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Conversations with... Boyd Williams

By GENE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
Boyd Williams is the new executive director of the Stevens Point Area YMCA, succeeding Dan Newhouse. He started in the position on May 6, coming from the Milwaukee YMCA, the largest in the state with 18,000 members. He spent three years there as association executive director and five years before that with the Neenah-Menasha YMCA.

After Williams arrived in Stevens Point, the YMCA opened a Family Prime Time Center and a Teen Center on Oct. 1.

A native of Two Rivers, Williams graduated from high school there, then spent three years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Hawaii. "I was guarding the beaches," he said. After his stint in the Army, he went to Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., earning a bachelor's degree while majoring in sports management with a physical education emphasis.

His time in Georgia turned him into a Civil War buff because of the proximity to several Civil War battlefields.

He and his wife Rhonda have three children, Austin, Hunter and Alexis, with Austin starting kindergarten at McDill School last month.

Gazette: What made you decide to come to Stevens Point?

Williams: "Quite a few things. The position itself was a step up. The attractiveness of Stevens Point for my wife and three young children. I knew the history of Stevens Point, I knew Dan (Newhouse) did a good job here and the community supported the Y and the United Way."

Gazette: Although Dan Newhouse was the executive director, he also provided maintenance services, such as shoveling snow. Will you be doing the same?

Williams: "I didn't know that I'd have to do it on Oct. 21 (when Stevens Point got about 5 inches or so of snow). I made a joke to the president of the (YMCA) board that I wasn't supposed to shovel in October. But I grew up in Two Rivers, so I know what shoveling's about."

Gazette: The YMCA recently added on to the facility to provide additional services. How does the facility rate?

Williams: "It's really a diverse facility. One section, the old Pacelli High School, is 50 years old now and then you have the new facility. I think this is a great resource for the community. The Adventure Pool has been greatly received. We have the Family Prime Time Center and the Teen Center. This has allowed us to greatly benefit the community. The board and the staff definitely did their homework when they decided to build the Adventure Pool."

Gazette: Is the YMCA looking at any further expansions?

Williams: "Today that's a great question. We just held a strategic planning session. We're trying to map out the next three years, 2003-2005. One of the areas that came up is renovation of the fitness center. We have great family activities and family fun areas. We have the full gamut for anyone. The multi-purpose gymnasium has a lot of usage. Fitness has been one of those areas identified as for adults. We want to stay on the cutting edge and it's an evolutionary process. We want to provide the best product possible.

"Looking long range you have to identify possibilities. Do we need another gymnasium? Do we need more gymnastic space?"

Gazette: What programs are you offering to teens in the community?

Williams: "The YMCA traditionally offers the Teen Leaders Club and Youth in Government. The Teen Leaders has 70 members to teach responsibility and build better citizens. Those are incredible numbers.

"Finally now we have a room dedicated to teens in grades 6-12. We offer Saturday night Y, which is open to the community. Teens and kids come in for $2 and we have about 150 here to use the facility. Specific activities are a dance and a battle of the bands. We have computer stations and pool tables. It's a place teens can call their own. It looks like a nice conducive place where teens can hang out and have fun.

"The Teen Center was identified as a desire almost two years ago and we finally got it opened Oct. 1 after deciding to turn storage space into the center."

Gazette: What programs do you offer for pre-teens?

Williams: "The Family Prime Time Center is there for kids from 6 weeks to sixth grade. There's the Toy Room, Adventure Alley and the center with four flat screen computers, video games, reading and educational materials. We want families to come in and play together often. It's an opportunity for parents to come with their children. We want families to spend time together.

"We have board games. One month into it (since the opening of the Family Prime Time Center) we have a lot of use. We have moms who stay at home and bring their kids in and play with them. It's nice to see.

"We have plenty of programs to offer youth, with flag football, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and aquatics programs. Younger kids have traditionally used sports programs that families can take advantage of."

Gazette: The Boys and Girls Club recently organized in the Stevens Point area. Do you see any possible conflicts between the Y and the club?

Williams: "I think we complement each other. Ys across the nation have teen clubs. Nationally, the Y has a goal of serving one of every five teens and may serve more teens than any other group.

"We do different things. We co-exist. We are in this together to serve teens. We're not going to stop doing what we have been doing."

Gazette: The executive director used to have his office in the older section of the facility, but you've moved the office up to the new section, close to the front door. Why did you do that?

Williams: "I want to be in the face of the members. I want to hear complaints, comments. I need to know how members feel. They're members and also donors. It helps me to know what our constituent base is.

"I also have two windows in my office that look into rooms were we have kids, the Toy Room and Adventure Alley. It can be distracting, but I can also see what's going on."



	Conversations with... Boyd Williams By GENE KEMMETER of The Gazette Boyd Williams is the new executive director of the Stevens Point Area YMCA, succeeding Dan Newhouse. He started in the position on May 6, coming from the Milwaukee YMCA, the largest in the state with 18,000 members. He spent three years there as association executive director and five years before that with the Neenah-Menasha YMCA. After Williams arrived in Stevens Point, the YMCA opened a Family Prime Time Center and a Teen Center on Oct. 1. A native of Two Rivers, Williams graduated from high school there, then spent three years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Hawaii. "I was guarding the beaches," he said. After his stint in the Army, he went to Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Ga., earning a bachelor's degree while majoring in sports management with a physical education emphasis. His time in Georgia turned him into a Civil War buff because of the proximity to several Civil War battlefields. He and his wife Rhonda have three children, Austin, Hunter and Alexis, with Austin starting kindergarten at McDill School last month. Gazette: What made you decide to come to Stevens Point? Williams: "Quite a few things. The position itself was a step up. The attractiveness of Stevens Point for my wife and three young children. I knew the history of Stevens Point, I knew Dan (Newhouse) did a good job here and the community supported the Y and the United Way." Gazette: Although Dan Newhouse was the executive director, he also provided maintenance services, such as shoveling snow. Will you be doing the same? Williams: "I didn't know that I'd have to do it on Oct. 21 (when Stevens Point got about 5 inches or so of snow). I made a joke to the president of the (YMCA) board that I wasn't supposed to shovel in October. But I grew up in Two Rivers, so I know what shoveling's about." Gazette: The YMCA recently added on to the facility to provide additional services. How does the facility rate? Williams: "It's really a diverse facility. One section, the old Pacelli High School, is 50 years old now and then you have the new facility. I think this is a great resource for the community. The Adventure Pool has been greatly received. We have the Family Prime Time Center and the Teen Center. This has allowed us to greatly benefit the community. The board and the staff definitely did their homework when they decided to build the Adventure Pool." Gazette: Is the YMCA looking at any further expansions? Williams: "Today that's a great question. We just held a strategic planning session. We're trying to map out the next three years, 2003-2005. One of the areas that came up is renovation of the fitness center. We have great family activities and family fun areas. We have the full gamut for anyone. The multi-purpose gymnasium has a lot of usage. Fitness has been one of those areas identified as for adults. We want to stay on the cutting edge and it's an evolutionary process. We want to provide the best product possible. "Looking long range you have to identify possibilities. Do we need another gymnasium? Do we need more gymnastic space?" Gazette: What programs are you offering to teens in the community? Williams: "The YMCA traditionally offers the Teen Leaders Club and Youth in Government. The Teen Leaders has 70 members to teach responsibility and build better citizens. Those are incredible numbers. "Finally now we have a room dedicated to teens in grades 6-12. We offer Saturday night Y, which is open to the community. Teens and kids come in for $2 and we have about 150 here to use the facility. Specific activities are a dance and a battle of the bands. We have computer stations and pool tables. It's a place teens can call their own. It looks like a nice conducive place where teens can hang out and have fun. "The Teen Center was identified as a desire almost two years ago and we finally got it opened Oct. 1 after deciding to turn storage space into the center." Gazette: What programs do you offer for pre-teens? Williams: "The Family Prime Time Center is there for kids from 6 weeks to sixth grade. There's the Toy Room, Adventure Alley and the center with four flat screen computers, video games, reading and educational materials. We want families to come in and play together often. It's an opportunity for parents to come with their children. We want families to spend time together. "We have board games. One month into it (since the opening of the Family Prime Time Center) we have a lot of use. We have moms who stay at home and bring their kids in and play with them. It's nice to see. "We have plenty of programs to offer youth, with flag football, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and aquatics programs. Younger kids have traditionally used sports programs that families can take advantage of." Gazette: The Boys and Girls Club recently organized in the Stevens Point area. Do you see any possible conflicts between the Y and the club? Williams: "I think we complement each other. Ys across the nation have teen clubs. Nationally, the Y has a goal of serving one of every five teens and may serve more teens than any other group. "We do different things. We co-exist. We are in this together to serve teens. We're not going to stop doing what we have been doing." Gazette: The executive director used to have his office in the older section of the facility, but you've moved the office up to the new section, close to the front door. Why did you do that? Williams: "I want to be in the face of the members. I want to hear complaints, comments. I need to know how members feel. They're members and also donors. It helps me to know what our constituent base is. "I also have two windows in my office that look into rooms were we have kids, the Toy Room and Adventure Alley. It can be distracting, but I can also see what's going on."