The La Porte County Family YMCA has announced an historic agreement with the Michigan City Area Schools to open the Michigan City Branch of the La Porte County Family YMCA in the Elston Middle School building.
Cindy Berchem, Executive Director of the La Porte County Family YMCA, and Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins, Superintendent of Michigan City Area Schools, and their respective Boards have been working toward this agreement for several months and both look forward to a collaboration that will significantly benefit the Michigan City community.
Berchem announced that several YMCA programs will be offered at the Elston facility beginning in January 2015. “The ability to utilize the athletic venues at Elston will allow the Y to serve Michigan City residents in first-class facilities,” she said. “The gyms, the Olympic pool, locker rooms and nearby classrooms will enable us to provide opportunities that we couldn't even imagine just a year ago.”
A YMCA strategic planning process is guiding a rollout of programming for the repurposed Elston facility. Phase one offerings in January 2015 will include Preschool Basketball, Youth Coed Basketball, Preschool Cheerleading, Youth Coed Cheerleading and Youth Coed Indoor Soccer. Shortly thereafter, the Y will also offer swim lessons, open family swim and lap swimming.
Phase two offerings will include wellness classes, and “School Day Out” and “Snow Day” camps. Phase three will include the establishment of a Wellness Center. Further programming beyond the first three phases will be added to meet the needs of the community.
“We have been hearing a lot of positive buzz about our plans for Michigan City,” said Berchem. “We are very excited to finally let everyone know what we are working toward, and we are looking forward to bringing the community what it has asked for.”
MCAS Superintendent Dr. Barbara Eason-Watkins acknowledged Michigan City Mayor Ron Meer and the Michigan City Parks and Recreation Board for their help in forging the agreement with the YMCA. “This is a win-win for Michigan City, and it embodies our commitment to repurpose the Elston facility for the betterment of our city,” she said. “We look forward to working with the YMCA and other partners to continue to use the building to meet the needs of our students, their families, and the broader community.”
The new Michigan City Branch will be overseen by Bobbi Petru, who is back in her roots at the Y. Petru has spent a lot of her time opening, directing and promoting YMCAs in Northern Michigan and Chicago, Illinois after college. Petru supervised three workout centers, four outdoor pools and 145 part time employees. She also chaired the Aquatics Committee of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago. Petru returned to her Y roots and looks forward to serving the community.
"I enjoy helping people. Most people may recognize me as the Director of the Red Cross. Since the merger of the Northwest Indiana Chapter of the Red Cross, I’ve moved forward in committing my time and efforts to the Y. I will be an active part of the Michigan City Area. I look forward to working as a key member of the leadership team of the La Porte County Family YMCA." said Petru.
Petru will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Michigan City and Long Beach branches, staff development and community outreach. Petru’s office will be located at Ivy Tech Community College – Michigan City Campus at 3714 Franklin St., Michigan City, IN. Her office hours will be Monday and Wednesday 9AM to 11AM and 3PM to 6PM and Friday 9AM to 11AM and 3PM to 5PM. You may contact Bobbi Petru at (219) 595-9201 bpetru@lpymca.org. You may register for sports, programs or memberships at the Ivy Tech Office, the La Porte Branch, and Long Beach Branch or online at lpymca.org.
With our expansion comes a great opportunity for the Michigan City community to join our team. Where can you, simultaneously, build a better future for yourself and for kids, families and your community? Where can you work with people who thrive in a values-based environment of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility? All of this can be found at a YMCA. YMCAs get the job done through staff members who are carefully selected for their interests, skills and enthusiasm. Applications are available online and at any of our locations.
Please submit your application to Bobbi Petru at our Ivy Tech Office.
The following positions are available at the Michigan City Branch:
Desk Staff
Certified Lifeguards
Swim Instructors
Aerobics Instructors
Wellness Class Instructors
Volunteer Coaches for Youth Basketball, Indoor Soccer & Cheerleading
Referees
Details of each position are available online at lpymca.org/our-y/career-opportunities. Lifeguard certification and recertifications are available at our La Porte Branch. For inquiries and class availability please contact Kyle Jeffers at 219-325-9622 or email kjeffers@lpymca.org.