Red Oak hosts national YMCA conference

RED OAK — The North American YMCA Development Organization (NAYDO) held their annual Fall Council Meeting at the Red Coach Inn and Restaurant last week.
The meeting, which took place Nov. 7-9, came together courtesy of Montgomery County Family YMCA Executive Director Nick Zimmer, who is also on the Council
“It was an honor to get to bring this here,” Zimmer said.
Zimmer made the proposal to have the NAYDO Council meet in Red Oak in July 2009. It was approved during the last Fall Council meeting in November 2009. Red Oak is one of the smallest communities to hold such a meeting.
Zimmer wanted to show some of the larger metropolitan YMCA’s how the smaller ones work and how a smaller community embraces the YMCA.
“The biggest thing was showing how much people cared and they’re involved in the community and the area, and the Y’s apart of it,” he said. “People really embrace it and get involved.”
Along with regular business, the Council toured Red Oak, with stops at the Montgomery County Family YMCA, the Wilson Performing Arts Center, the home of Kerry and Kevin Hohbach and dinner at the Red Oak Country Club.
YMCA members and executives from all across the country, as well as Canada, flew in to Omaha to visit.
NAYDO’s mission statement states that the organization sets out to “inspire and strengthen the philanthropic culture of the YMCA. They provide leadership to and strategic guidance, as well as assistance in fundraising efforts and outreach, to YMCA’s all around North America.
NAYDO’s next conference will be held in Anaheim, Calif. April 27-30. Next year’s Fall Council conference will take place in New York City. Zimmer thinks it’s unlikely that the Council will return to Red Oak.
“That was kind of our one time shot to host this,” he said.