THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510270553
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY CATHERINE KOZAK, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: NAGS HEAD LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A rainy winter day on the Outer Banks illustrates the equation: Take away sun, multipy by lackluster off-season entertainment, add decreased business and revenues. The answer? There's nothing much for families to do.
But Donn Snyder believes the YMCA could change that, if local residents like the idea of a year-round, wholesome outlet for parents and children alike.
Snyder was instrumental in pulling together Wednesday's YMCA open house at the Outer Banks Mall, where drop-ins were tantalized with visions of fitness programs for all ages; affordable child care; organized family activities; a teen leaders club; a multi-purpose gym and pool - possible only with strong community backing.
Sponsored by the YMCA of South Hampton Roads and the Committee for an Outer Banks YMCA, the all-day event highlighted what is offered in other chapters, emphasizing the services available for all age groups and the diverse programs.
``This is what makes the Y so different from the other things that are offered,'' said Snyder. ``You walk in, and there's Dad swimming with his little one, and over there is Grandma working out on one of those machines.''
Snyder, who moved in 1994 to Southern Shores from New Jersey, had a string of positive experiences with the Y, starting with the Junior Leaders club as a teen, on through his dealings with the hometown chapter during his stint as mayor.
And since he moved here, he said, he has discovered ``that a fantastic number of people had been involved with the Y.'' Many of the people he had spoken to encouraged him to bring the Y here, he said, including a group of local teens who enthusiastically favored its programming.
Indeed, membership nationally has been booming, mostly because the organization caters to the needs of the entire family, said Linda Lloyd-Zannini, director of Child Care Services for the YMCA of South Hampton Roads.
She said the most cost-effective and efficient way to establish a Y here would be to operate under the umbrella of South Hampton Roads, but Lloyd-Zannini emphasized it would serve the unique barrier islands' lifestyle, not that of the nearby Virginia region.
``Each Y responds to the local community. The Y that's here is going to respond to the Outer Banks.''
But this week's open house was just the first baby step towards realizing a YMCA on the Banks. A steering committee will begin interviewing about 70 community leaders in December, which will provide information on the pertinent demographics. Then, the panel will have to hire an outside marketing firm to conduct more in-depth research, requiring an outlay of nearly $16,000 - money which would have to be raised by local fund-raisers. At that point, a determination would be made if the area is ripe for a Y. The whole process is to be complete by summer.
And the Outer Banks could conceivably have its Y without going all-out at the onset, said Billy George, vice-president of the YMCA of South Hampton Roads. New chapters have been known to use backyard pools and church halls initially. Facilities could be built from the ground up, rented, leased or purchased, and programs can be added later, suiting the progressive growth of the membership.
``There's far more chance of success that way, and far less risk,'' George said. ``Very much, you cut the cloth to fit the pattern.'' by CNB