By KERI CHAMPION

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE-Members of the YMCA founders committee have unofficially decided that the board of directors bringing the YMCA to the region will consist of one board for St. Charles, St. John and St. James Parishes.

An option had been proposed at the meeting to make three separate boards, but in the end the committee decided one board was the best course of action.

The purpose of the founder’s committee is to establish the groundwork to bring a YMCA facility to the organization. It is compiled of business people, public officials and community members from all three River Parishes.

&#8220The initial effort to bring the YMCA to the region was a consolidated effort and it seems appropriate that we remain consolidated so that collaboration on the project will help us meet our goal to bring the YMCA to the area,” said Natalie Robottom, chief administrative officer of St. John Parish.

Darrel Johnson, chief executive officer of the New Orleans Metropolitan YMCA said to bring the YMCA to the River Parishes requires a collaborative effort between all parties.

&#8220A united community that has shown that they are capable of working successfully with one another will greatly improve the chance of success in reaching our goal to bring a facility to the area,” he said.

Although there was some concern about the parishes working as one board to meet the needs of all three separate parishes, the promise of equal representation and open discussion between all parties eased concerns.

&#8220I think there are advantages and disadvantages to one board. My concern was that St. James Parish would be underrepresented and might not have their needs met. The promised cooperation of the founders’ committee shared equality by everyone has allowed me to comfortably concede to form one board. A sub-committee to be developed by each parish should enable all of us to receive fair consideration,” said Dale Hymel, president of economic development in St. James Parish.

One advantage to a single board is that initial membership would include all three parish programs.

&#8220I am excited to be included in the proposal to establish the facility. We have always worked well with St. Charles and St. John and I think we will be able to continue to do so with the formation of a single YMCA board of directors and the sub-committees,” he said.

&#8220I understand the concerns because each parish has its own needs and interests to consider for their community, but I believe that we can meet the needs of everyone in a fair manner as long as we work together,” Robottom said.

&#8220One can learn to predict the future by making the future happen and I think that the members of this committee will be able to make the future of the YMCA a positive one,” said Lou Johnson, a senior program director for the organization.

&#8220It is my job to make sure we get a board of community members together so that they can change the YMCA from a vision into a reality, and given the level of support and interest in the community, I believe that can happen,” he said.

Ron Guillory is the chairman of the Founders Committee and is also the Human Resources, director at Valero in St. Charles Parish.

&#8220While a permanent facility is still a long way away, I am confident we will be able to establish a YMCA in the area because of strong business participation, public interest and the availability of land. We have many resources that will ensure the success of the initiative,” he said.

The YMCA does a needs assessment to ascertain what services would be offered. A proposed facility would include two separate aquatic areas, 3 kinds of locker rooms, ball fields, and a fitness center.

&#8220This is ideally what a YMCA would offer to its members, provided there was the money and land to do so,” said Darrel Johnson.