exactly what happened. Jim has absolutely had experience with United Way. He can talk now from both sides.”
Courtney will be soon put to work. The campaign selection meeting this week will produce a committee to present its ideas to the board.
“Every year they do a good job,”Latynyshyn said. “There are individuals who have worked tor the United Way on various committees for 15 or 20 years, and every year they are more enthusiastic.”
Jim will conduct the campaign meetings.
“He will be the point person or champion of the campaign for the agencies. The chairman can be extemely involved or not so involved, ”Latynyshyn said.
“When you combine his knowledge of the community with the fact that he's well-known and liked, Jim will be extremely effective as chairman,” Latynyshyn said. “He's got a way of accepting a challenge and running with it, a way of energizing people to meet that challenge.”
“People like to be a part of what he does,” he said. “I'm looking forward to having another great year.”
Gail Homick, United Way executive director, having been on the YMCA board herself several years ago, knows Courtney well.
“There will be no transition at all,” Homick said.“He has attended monthly agency executive director meetings and was an agency representative on the board of directors.
“Jim's going to be an absolutely outstanding chair and ambassador for the United Way,” she said. “He's a very respected person in the community, compassionate for the whole community.”
The United Way of Cayuga County has 23 agency partners. Homick said that when a couple of those agencies needed help in the past, Jim stepped forth to provide it.
“Volunteers working with Jim will be going out into the community and contacting people,” Homick said. The campaign cabinet consists of representatives from major firms, the public service sector, as well as the superintendent of BOCES, Superintendent J.D. Pabis in the Auburn Enlarged School District, professional division members, physicians and attorneys, community based small businesses, the north and south county and a special division for new accounts.
Homick said there are also joint campaigns with the United Way of Central New York because some residents of Cayuga County work in neighboring counties at Welch Allyn, Tessy Plastics, G.E. Tech and Handheld. Some pacesetter companies run their campaigns prior to the official kickoff.
The United Way agency family is supported with campaign dollars. Courtney's role as the campaign leader, principal spokesperson and ambassador will begin with the first campaign cabinet meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
The kick-off date is Sept. 24, with a wrap-up date of Dec. 10, when results are announced. Contributions, however, are accepted through the end of December. The goal for campaign contributions will be announced at the kick-off.
“I was very honored when they asked me,” Courtney said. “It's an important organization in Cayuga County,” he said of the United Way. “It helps many not-for-profit organizations. As director of the Y, I have been able to see what the United Way can do first hand.”
He views the chairmanship as a way of giving back to the community.
“There are tremendous volunteers for the United Way,” he said. “I'm excited about working with the volunteers and staff to help improve the quality of life in Cayuga County.
“We've just started some discussions with the campaign committee and the board of the
United Way,” he said. “There are dozens upon dozens of volunteers in the agencies and businesses we contact.”
“The bulk of the work will be in the fall,” he said. “We'll be busy.”
Courtney, who began his Y membership from the time he was about eight in Lisbon, Ohio, said he's been around the Y for more than 40 years. He graduated from Mt. Union College in Alliance, Ohio. While he had been a Y director in Ohio and Pennsylvania earlier, he was drawn to Auburn in 1988 because he wanted to be in a small community.
He started out as a youth director and fitness director, eventually moving into administration and programming.
“In the Y, there's not any one idea,” he said. “We try to do things as a group.” He said that new programs, changes and improvements at the Y facility were part of a group process.
“I like coming down here on Saturday morning and seeing all the kids and the families down here,” Courtney said. “It just makes you feel good.” Parents come down to work out while their children are swimming.“
Since he started in Auburn, the Y membership has increased to about 5,500 members. The Y-Pals program for school-age child care has taken hold, and the Y Camp has expanded. Numerous fitness programs have also been added to the calendar.
Courtney is a coach for a CCYO basketball team. He is also on the board and actively involved.
“My son Chris, is hooked on basketball,” Courtney said. “It takes up a lot of time in the winter, but everybody gets to play.”
John Latanyshyn, United Way president, said qualities that the board looks for in a chairman include proven leadership, involvement in the community, and the ability to communicate effectively, especially with agencies supported by United Way.
The board members submit the names of eight to 10 individuals, and the executive committee meets for the selection process. There are presently 18 members on the board from all facets of the community, although the board can have as many as 25 members.
“We usually ask our number one choice and he accepts. Nobody's ever said no,” Latanyshyn said. “In this case, that's exactly what happened. Jim has absolutely had experience with United Way. He can talk now from both sides.”
Courtney will be soon put to work. The campaign selection meeting this week will produce a committee to present its ideas to the board.
“Every year they do a good job,”Latynyshyn said. “There are individuals who have worked tor the United Way on various committees for 15 or 20 years, and every year they are more enthusiastic.”
Jim will conduct the campaign meetings.
“He will be the point person or champion of the campaign for the agencies. The chairman can be extemely involved or not so involved, ”Latynyshyn said.
“When you combine his knowledge of the community with the fact that he's well-known and liked, Jim will be extremely effective as chairman,” Latynyshyn said. “He's got a way of accepting a challenge and running with it, a way of energizing people to meet that challenge.”
“People like to be a part of what he does,” he said. “I'm looking forward to having another great year.”
Gail Homick, United Way executive director, having been on the YMCA board herself several years ago, knows Courtney well.
“There will be no transition at all,” Homick said.“He has attended monthly agency executive director meetings and was an agency representative on the board of directors.
“Jim's going to be an absolutely outstanding chair and ambassador for the United Way,” she said. “He's a very respected person in the community, compassionate for the whole community.”
The United Way of Cayuga County has 23 agency partners. Homick said that when a couple of those agencies needed help in the past, Jim stepped forth to provide it.
“Volunteers working with Jim will be going out into the community and contacting people,” Homick said. The campaign cabinet consists of representatives from major firms, the public service sector, as well as the superintendent of BOCES, Superintendent J.D. Pabis in the Auburn Enlarged School District, professional division members, physicians and attorneys, community based small businesses, the north and south county and a special division for new accounts.
Homick said there are also joint campaigns with the United Way of Central New York because some residents of Cayuga County work in neighboring counties at Welch Allyn, Tessy Plastics, G.E. Tech and Handheld. Some pacesetter companies run their campaigns prior to the official kickoff.
The United Way agency family is supported with campaign dollars. Courtney's role as the campaign leader, principal spokesperson and ambassador will begin with the first campaign cabinet meeting.
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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