Member Spotlight
Casual, Connected, Committed.
A perfect example of the YMCA membership philosophy of bringing our members along a continuum of involvement and commitment to the Y is Cristin Bilodeau and her family. Cristin and her husband Eric began their membership at the East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA in November of 1999 and now Cristin is one of five popular cycling instructors, who together offer a total of 17 varied cycling classes each week, up from three struggling classes a week just one year ago. She and her family have built strong relationships with members and staff that will last a lifetime. How she got there is a familiar YMCA tale.
In its infancy, group cycling was offered in the Mount Hope Child Care Center, where it was difficult to get members to participate. After several attempts at getting more than a few participants, we decided to cancel it until our new center provided us with a suitable space. It was then, in 2006, that Cristin took her next step toward a deeper involvement in the Y. She volunteered to teach the class to keep it running. She continued to volunteer until July of 2006.
Once the new addition was complete and we had a designated cycling room, Cristin became a Y employee and began getting YMCA certifications in YMCA Spinning and YMCA Group Exercise.
During her Y journey, Cristin’s family grew. Alice was born in 2002 and Leo in 2004. The family now participates in many of the Y’s family offerings. The children take Y swim lessons, they enjoy their time in Prime Time and the family enjoys family swims. Of her Y experience, Cristin comments “The new Y addition makes the space sunny, spacious and modern. But it’s the new friends I’ve met at the Y, and the old friends that have become members that make the Y what it is…four walls filled with wonderful, supportive people.”