Toronto YMCA Mismanagement

Lesley,

Thank you for your call earlier.

The news that the "golf court" will finally be returned to squash is welcome. However, I am unable to understand your decision to reject our petition’s request to move Cycle Fit from a squash court to a racquetball court.

Squash is busy; racquetball is not. Why have Cycle Fit on a squash court?

The Y’s own usage statistics support putting Cycle Fit on a racquetball court. http://www.urielw.com/ymca/analysis.htm provides as clear and detailed an analysis of this question as anyone is likely to want.

You repeatedly said in our discussion that squash is an under-utilized program. That is not particularly obvious to squash players. But it is besides the point in any case, since you also say that racquetball is considerably less utilized than squash.

If we were to end up with 4 squash courts and 2 racquetball courts, I can guarantee that many of us would continue to be frustrated, unable to play squash because all the squash courts are in use, while one or both racquetball courts stand empty.

The Y’s "Commitment to Service" states that you will "help members participate fully in programs," and "promptly take action on feedback." Are you upholding this commitment?

Six weeks have now passed since I turned petitions signed by 62 people over to you. At the time you promised a response within 2 weeks. At this point I feel we still do not have an adequate response, because you have offered nothing to explain your final decision.

That decision is the outcome of a decision process from which we were excluded. We cannot see how the decision is consistent with the interests of members. It seems that valuable YMCA facilities are being wasted. If this is somehow not so, I believe we are entitled as members to an explanation.

We would appreciate a reply (copied to the above distribution list).

Sincerely,

Uriel

At Uriel’s request, I am resending this message originally sent Thu 5/4/00 8:09pm.

Dear Members:

Thank you for your interest in improving our squash program at Metro-Central. I have had the opportunity to communicate with Uriel regarding your concerns and the process I have gone through to arrive at a decision. I also expressed after the initial two week period that the collection of data required and the number of discussions I planned with colleagues, staff and volunteers, would unfortunately require more time. Decisions regarding the utilization of program space in our YMCA affects all of 13,000 participants and is taken very seriously. Thank you for your patience.

Based on several guiding program principles, utilization targets and internal data, we have decided to add one additional squash court, effective June 1. Beginning the second week in June we will be refurbishing all of the courts in preparation for a busy fall season and working with volunteers and participants to improve and expand programs for both squash and racquetball. We will also be communicating improved booking and confirmation procedures to allow for greater access to court time for everyone.

I would be pleased to discuss my decision with any individual who would like more information or who may be interested in helping us to move forward with the program in a volunteer capacity. Please call me directly at 975-9168 X400.

Sincerely,
Lesley Davidson

Hi Lesley,

Thank you for your reply. I think a glitch occurred with your email, since your message of Thursday night was not received, at least not by me.

Although we now have your message, something very important is still missing: you do not address the one issue you were asked to respond to.

Keeping Cycle Fit on a squash court is going to cause all of us inconvenience and aggravation. It also appears to be inconsistent with the Y’s "Commitment to Service." As General Manager you have now overridden at least three petitions, since 1997, from dues-paying members. I think it’s fair for us to request an explanation.

We are reasonable people. If using a squash court for non-squash purposes makes sense, we can accept that. What’s unacceptable, not just to squash players but also to anyone who contributes time or money to the Y, is having a valuable squash court wasted for no good reason.

Re the timing of your response to our petition: You called exactly once in the 4 weeks following submission of the petitions. The message you left on that occasion made no mention of a revised response date. It spoke of research into "external trends" and other directions you were pursuing.

Since these directions seemed alien to our petition’s concerns, I made several attempts to contact you, leaving both voice and email messages. None was returned.

Your message invites each of us to call you to discuss your decision. Seventy people have signed the petition; 45 are on this email list. May I suggest you put in writing, just once, your reasons for deciding to maintain TWO courts for racquetball players, when your own numbers show how few Y members are interested in that sport.

Sincerely,

Uriel

Dear Lesley,

In response to your May 9th e-mail - I did not receive the earlier transmission that you say you sent on May 4th - I would like to say that I do not think each of us calling you makes much sense. Especially since our group frustration comes from the paucity of response we have received as a group, headed by Uriel. Your failure to address the questions that we all have in a single group response is disappointing, though the promise of the return of one court and the addressing of the longstanding need for maintenance on all courts is a relief. I am sure there would be no shortage of volunteers, I among them, if there was an organized program.

Peter Higginson

Dear Members:

I’m expecting to see positive results from the addition of one more squash court. The removal of a racquetball court at this time will drive the racquetball access up a level similar to the one that squash players do not find acceptable now. I feel this solution provides fair access to both groups. In addition we will be implementing improved booking and confirmation procedures. We will be monitoring the use of this space over the next 6 months and will evaluate this decision at that time.

Please call me if you would like to discuss this further. My number is (416) 975-9168 X 400.

> The removal of a racquetball court at this time will drive the
> racquetball access up a level similar to the one that squash players do not
> find acceptable now.

Lesley, I don’t think so. I have scanned a whole week’s reservation sheets several times. I have never seen both racquetball courts booked for the same time slot. However, as you must know, every night we have all 3 squash courts simultaneously booked for multiple time slots.

I arrived early for my 6:20 game tonight and was unable to play because all courts were in use. At 7 PM I wanted to play some more and couldn’t. Again, all 3 were in use.

Have you taken a look at the reservation sheets?