YMCA goes socialist
For several years now my family has been members of the YMCA where we go to work out. I don't really care for the uppity elite gyms and the YMCA has had a decent family rate. I received a letter in the mail from them telling me they have Great News! They are now going to an income based rate structure. In other words, they have gone socialist. The membership fees will be based on how much income you make. While I am not rich, I will be paying the top rate as I did not make the cutoff.
My fear is that it may no longer be fun to be at the YMCA. Currently, there is just about the right number of people that go when I go. There is usually a heavy turnout in January due to post holiday guilt, but it trickles down. I fear there will be an influx of people that can suddenly afford a membership and I will be waiting to use the equipment. I also fear that next year they will start raising the top membership fee. They are keeping it the same for now. In recent years I am sure affordablility has been a factor that has kept the rates down. Now that lower incomes will pay less, the pressure to keep mine lower will be gone.
I think this is a poor idea and will end up reducing revenues at the YMCA as full paying members drop out and go elsewhere. I hope I am wrong and will stick around until I see what happens.
My fear is that it may no longer be fun to be at the YMCA. Currently, there is just about the right number of people that go when I go. There is usually a heavy turnout in January due to post holiday guilt, but it trickles down. I fear there will be an influx of people that can suddenly afford a membership and I will be waiting to use the equipment. I also fear that next year they will start raising the top membership fee. They are keeping it the same for now. In recent years I am sure affordablility has been a factor that has kept the rates down. Now that lower incomes will pay less, the pressure to keep mine lower will be gone.
I think this is a poor idea and will end up reducing revenues at the YMCA as full paying members drop out and go elsewhere. I hope I am wrong and will stick around until I see what happens.
posted by All_I_Can_Stands @ 10:15 PM
6 Comments:
At 9:12 AM,
LA Sunset said…
Depending on what the difference is between the YMCA rate you are paying and what you will have to pay at another gym, it may not be a bad idea to get out.
At 9:51 AM,
All_I_Can_Stands said…
The YMCA has the best family rate around which is why we go. If things stay ok until Chip goes to college, we will stay and then maybe move to another gym when it is just my wife and I.
At 9:56 AM,
Tiana said…
Yep.. I hate the YMCA. Just stumbled on this when I was writing an article on my hate for the YMCA. When I was done I typed YMCA liberal in google and found this. My bad experiences have to do more with the swimming pool and all the rules. Here are a few things I don't like about the YMCA pool where I live.
I walk in and start putting on floatation devices on my kids. A lifeguard tells me they are not allowed and I must take them off before getting in the pool. It's not safe they say. It must be coast guard approved. Many times if anyone in my family including my children did not shower before entering the pool we were told we must do that next time. We were also forced against our will to get out of the pool on busy days with all the children so they could go over the pool rules for 15 minutes every so often when a lot of people where swimming. They then talked about how you can't put on sunscreen right before you get in the pool because it makes the pool greasy, no running, and a billion other tiny things. In addition to this they also checked my sons swim diaper and then gave me a flyer at one time saying I can only use one type of swim diaper now and there is only one website I can buy it from. It's safer for everyone in the water they said. We also learned swimming at the YMCA that my kids were both supposed to be with in arms reach of me at all times and with no floatation devices they tended to sick to the shallow part of the water and go in separate directions. The YMCA pool is not big but they have it divided into 3 parts. One side for adults only doing lap swimming, another part for small kids and another part for older kids. It made the small pool even smaller and did not give you much room since no one was ever swimming laps much anyway.
YMCA might as well just get a big sign and write "No Fun Is Allowed At This Pool"
At 7:28 AM,
Anonymous said…
How long will it be before I go to the grocery store and have to pay more for a gallon of milk based on my income? This socialist thinking is a sickness. I was shocked to visit a YMCA that I was thinking about joining and find that I would be punished for working hard and being productive. How in the world is it any business of my gym how much money I make. What other completely private details of my life would they like to know? We have to stop this kind of thing in the US, or we will cease to be who we have been.
At 2:32 PM,
Anonymous said…
The Shasta Family YMCA has gone socialist when they brought a new ceo from Seattle. First action: Remove the American flag. Next disallow local military reservists to drill in the gym when raining. He instituted thisis rate structure and the result is 40% membership whois pay little or nothing. He "resigned" btw. Membership fees for those who work just keep going up to pay for those who don't, and sadly they trash the place. Were not talking about programs here, just general membership. It's sorta like Obamacare. The YMCA used to b a ministry. Notice today they like to just go by the Y.
Btw, rates elsewhere are up to 75% less.
At 5:00 AM,
Unknown said…
Informative post. Thanks for sharing
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