The YWCA's historic building in a 1920's photo.
(Image courtesy of Nellie Dixon)
The YWCA of Central New Jersey, operating out of its historic Plainfield YWCA building on East Front Street, is embarking on a search for a new Executive Director who will lead it into its second century, according to acting interim executive director Diane Du Brule.
Its Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of the current executive director, Cathleen Ludlow, effective this Friday, January 15.
According to Du Brule, the first order of business will be to recruit an Interim Executive Director, for which the Board has already appointed a search committee.
Typically, nonprofits use an interim period between executive directors as an opportunity for the Board of Directors to reassess the organization's mission, programs and goals, inviting stakeholders to reaffirm the importance of the organization and recommit to its progress.
An elaborate 'YWCA' crest under the oriel window of the building's theater.
With more than a century of service to women and families in the greater Plainfield area, the YWCA has shown itself to be an integral part of the community's service organizations.
Adaptation to changing conditions has been a hallmark of the YWCA's resilience. It moved from the classic model of a residence for 'single working women' and health, fitness and character-building activities for women and youngsters, to one of support for women as they more and more entered the workforce.
One of the YWCA's most successful programs has been its TWIN program, which helped women network in corporate and professional settings, chipping away at the 'glass ceiling' which women face in careers.
Under the leadership of its previous executive director, Jackie Glock, the YWCA of Central New Jersey was able to complete an ambitious capital improvements program which added a new wing for early childhood care that is state-of-the-art and one of the best such physical facilities in the city.
Du Brule also noted the YWCA is thrilled that it will be replacing two of the complex's boilers this month under an energy efficiency program offered by PSE&G. The expected cost of replacement is nearly $250,000.
The aging boilers have been an issue during recent months. While the facility was able to keep the newer early childhood care wing nice and toasty, as was noted by a Health Division inspection, the older portions of the complex experienced intermittent heat problems.
The telephone system, which had been affected by the temperature fluctuations from the boiler issues, has been up and running for about a week, says Du Brule.
Plainfield is an exception in this day and age for a community of its size to have both a YWCA and a YMCA. In many other communities, one or the other has gone by the boards, or consolidated into mammoth facilities.
Both Plainfield organizations, while experiencing challenges, have reinvented themselves under changing conditions to continue to serve Plainfield and the surrounding communities in addressing new and ever-changing opportunities and circumstances of their core constituencies.
Long life and much success to both the YWCA and the YMCA!
-- Dan Damon [follow]
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3 comments:
It's a shame the churches in town don't help the Y with some donations.
It is a sad state of affairs that most of the donations to the Y come from people OUTSIDE of Plainfield.
Why did the Pressman school move in the middle of the night?
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