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A visionary and unified Alliance of YMCAs leading change, supporting impactful leaders, and developing healthier communities.

NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 12th annual Northern New England YMCA Leadership Conference on November 15, 2024 in Portland, Maine! We are excited to see you again next year.

Workshops and Speakers

Visit the links below to recap the conference sessions, presentations, and speaker information.

Conference Session, Workshops, and Speaker Information
Workshop Presentations

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Meagan Hamblett
Chief Executive Officer Meagan.Hamblett@nneymcas.org
207-380-5473

Meg Helming
Chief Operating Officer Meg.Helming@nneymcas.org
207-232-9896

Paige Binfield
Director of Development Paige.Binfield@nneymcas.org
518-572-4540

YMCA ALLIANCE OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND

There are 25 YMCAs with programs in more than 54 locations across Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Together, the Northern New England Ys serve more than 203,000 people each year. At the Y, strengthening community is our cause.

Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. The Alliance supports collaboration amongst the states’ Ys and community partners to increase our impact and advocate for positive change in our communities.

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Copyright 2024 YMCA Alliance of Northern New England

NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
SESSIONS AND WORKSHOPS

GENERAL SESSION

THE HUMAN CENTERED LEADERSHIP APPROACH
Shanna Smiley, YMCA of the USA

We acknowledge that the world is changing and becoming more complex, ambiguous and volatile. This change requires us to reassess our approach to leadership, and to ensure that our leaders are equipped with the tools they need to better serve their communities, to navigate change, to thrive in their career aspirations and to build strong, healthy teams along the way. During this conversation, we will bring together diverse thought leadership and dialogue across 3 important leadership competencies: Empathy, Agility and Growth Mindset. Join us as we ideate and explore the future of YMCA leadership for ourselves, our organization and our communities!

With a special performance by Y-Arts Program, Boothbay Region YMCA

Y-Arts is the nationally recognized Arts Program at the Boothbay Region YMCA. Local youth and adults enjoy programming in all areas of the arts: visual, singing, dancing, music lessons, and fully staged productions. The program is directed by Emily Mirabile who has led the Y Arts competition team to numerous victories and titles at the Junior Theater Festival and the National Performing Arts Festival. Y-Arts is a safe and supportive place for performers and artists of all ages to learn and perform.

WORKSHOPS

Participants can choose to attend two workshops during the afternoon portion of the conference.

Advancing Our Cause: Federal Policy Insights & Advocacy Strategies for Local Impact

This workshop will discuss the YMCA’s federal policy priorities; election results and potential impacts on the Y; and how YMCA of the USA is supporting Ys in all 50 states to raise their voices with policy makers at every level to advance our collective mission.

Jeff Britt, YMCA of the USA

Crunching Numbers Raising Dollars: Using Data to DRIVE Fundraising Success

In the ever-evolving landscape of fundraising, data has become a powerful tool to drive strategic decisions and optimize campaign outcomes. Join us as we explore how to turn numbers into your fundraising sidekick, making every annual appeal and fund drive a smashing success. This workshop will look at the pivotal role data can play in fundraising using real-life examples, and participants will walk away with practical insights and tools on how best to collect, analyze, and apply fundraising data within your own organizations, and get you excited to start crunching some numbers of your own — no statistics degree required!

Erin Cavallaro, MPPM, University of Southern Maine Foundation

Skills & Strategies for LGBTQIA2s+ Inclusive Programming

This workshop is for anyone looking to better serve LGBTQIA2s+ youth at their Y. During the workshop, participants will learn foundational terminology and seek to understand key data that depict the impact of systems on LGBTQIA2s+ youth mental and physical health. This session is highly interactive and will include opportunities to move, engage in discussion, practice new skills, and reflect on past and best practice.

Cassie Cooper, OUT Maine

Mental Health Community Care & Your Y

This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn about the YMCA Community Care Model, which includes historical background and innovation across the Y movement to date. Participants will engage through discussion and practice activities that aim to “walk the walk” of community care. Additionally, participants will learn about strategies Ys are using to “do” mental health in big and small ways.

Karen Friedman, YMCA of the USA
Katie Soule, The Granite YMCA

Panel Discussion: Assessing and Strengthening Your YMCA

There’s a lot of support available to strengthen your Y. In this workshop, you will learn from a network of YMCA partners comprised of the Alliance, local YMCA leaders, Y-USA, Service Delivery, and third-party partner, DBD Group. Hear about how this team conducts diverse and in-depth analyses of a YMCA’s current operations and assists a local Y in developing a plan to prioritize opportunities. Explore support available through DBD Group to drill down and strengthen your Y’s fundraising, fiscal, and capital development capacity. This work can help all size YMCAs improve capacity, efficiency, and impact.

Meagan Hamblett, YMCA Alliance of Northern New England (Moderator)
Noma Anderson, Greater Burlington YMCA
Mike LaChance, YMCA of Greater Nashua
Rod Grozier, gro Development
Katie Parker, YMCA of Greater Nashua
John Pecora, Saratoga Regional YMCA
Leighann Sibal, DBD Group
Kellie Wardman, DBD Group

Strategic Foresight

Strategic foresight, also referred to as futures thinking, is the practice of thinking about the future in a structured way. It is taking a systematic approach to exploring many different possible futures and drawing out insights to inform practical strategies and actions that can be taken today. Organizations use strategic foresight to anticipate and prepare for future challenges, as well as capitalize on emerging innovations. In this workshop, participants will develop an understanding of strategic foresight, learn how to leverage foresight for organizational strategy and innovation, and practice futuristic thinking.

Alison Huppert, YMCA of the USA

Empowering Excellence: Cultivating a Culture of Service

This workshop empowers participants to foster a service-oriented culture within their organization. Through interactive activities and practical exercises, attendees will learn principles of exceptional service, develop strategies to enhance member and staff satisfaction, and sustain service excellence. By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to lead and drive organizational success through a dedicated commitment to service.

Tabitha May-Tolub, TMT Coaching & Consulting

Keeping Families Engaged All Year Long

Communication is key in every relationship, including camp families. By keeping families engaged all year long, the Y can stay top of mind as a vibrant community that kids want to return to year after year. We will discuss the importance of engagement and address the reasons we lose touch. We will talk about the benefits to repetition and what it means for camps. We review multiple communication tools and how to turn it into a 12-month plan. This 12-month plan will become a road map for your organization’s engagement with camp families. Folks will leave with a better understanding about how to strategically plan for year-round engagement.

Dan Weir, Day Camp Community