Member Testimonials
Availability and plenty of options
I like that people from all backgrounds, ages, and fitness levels are welcome and can find suitable classes.
Great instructors and the schedule.
The work out instructors are awesome
The variety and excellent teachers
Location…staff….good service….up. to date equipment
It’s important to know I’m answering this survey as a senior person and through the lens of the ForeverWell program.
Virtual presentations commencing in March 2020, were and continue to be my connection to the Y. Prior to that date, it was the public gatherings provided by Elena Dinkin that were unique to the Y.
Now, with vaccinations and a cautious and safer return to in-person activities, Elena continues to be the key to my continuous membership. Honestly, without Elena or someone as capable and caring as she, I would have kept my $30/month dues in my bank account and continued to take advantage of a Silver Sneakers Program paid by my health insurance.
Of course, I enjoy the workout equipment and the able assistance of wellness staff and personal trainers.
Have no doubt, many of we seniors (on fixed incomes) remained with the Y when dues were imposed because of the opportunities of the ForeverWell program and specifically Elena Dinkins!
Variety
everything is good
Great cleannesss and awesome staff
I like the eGym and equipment upstairs because I can work out independently.
Convenience, cleanliness, courtesy of staff.
They are fun as well as energizing!!!
variety of exercises and Christian family activities
The youth sports are great. More seasons of volleyball please.
TheYMCA has a wide variety of activities- you can exercise, dance, swim, etc. And take cooking classes and take bus tours, etc. All helping to create a community that makes you feel you belong - you want to go and be involved and be a part of this great organization.
Convenient
Friendliness of staff
Its has given my family a oppurtunity be apart of activities that are mental, physical and financally affortable. The YMCA give us a full circle village mentality experience!!!
Good equipment
Great instructors and a variety of programs to attend.
The facility is very clean ,well equipped, with friendly helpful staff. fortunately because of the pandemic social distancing is well accommodated. All the equipment is readily accessible with no waiting. Unfortunately this translates to fewer clients. There is little human to human interaction which negates one of the benefits of attending a larger facility. A very safe environment could easily accommodate twice the attendance.
Elaine Dunkin, for presendent 2024
Lap pool swimming best place and lifeguards are super
So many activities to select. It is nice for those who aren't active. Gives them a chance to get out and enjoy themselves with others.
The best class I enjoy is Jihon's class on Monday morning. I think she is a great instructor and is favored by many. her classes are always full at 10:45.
I like the way you have responded during the Covid situation by allowing reasonable mask wearing requirements. People who attend the Y are some of the best people around. Staff is always helpful. great variety of programs and activities to suit everybody.
Exercises for seniors, game day, special activities every Friday and the people that worked there especially Elena Dinkin.
We have been members for over 6 years at the Weekley YMCA. I originally sought out the YMCA for after school care for my daughter who was starting kindergarten and for summer camp as well. I have grown to depend heavily on the YMCA in order to work and support my family throughout the years.
Finding such a welcoming place full of people that I trust with my daughter so I can pursue my career has been just a blessing for us. I work with many other working moms who stress over closed childcare during school holidays/in service days or transportation being inconsistent or the massive childcare costs and every time I say, you need to find your local YMCA.
My kid comes out of after school care with her homework done, and sweaty and happy from playing outside and hanging out with her friends. We attend a local magnet school and her school friends don't live in the local area like us so the YMCA has helped her find local neighborhood friends as well. The late pickup time has also saved me on so many occasions. I work in public service and if an emergency arises I have to delegate needs before I can leave, and having a 6:30pm pick up for after school care is the difference between me stressing out in after work traffic to get there on time. There have been so many times that I arrive to pick her up at 5:30pm and she begs to stay just a bit longer to hang with her friends or finish a fun activity that I'm able to get in a quick workout upstairs or just sit in the sauna and have 15 minutes of decompression time which feels like a luxury as a single mom.
This summer, during the pandemic, the YMCA was available for us essential workers as well. Having the summer program for my kid available so I could work without worrying about her was the #1 reason I was able to perform my job duties over the summer. I told my boss this 100x times over that consistent, safe childcare that has pickup to at least 6pm is why I can thrive and grow in my career instead of being stressed and worried about my family, especially during the pandemic.
My daughter is heading to middle school this year and is hoping to transfer to another magnet school with a good theatre program. One of the 'important' factors on her list in ranking the options being able to get to the 'Weekley YMCA afterschool program.
We have been so fortunate to have found the YMCA for our family - When she first started her favorite counselor was Marquetta Moss. Ms. Marquetta is now moved up the ranks to overseeing her program and it's well deserved. Ms. Marquetta always keeps us parents in the loop, communicates quickly with any issues or updates and remembers every kid's name, even if they just started there.
There have been times in the past where my finances were tight and my payments were returned or late and Ms. Moss and other Y employees in accounting worked through the issues with no judgement and with grace and I am forever grateful for that grace that was extended to me at that time. I also want to say thank you for augmenting the monthly costs for membership over the last year, I was incredibly helpful to us and our tight budget.
During the pandemic, Ms. Marquetta and her team not only rolled out the new protocols for safety and kept the kids on point but they did it with kindness - they all worked hard to help the kids transition through this rough time and with all the limitations in place (no field trips, no close contact) all of the counselors changed everything up so all of the kids could still have fun and be safe at the same time. After being locked up in the house for an entire school year, my kid and others were ready to break free and have some fun and the team all helped them re-socialize, have fun and kept them safe.
Over the years, we have had many counselors come through the after school and summer program, but this year has been has been the best group of counselors so far - according my daughter and myself! Devante Shorter has inspired many of the kids, including my daughter, to program and code for robotics after he began the robotics classes a couple of years ago.
Julio Castillo is a nice and calming presence and quick with communicating any issues that arise. Paris and Ajah both handle the kids and their unique personalities well and my daughter rates Mr Miles as her current favorite counselor because she can make him laugh. This has been a really tumultuous time for my kid and having the YMCA being open, available and flexible over the last year has made such a difference to my own mental and physical wellbeing and has been a safe space for my daughter to just get to be a kid again.
I asked her if there where anything she would add or change about the Weekley YMCA and she said only one thing. She would love to have cooking class again with Mr. Isiah! He inspired her to try different types of food and I credit her love of cooking and baking to him personally.
Thank you for these amazing programs, the pandemic has really shown that quality childcare at affordable rates is needed for families to flourish and prosper in our communities. I know it has for me. Jana Satterwhite and my daughter, Juna Satterwhite
I like the variety of equipment and operation hours.
I like the reservation system. Also, some of the instructors are excellent.