Vision

The Eugene Family YMCA is a diverse e organization of people joined together by a shared commitment to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. Moreover, the Y, at its core, is focused on being a welcoming organization that is both attuned to the needs of the communities it serves and committed to innovating in ways to meet evolving needs. At the Y we acknowledge that the diversity of ideas and insights within our Y will never be as rich as exists across the communities we serve. We are committed to seeking out ideas and insights from a diverse group of community voices and sharing these insights with the highest positions of stewardship within our Y – the Board President and CEO. To these ends, the Eugene Y has created the President’s Advisory Council.

The Council is focused on helping our Y enhance our understanding, deepen our relationships, and broaden our impact in the areas of Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.
The President’s Advisory Council has no financial, policy, procedural, compliance, programming, or employment oversight, expectations, responsibilities, or privileges.

Structure

The Council shall be comprised of 10-20 community members, along with the Y’s Board President and CEO, the Board President presides at Council meetings. While any individual may be nominated to serve on the Council, it is acknowledged that YUSA’s Dimensions of Diversity Wheel is a core tool when considering community stakeholders to seat on the Council. The Diversity Wheel is an evolving framework that illustrates some of the dimensions of diversity and the importance of understanding the intersectionality across various dimensions that informs an individual’s identity and experiences.

Council members are nominated by Board members or the CEO. Members are seated by board motions.

In order to ensure representation of critical sectors of the Y’s services six (6) dedicated Council seats are restricted for representation by recommendation by the YMCA’s senior staff leaders who have expertise and insights into highly engaged and active Y members; members who exemplify the Y’s Core Values (Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility) and alignment with the “Y Voice” (Welcoming, Genuine, Determined, Hopeful, and Nurturing). When making recommendations, the Y’s senior staff leaders will also seek to have broad representation of the Y’s programs and services.

In order to ensure representation from essential partners four (4) dedicated Council seats are restricted for representation of the following:

  • PeaceHealth 
  • 4J 
  • Bethel School District 
  • South Lane School District 

Service on the Council is intentionally less formal than service on the Board. Therefore, there are no set periods of time to seat new members. However, to ensure an evolving list of viewpoints on the Council, no member may serve longer than three years. At a minimum, the Council meets every 4 – 6 months.

Responsibilities 

  • Provide input, counsel, and feedback on the Y's strategic plan.
  • Provide insights, counsel, and input relative to areas of their particular background and expertise.
  • Share insight and understanding through regularly participating in Counsel meetings to learn about the Y’s programs, partnerships, challenges, and opportunities.
  • Regularly review the Y’s programs in order to recommend any adjustments or modifications for the Y’s Program Directors to consider.
  • Evaluate opportunities to work with outside organizations that may help the Y achieve its goals.
  • Help highlight areas where the Y is succeeding so these strengths do not get forgotten or abandoned as new opportunities or strategies are undertaken.
  • Serve as a champion and advocate for the Y in the communities we serve.

Objectives

• Create a team of thought leaders with insight and understanding for an increased breadth and depth of counsel for the Y’s most senior stewards – the Board President and CEO.
• Provide a lower-barrier opportunity for engagement with the Y’s senior stewards than might exist by only having positions for community volunteers to engage with the Y through service on the Board.
• Invite more leaders into discussions related to the strategic services of the Y. This will elevate the understanding of more Y leaders and invite as much diversity of discussion as possible.
• Foster a broader group of, highly informed, YMCA community champions and advocates.