CAMBRIDGE — On July 1 the Dorchester County Family YMCA welcomed new members to its Board of Directors and honored several community members with awards for helping to advance the cause and mission of the YMCA in Dorchester County. Joining the Board of Directors this year for the Dorchester County Family YMCA are: Steve Culver, Chris Hauge, Lynn Hutchinson, Lee Grier, Omeaka Jackson and Nicholette Smith-Bligen. Gerry Boyle, the Y’s newly-elected Chief Volunteer Officer (CVO) shared his vision for the future and commitment to the Y and community with those in attendance. “I’m excited about the future of our YMCA ... while amazing things have been happening especially with the gift from the Robbins Foundation which saved our pool ... there’s still so much need in our community and work to be done in the lives of children and families ... but we need help.  We’ve got to get the word out and help people understand that we are a charity and it does take a village.” A key highlight during the evening involved the acknowledgment of the Pauline F. and W. David Robbins Charitable Foundation Trust for their generous support to the Dorchester County Family YMCA. Their support enabled the Y to keep the pool operational, as well as provide much needed debt relief for the original loan on the pool. Leonard Foxwell represented the foundation as one of the trustees who have made it their purpose to carry on the legacy of Pauline F. and W. David Robbins and that is to enrich the lives of the residents of Dorchester County and see that its citizens and the “SHORE” way of life reap the benefits of what they worked so hard to achieve. 1880 Bank was instrumental in helping restructure the original loan on the pool with funds received from this gift to in fact do just that. Mission Advancement awards were also presented by staff and board members to key volunteers including Volunteer Swim Club Coaches John Haller and Sarah Lettelier who were awarded the Youth Development Award by several members of the Swim Club which was comprised of middle school students. Julianna Pax, volunteer Line Dance Instructor for 11 years was presented with the mission advancement award for Healthy Living. Chair of the Dorchester Family YMCA’s Heart of the Chesapeake Bike Tour Fred Haller was presented with the Bob Brannock Social Responsibility Award. Fred, long-time friend of the Brannock family, is leading the charge to raise much needed funds for the YMCA in honor and memory of Bob Brannock whom the award is named after. Special to The Dorchester Banner/Dorchester YMCA
The Dorchester County Family YMCA’s newly-elected Board of Directors for 2015-2016. Back Row: Steve Culver, Frank Narr, Lee Grier, Dion Banks, Adam Tomey, Vernon Phillips, and Gerry Boyle. Front Row: Nicholette Smith-Bligen, Omeaka Jackson, Lynn Hutchinson, Sharon Borg Wall, Mary Ann Moore and Robin Stanley.[/caption]