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Dear Editor: On Monday at the Grist Brown Memorial YMCA of Selma-Dallas County, the gym was resounding with shouts of children having fun!  The summer camp is going on and it was awesome hearing the children and seeing the counselors there interacting with them.  The YMCA is truly a blessing for our area and has been for many years.  In fact, the YMCA in Selma was the first one in the state many years ago.

My husband and I are charter members of the current YMCA, since 2007 when it opened.  We had joined the Grist Y when we moved to Selma in 2001.  Through the years we have never dropped our membership.  I will say, since the new YMCA was opened, there have been good and flourishing times and hard times.  Today, I want to thank Rashida Morgan and Austin Williams for keeping the current YMCA facility open and going through some hard times.  I also want to use this forum to apologize for my criticisms of the way the facility (the pool especially) has been operated.  At times those criticisms have been published here.  There have been hard times the last few years, reflected in loss of members. Some time back, in speaking with a former board member, I was told  “the biggest problem was the lack of financial support from the community and especially the membership.  The dues do not provide anywhere near what it takes to operate the Y and people simply would not give what it takes to run it right.  It is such a shame because the Y was our crown jewel when it first opened.”  Given that knowledge, I can better understand why things are the way they are currently with Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Williams and the manner in which they run the facility.  However, due to them, it remains open and it needs our support.  So, Selma and Dallas County, this letter is also a plea to you. The YMCA is a great melting pot place for us to come together and help make it better for us all.  Let’s just do it!  Join us and benefit from the existing programs….with more members, and support from those who might be able to, more programs could be added.  Foremost, and I should have said this first, give thanks for the Y staff, building, space to grow that we have and pray for differences to be resolved and the YMCA to grow to the glory of God, for the betterment of us all.  If you feel led, the Y is asking for donations of healthy snacks for the summer camp….these can be dropped off to the front desk to the attention of Austin Williams or Rashida Morgan.  Y Leaders and others in Selma who have and do love the Y and have benefited from its legacy, please hear my heart.  I love the YMCA.  I want it to be the best it can be for all of us.

In Jesus,

Gail Box Ingram

Valley Grande

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