By Larry Lannan
The YMCA is a center of activity in Fishers. With the help of dedicated volunteers like Randy Crutchfield, the YMCA became a reality.
Crutchfield has served on the board of directors for the local YMCA for nearly 17 years. He has been vice chairman and chairman of the board during his tenure.
When it was made known a YMCA would be built somewhere in the southern Hamilton County area, many communities nearby made it known they wanted the facility. Crutchfield says when studies were conducted, it was found 85% of the families in the Fishers area had children, which he says was “an off-the-charts demographic.”
When the town council agreed to provide the land, it wasn’t a close call for the YMCA to make the decision for Fishers to be the site of its newest building.
It was believed at the time the building was completed it would take about 18 months to reach membership goals. “In reality, it only took about 2 1/2 months to reach that capacity,” Randy said.
Randy has been impressed with the quality of the board members, other volunteers and professional staff at the local YMCA. He also notes the town council has been instrumental to the success of the local Y.
He says the most important program offered by the local YMCA is the after school program which “offers a safe haven for kids before and after school.” Randy describes this as a “well-designed, well-staffed safe environment for the children of working parents.”
Randy doesn’t just volunteer at the YMCA. He has been a big part of a team that saved theForest ParkAquaticCenterwhen it was in danger of being closed. He and a team of volunteers continue their work to serve families at that Noblesville facility. He and his wife Janice are active in the Geist Christian Church as volunteers as well.
Fishers has a YMCA and is a better place to live because of volunteers like Randy Crutchfield. What’s his advice to potential volunteers? “Find something you really like and offer to volunteer in that program. It will never seem like work to you.”
Current Fishers YMCA board members serving with Randy include Cliff Allen, Charles Bellinger, Monte Bailey, Mark Bowen, Jo Biggers, Greg Cagnassola, Jim Cline, Paul Felix, Beth Gehlhausen, Justin Minges, David Pletzer, Peggy Roederer, George Sanburn, Steve Sexson, Robert Swain, Wayne Taylor, Denise Tull and Jake Vernon.
Larry Lannan is an active news blogger in Fishers. Visit larryinfishers.com for his views and coverage.