Bad News For City of Port Orange?
Beacononlinenews.com
August 08, 2013
West Volusia Beacon
110 W. New York Ave.
DeLand, FL 32720
386-734-4622
Fiscal fitness eludes Volusia YMCAs
News image BEACON PHOTO/PAT ANDREWS
Standing together — Volusia-Flagler Family YMCA Executive Director Teresa Rogers, left, and Chief Financial Officer Lauren Kennedy take a break from talking money in the corporate offices, located at the DeLand Family YMCA. The Volusia-Flagler Y has financial challenges — as most Y’s do — but it is here to stay, they said.
News image BEACON PHOTO/PAT ANDREWS
Volleyball camp — A gaggle of kids take a brief break during volleyball camp at the DeLand Family YMCA, which was full of kids of all ages during a June 26 visit. Coach “Super Joe” Grenon, pictured here with the kids, said another camp will start in August. ‘The Y is here to stay,’ executive director says
By Pat Andrews
BEACON STAFF WRITER
posted Jul 2, 2012 – 7:04:09am
Beset with unrelenting expenses and limited incomes, YMCAs across the nation have struggled, and several have closed over the past few years, often taking by surprise families who depended on the facilities for low-cost fitness, child care and recreation.
What about the local YMCA?
“The Y is here to stay,” said Teresa Rogers, executive director of the Volusia-Flagler Family YMCA.
But the two-county organization, which includes both West Volusia YMCAs, in DeLand and Deltona, has been hemorrhaging revenue.
Assets dwindled from $9.36 million in 2008 to $6.5 million in 2011. Cash plummeted from $1.68 million in 2009 to $749,000 in 2011.
In response, the organization closed the DeBary/Orange City Family YMCA and a Holly Hill facility in 2010, and shuttered the Flagler County Family YMCA in 2011. Plans for a DeBary YMCA were shelved.
“We’ve had to streamline,” Rogers said.
The bleeding has lessened, but hasn’t quit.
YMCA employees haven’t received raises for four years, and their employer retirement contributions were cut from 10 percent to 8 percent.
The current Volusia-Flagler YMCA is the result of a 2008 merger between East Volusia and West Volusia Y’s, with the thought that pooling assets and funds would be cost-effective.
A former YMCA board member who contacted The Beacon, but wanted to remain anonymous, said not enough cuts have been made. Concerned that DeLand might lose its YMCA, this source said some expenses — like salaries and the budget for employee travel — have remained far too extravagant, given the dire financial situation.
The Volusia-Flagler Family YMCA’s IRS Form 990 for 2010, the latest year available online, shows total salaries of $5.4 million paid in 2009, which dropped to $4.7 million in 2010. Rogers, who made $150,000 that year in reportable compensation, with another $18,227 in other types of compensation, is listed as the only employee who makes more than $100,000 a year.
The tax return also shows revenue of $8.4 million in 2010, and expenses of $9.4 million.
That someone had expressed concern about the finances came as no surprise to Rogers. She took over the helm of the organization with the merger in 2008, and she has garnered both accolades and criticism.
Addressing employee travel and training expenses, Rogers explained lifeguards and child-care workers must attend mandatory training to keep their certification.
And, she said, the Y has been training staff members to do their own training. This year, the local organization will host a regional conference for management-training skills. Having the conference nearby will slash the Volusia-Flagler Y’s expenses for attending, she pointed out.
According to a 2011 audit of its finances, the Volusia-Flagler Y spent a total of $93,886 on conferences and conventions last year, and a total of $75,985 on travel and transportation during the year, including administrators’ trips between local Y’s. Those figures are for 400 employees, Rogers said.
However, financial documents provided to The Beacon show the bulk of the travel-and-training budget is for employees of the association office, not the individual YMCAs. The documents also show that in January 2012, $5,820 was budgeted for association-employee travel and training, and $11,570 was spent.
The financial picture is complex, and some necessary expenditures are whoppers.
For example, in 2008-09, the DeLand Y added 16 million square feet at a cost of $4 million.
The Volusia-Flagler Y is $4.6 million in debt, and the ratio of debt to assets led the auditors, Olivari & Associates, to caution that that could cause problems with the bank carrying the biggest loan, which requires a minimum asset-to-debt ratio in its contract with the Y.
So far, the bank has worked with the organization, Rogers said.
The Y is working on a strategic plan for growth and increased revenues, including not only increased membership, but a focus on community and corporate donations and obtaining grants that focus on healthy living and preventing illnesses.
This spring, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the Volusia-Flagler Y a $50,000 grant to educate people who are at risk for developing diabetes, to help them avoid the diagnosis of diabetes.
With funding from Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, the Y offers education on strokes and their prevention.
However, one of the organization’s biggest sources of income isn’t growing.
“Our biggest revenue producers — memberships — have been flat,” Rogers said.
Memberships accounted for just over $5 million in 2011, up slightly from 2010. Membership grew from 31,177 in 2010 to 37,067 in 2011.
Other major revenues come from private donations of around $832,000; community campaigns, which raised nearly $300,000 this year, mostly from members; the United Way, which is contributing $127,000 this year; and a half-million in grants from the Volusia County Children and Family Advisory Board.
Rogers said the YMCA board is aware of the problems, and is getting a handle on the situation.
“We’re not out of money,” she said.
However, finances are always a concern. On a list of prayer requests posted in the hallway of the DeLand Family YMCA are the words “operating cash.”
Kathy Ambachtsheer of DeLand, who serves as a director on both the DeLand and Volusia-Flagler YMCA boards, said while times are difficult, the Y is doing what it needs to do. She has confidence in Rogers.
“There have been challenges, no doubt about it, but the Y is headed in the right direction,” Ambachtsheer said.
The organization’s total revenue for 2011 was up about 1 percent over 2010, and there’s an endowment of $900,000 that hasn’t been touched, Rogers said. IRS records show a year-end loss of $1.2 million at the end of 2009, and a smaller loss of $930,000 at the end of 2010.
Endowments provide investment earnings on the principal, without dipping into the principal. The Y’s endowment earnings help fund Y scholarships and programs.
In 2010, the Y changed its rate structure for memberships, going to an income-based price structure.
Related Topics
Rogers said the local YMCAs were already serving the poorest, who qualify for assistance, and higher-income people, but there was a significant chunk in the middle who were being missed — people who may not qualify for scholarships, but who can’t swing the cost of membership, and don’t like to ask for help.
“The Y is supposed to be reflective of its community,” and it is, Rogers said, offering programs for every member of the family from toddler to senior, with exercise and swimming classes, after-school programs, day camps, and adult sports leagues.
The Volusia-Flagler Y served 70,000 members of the community over the past year, Rogers said.
In April 2012, the Y signed a new 20-year lease for its DeLand facility, paying $2,506 a month for the 10.42-acre site. The Y just raised $32,000 for improvements, including air conditioning at Camp Winona, near DeLeon Springs.
The Y isn’t going anywhere, Rogers reiterated.
— pat@beacononlinenews.com
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Reader Comments
The comments posted below are posted by readers, not by The Beacon staff. These comments express the views and opinions of the authors, and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster. The comments forum is governed by these rules. Please use the report abuse link if you find offensive comments.
No longer a member | posted Jul 16, 2012 – 5:37:34pm
I was a long time member and donor to the West Volusia YMCA. I cancelled my membership about 2 years ago when I saw the direction the new CEO was taking, with staff and the Branches. She brought in people who really don’t care about the Y, just doing as she says. But, she got rid of the ones that really cared and had made this association profitable.
The really bad/sad part is that unless the Board does something like a take over or just plain old fires her, you are going to be stuck with her in that position for good till she leaves herself.
So for now LA Fitness is getting my money which they also don’t care about their guests (me), but atleast i am paying a lot less than I was paying at the Y.
If and when we can get a CEO and some branch managers that care again and don’t work scared of their jobs, then I will be glad to return to my Y family and be a donor again also.
But, right now the Y doesn’t care about me, and is misusing our funds, so why should I care about the Y.
Do something board members and to the rest of you Y members cancel your memberships. That will get something started!
Long time Y member | posted Jul 16, 2012 – 11:36:10am
I am paying $42 mo.!!!! for Mrs. T and be told there isn’t much money to keep up, after 15 yrs I am ready to leave, I am disgusted once again crooked beaurocrats maybe I will come back when I know she is gone and better runned fiscally by someone who cares.
Enough is Enough! | posted Jul 10, 2012 – 12:58:56pm
Please contact Greg Snell and demand him to do his job!!!!
Gregory D. Snell
Daytona Beach, Florida
phone 386-677-3232
fax 386-677-6770
Jim | posted Jul 10, 2012 – 8:21:54am
It would be my guess that the board is just as shocked as everyone else to read about the financial status. There was a politician several years back trying to gets law passed about the way non-profits disclose financials to their board members. Often the board is given manipulated and padded numbers. They have no idea the nonprofit is going under until the banks recall their loans, meanwhile the ceo gets plenty of praise and raises. Of course, a good CPAs will pick up on this, but as someone mentioned in a post the CPA board member did but is no longer on the board. I bet the CEO celebrated when he left!
Ormond Beach soon to be Ex Member | posted Jul 10, 2012 – 1:53:54am
After reading all this and seeing it happen at our branch, I’ve decided to cancel my membership.
The Funny thing is Greg Snell’s Law firm’s motto is “All we do is Business Law”. Now, that is Funny. I ask you Greg Snell, How can you be a business attorney if you are blind to the shinanigans going on at the YMCA?!
Deland current member, but not for long! | posted Jul 10, 2012 – 1:45:23am
Why don’t we just have an audit done of the YMCA and Teresa? The Y is a 501C3 Non profit…means books need to be open and public. Ask to see how the money is spent, not made up…padded P&L’s but the real deal. Anyone with a little knowledge of numbers can and will be able to pick apart the real P&L’s.
If this doesn’t happen then lets do a boycot and not pay our dues for three months or untill Teresa gets fired….we have the power….let’s take our Y back. The Y is for the community not for a CEO to do what they want and to not be good stuards of our money! LET’S TAKE OUR Y BACK!!!
FREDDY | posted Jul 9, 2012 – 11:57:16pm
“WHO DA THUNK IT?”
report abuse
I smell something and it isn’t good. | posted Jul 9, 2012 – 11:40:32pm
I googled Greg Snell the Corporate Board Chair and found out he is an attorney? After reading the comments from everyone and listening to the facts, it amazes me “T” still has a job. If all of Deland can see the wrong doings of of “T” then what is Greg Snell missing? Obviously he is an educated man and should be able to see the facts. So why is Greg Snell allowing this to continue?? Hmmmm!
time for change | posted Jul 9, 2012 – 2:12:49pm
As a past board member, I will tell you that the Deland board has been fighting this thing tooth and nail since Kathy Ambachtsheer spearheaded combining forces with Daytona. Daytona had no money saved at all and Deland had all the money because of the group of board memebers that not only gave their time, money and expertise in managing the Y’s fiscal matters. Now three years later and all that money is gone as are the board members. We found out very quickly that it was all about the money and that our branch board is only for advisory purposes only and had no say so in anything else. Then why have us if we can’t do anything but give you our money. This is big government taking over and pushing the community out. Teresa needs to go and as members we have every right to voice our opinion. You have a voting right as a member to bring this to the corporate boards attention and should have them bring a vote on whether to keep her or let her go. It hasn’t worked in 3 years, can’t blame the economy every year. Looks like LA fitness is doing well in orange city, is the economy bringing them down? Not only that, the Y doesn’t even pay taxes. These other places do. Just think how bad things would be if they had to pay uncle sam. If I were Teresa I would take $50k from my salary and spread it amongst the branch staff. What single person needs that kind of money. Morale is at an all time low at these branches and the staff are fed up.
Part of the problem behind Teresa is the Corporate Board Chair Greg Snell. He thinks Teresa is doing a good job. I hate to see what doing a bad job is like. Ask him how fiscally sound the Y is and he will tell you that things are fine. A board chair in denial with an organization that has no operating cash and is losing money on an annual basis is a recipe for disaster. Doesn’t take Warren Buffett to tell you this dog don’t hunt.
save the slaves | posted Jul 8, 2012 – 4:50:46pm
God help the poor slaves that remain and are locked in because they can’t retire or risk losing invested years of employment. What a horrible place to work.
report abuse
Re RE:Christian Vaules | posted Jul 8, 2012 – 9:02:31am
Yes, best to not bring someone’s personal life….the real issue is the amount of money she has lost (and continues to lose and spend) in such a short period of time.
The problem with non-profit boards is it is not their money she is losing, if it was they would be singing a different tune.
Please pray for the employees of the Volusia YMCAs
RE: Christian Values | posted Jul 8, 2012 – 8:10:59am
If “Christian values” mean judging a person based on the skin color of their spouse, then I want no part of your type of christianity. What an ignorant statement. Enjoy your morning at church.
What Christian Values?? | posted Jul 7, 2012 – 3:14:23pm
How can Teresa know anything about christian values when she has lived unmarried with her black boyfriend for MANY years? Her personal life is a wreck so why should her business life be any different?
Ex Board Member | posted Jul 7, 2012 – 2:18:45pm
Greg Snell, Teresa Is a Cancer to this association.
All you have to ask yourself is, is this association better or worse that when she got here? Answer: way worse! Financially and Moral wise.
This association was created on Christian Principles. With the four Character values being Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, & Caring. She obviously posses None! So I ask you why is some one who does not posses these quailities and is obviously above her head in her job, still in that position?
The answer: YOU! Get a mirror look at yourself and that is who is allowing all this to happen. Unless you do something the VFYMCA will crumble soon.
She is a crooked politician not a CEO. A CEO is a Leader…she couldn’t LEAD a 1st grade class in a song. Leaders are followed, the only one following her is her own shadow!
So, grow some, Greg Snell and please get rid of this cancer (“T”) at the YMCA….It is slowly killing it!
There are plenty of qualified people to run this association properly and not into the ground that she has ran off, because they spoke up.
And Chris would be a great asset to bring back and put the VFYMCA back on track.
Deland take back your Y before it is too late. | posted Jul 7, 2012 – 1:59:57pm
Please contact the board member that allows this nonsense to continue. Take back our Y!
Greg Snell
160 East Granada Boulevard
Ormond Beach, FL 32176
Phone: 386-677-3232
r
Please step up Attorney Greg Snell! | posted Jul 7, 2012 – 8:44:41am
Greg, please step up to the plate and make the well over due change. The alternative is more branch closings under your watch. You are letting your pride and personal relationship with T affect your judgement. You have a responsibility for over 400 families, not just a few. Only you can initiate this change.
Business Owner | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 10:15:38pm
“The Y is here to stay”? Sounds like someone’s ego has gotten in the way of reality. Those numbers are not good, and the bank “working with them so far” not a good sign either. Not the time to be looking for operating loans with poor credit.
As a business owner, it is a privilege to be able to provide hard working individuals with jobs that impact the quality of life for their families. It is a responsibilty that I do not take lightly. The Y corporate board has this same responsibilty to the employees of the local YMCA. Although it takes great courage, it is better to remove the cancer than let it spread. Otherwise, you are facing the hard reality of telling many families they no longer have a place to work and a community will lose invaulable programs.
Sigh | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 9:15:19pm
The upper management is simply selfish. They do not view the Y as a family organization and they do not value their employees. To them, everyone can be replaced… It’s their way or the highway and if you’re on board- roll on, and if you’re not- get off! They sit in offices (or bars on the Y credit card) and think that they can tell the “little people”- the ones who see/hear/do on a daily basis how to do their job. I would love to see them try it for a day! Gone are the days where staff enjoyed all aspects of their workplace at the Y. Gone are the days where your boss and co-workers were a part of your family and you a part of theirs. Now it’s every man for himself- because it seems the women are safe!
Fed-Up | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 8:23:03pm
Quite different than the way things were when I first began working for the Y! I remember Wayne Bostic (former CEO) refusing a raise so that his staff could get one! Now, not only are the staff not getting raises, some are getting pay cuts! Why is there a need for so many upper management employees ($) when they are closing so many branches? Oh and maybe programs aren’t bringing in enough revenue because certain “favorites” children get discounted or scholarshipped 100%… they make six figures but can’t pay for programs? Yeah- your secret is out!
Not Renewing | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 7:21:15pm
There was a time when Wayne Bostic and Joan E. Stag ran the Daytona Beach YMCA and while it was an older facility, which required quite a bit of maintenance, it is the only Y that I truly would have considered a “Family Center.” This new terminology certainly doesn’t fit the new T philosophy in the branches. The Daytona Beach YMCA was mortgaged in order to refurbish the Edgewater Y and provide them with a swimming facility that included a water slide and other water features. The promise to the Daytona Y by the corporate office was that once the Edgewater Y began making money off of the improvement, money would be put into the Daytona Y to improve it. That obviously never happened. Instead, under the dubious leadership of former CEO Randy Brown, the Y was closed and moved to a small storefront location in Holly Hill. This facility was treated as a stepchild facility, with folding table front desks, and a continued promise for a new, expanded facility. This new facility presented itself when the Holly Hill Rec went belly up an couldn’t afford to run it’s own facility anymore. The fact that the Y was able to step in and utilize this pre-existing facility is the only reason that the Holly Hill (formerly Daytona) Y still operates. They have been forced to throw membership appreciation parties and other gatherings required by the organization with little to no funding, often relying on the staff that they have not given a raise in 4 years to supply food or other supplies. This is the only way that the facility is able to stay afloat. There are a few employees at the Holly Hill Y that are kind and know what customer service is all about. One works at the front desk and one does the desk and teaches exercise classes (or she used to…I miss her!). I think that the Holly Hill Y is only a microcosm of what is going on in the organization as a whole. Poor management, poor financial decisions, and poor treatment of staff will lead to the fall of the entire organization if something is not done. As much as I love the opportunities available to me at the Holly Hill Y, I will be taking my business to Golds or Planet Fitness when my membership expires.
RE: Nothing New | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 3:06:54pm
The reason for understaffing is because of Theresa and spreading EVERYONE so thin because it is the branches that support her Corp. office and she continuously wants more which is also why the employees cannot get a raise yet she continues to build her Corporate Kingdom! Somewhere she lost her honesty and integrity if she really ever had any!
Why would you pay the Jacksonville Y over $100,000 to do your marketing when you have a Marketing Director who also has an Asst.? Something is wrong with this picture!
Nothing New | posted Jul 6, 2012 – 2:01:20pm
For current members and employees, these facts and sentiments aren’t new. Under qualified and irresponsible management isn’t just in the Corporate Office. Branches routinely keep staff on the payroll who cannot do the bare minimum their job requires because Directors are terrified of firing Teresa or Lauren’s “pets.” Their inefficiency and poor management are the cause of most of the fiscal problems. Under staffing due to lack of funds causes poor customer service. Poor customer service causes a drop in membership. A drop in membership means no money to operate. It’s a vicious circle that is far more complicated than just a bad CEO.
Staff are routinely told there is no money for training, and in fact, 99% of any staff training at the Branch level is done in-house. Yet they aren’t paid mileage or travel time…Only Corporate staff have money for conventions and conferences somehow. The people who do the actual work have no say in how money is spent or what decisions are made. Their opinions and experiences are constantly ignored. Any kind of disagreement is viewed as insubordination and many staff feel like they must walk on eggshells for fear of being fired. Realistically, at all of the branches, there are maybe 5 people who honestly do all of the work for the entire branch; while the rest of the staff slide on by because they are someone’s Favorite. The disgusting amounts of favoritism and cronyism is sad. The YMCA pushes away their qualified and excellent staff with this behavior and they keep their terrible employees close.
For non-profits, it’s vital to stick to policies that limit conflict of interests and the YMCA has unfortunately crossed the line. They cannot balance their personal interests and their professional interests. But you will find situations like this everyone, in any kind of business. But hopefully members and potential members aren’t dismayed by all of this negativity. The Y is still a great place to go to because there are staff who genuinely love what they do and the community they serve. If people stay positive, they will see positive results.They fully believe in the mission of the YMCA and they want to see all of these issues cleared up.
Well Said
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