| FORM 990 - ORGANIZATION'S MISSION |
"TO PUT CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE THROUGH PROGRAMS, SERVICES AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT BUILD HEALTHY SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY FOR ALL." VISION THE YMCA IS A CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT THAT STRIVES TO EXEMPLIFY CHRIST. OUR STAFF WILL MIRROR THE IMAGE OF CHRIST IN ALL RELATIONS WITH THE PEOPLE WE SERVE AND THOSE WHO ARE A PART OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE WILL IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE THROUGH PROGRAMS AND SERVICES WHICH PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL, DEVELOP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE OF SELF AND OTHERS, APPRECIATE GOOD HEALTH & WELLNESS, ACQUIRE A VALUES SYSTEM AND ELEVATE SPIRITUAL AWARENESS THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN OUR DAILY LIVES. WE WELCOME INTO OUR FELLOWSHIP PERSONS OF OTHER RELIGIOUS FAITHS AND OF NONE. VALUES THE YMCA IS COMMITTED TO PUTTING CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES INTO PRACTICE. YMCA PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES AND RELATIONSHIPS TEACH AND MODEL CHRISTIAN VALUES IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN KIDS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES. CARING, HONESTY, RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY, AND FAITH ARE CORE VALUES EVIDENT IN ALL THAT WE DO. WE ARE A PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION THAT SERVES THE HALL COUNTY COMMUNITY. WE SEEK TO BROADEN AN INDIVIDUAL'S INVOLVEMENT, FIRST FROM PARTICIPANT TO MEMBER AND LATER TO VOLUNTEER, DONOR AND ADVOCATE. YMCA PROGRAMS ARE DEVELOPMENTAL IN NATURE, HELPING PEOPLE GROW IN SPIRIT, MIND AND BODY, WHILE RECOGNIZING THE BENEFITS OF RECREATIONAL TIME AND PURSUITS. WE SEEK TO BE FAIRLY PRICED, AFFORDABLE TO ALL, AND PERCEIVED AS A GOOD VALUE. CHARITABLE AND EARNED REVENUE TOGETHER PROVIDE THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION. A GENEROUS AND EASILY ACCESSIBLE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM KEEPS OUR PROGRAMS AND FACILITIES OPEN TO ALL. THE ORGANIZATION'S PLANNING AND ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS ARE CENTRALLY COORDINATED WHILE PROGRAM DELIVERY IS DECENTRALIZED. FOUNDING THE HALL COUNTY YMCA, NOW KNOWN AS THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA WAS FOUNDED IN 1996 BY A GROUP OF GAINESVILLE'S LEADING CITIZENS. WORLD WIDE YMCA MOVEMENT THE YMCA AS AN ORGANIZATION WAS BORN ON JUNE 6, 1844 IN LONDON, ENGLAND BY A YOUNG MAN BY THE NAME OF GEORGE WILLIAMS. THE YMCA QUICKLY SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD COMING TO NORTH AMERICA IN 1851 IN BOSTON AND TORONTO. TODAY THERE ARE YMCAS LOCATED AROUND THE WORLD IN OVER 220 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. LOCAL AUTONOMY WHILE EACH LOCAL YMCA MUST BE CHARTERED BY THE YMCA OF THE USA, WHICH IS PART OF THE WORLD COUNCIL OF YMCAS, EACH LOCAL YMCA IS COMPLETELY LOCALLY AUTONOMOUS. IN ORDER TO BE CHARTERED, THE YMCA MUST HAVE A PURPOSE IN KEEPING WITH THE WORLDWIDE PURPOSE OF THE YMCA. THEY MUST BE GOVERNED BY A LOCAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EMPLOY A STAFF WHO HAS BEEN TRAINED TO BE PROFESSIONAL YMCA DIRECTORS. SERVICE AREA THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA IS CHARTERED BY THE YMCA OF THE USA TO SERVE ALL OF SEVEN COUNTIES IN THE NORTHEAST GEORGIA AREAS: HALL, DAWSON, LUMPKIN, WHITE, UNION, TOWNS AND GILMER COUNTIES. THESE COUNTIES REPRESENT A TOTAL POPULATION OF MORE THAN 400,000 PEOPLE WITH 53% OF THOSE PEOPLE RESIDING IN HALL. BRANCHES/EXTENSION IN ORDER TO SERVE THE BROAD AREA THE ASSOCIATION CREATES BRANCHES THAT SERVE A GIVEN GEOGRAPHIC COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAMS, VOLUNTEERISM, AND SERVICES. EACH BRANCH OPERATES UNDER THE OVERALL CHARTER AND AUSPICE OF THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA. LEGAL STATUS THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AND RECOGNIZED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AS AN ORGANIZATION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF A 501 (C) 3 ORGANIZATION AND IS NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION. GOVERNANCE THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA IS GOVERNED BY A BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONSISTING OF UP TO 12 PERSONS ELECTED AT LARGE FROM THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN NOVEMBER FOR EACH YEAR. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SETS ALL POLICY, ADOPTS THE STRATEGIC PLAN, EMPLOYS AND MONITORS MANAGEMENT. EACH BRANCH OR EXTENSION ALSO CONTAINS A BRANCH ADVISORY BOARD THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE POLICY, DIRECTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ASSOCIATION'S POLICIES IN ITS ASSIGNED GEOGRAPHIC AREA. THE MANAGEMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION IS IN THE HANDS OF A STAFF HEADED UP BY A CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. THE C.E.O. REPORTS TO THE ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS. YMCA GOALS THROUGH 2014 RESPOND TO POPULATION CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST GEORGIA COMMUNITY AND REFLECT THE DIVERSITY OF OUR COMMUNITY IN ITS PEOPLE, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. EXPAND ITS MEMBERSHIP BASE THROUGHOUT NORTHEAST GEORGIA AND INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF BENEFITS OF YMCA MEMBERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY. ENGAGE, DEVELOP AND RETAIN AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENERGETIC GROUP OF STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF A DIVERSE COMMUNITY. PROVIDE PROGRAMS THAT REINFORCE THE YMCA'S CORE VALUES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, AND IMPROVE THE PHYSICAL, SOCIAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. COMMIT TO CONTINUALLY CARE FOR AND IMPROVE ITS FIXED ASSETS AND PROVIDE SAFE AND COMFORTABLE FACILITIES THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE TO THE COMMUNITY. EXPAND ITS FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INSURING THE ORGANIZATION'S FINANCIAL VIABILITY AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SUPPORTING ITS CHARITABLE WORK. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 2, PART III, LINE 4A |
FISCAL MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AFTER-SCHOOL CHILD CARE: THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA CURRENTLY PROVIDES ACADEMIC, RECREATION AND PROGRAM BASED ACTIVITIES FOR 1,000 CHILDREN EVERY AFTERNOON, 39 WEEKS PER YEAR IN 20 SYSTEM SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT HALL COUNTY. MORE THAN 450 OF THESE CHILDREN, NEARLY 45%, ARE ABLE TO ATTEND THE PROGRAMS UTILIZING OUR YMCA'S FINANCIAL AID AND STATE/FEDERAL FUNDING SOURCES. YOUTH SPORTS: IN 2014 THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA PROVIDED 3,000 CHILDREN WITH RECREATION PROGRAMS IN BASKETBALL, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, TOURNAMENTS, VOLLEYBALL, SPORTS CAMPS AND BASEBALL. THESE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GROW FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN AGES 3-8 YEARS OF AGE. ALL FAMILIES PAY FEES FOR PROGRAM OPERATIONS AND ALL FEES ARE BASED ON INCOME AND FAMILY SIZE, UTILIZING THE YMCA'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABLE FEES. AQUATICS/SWIMMING: IN 2014 MORE THAN 700 SWIMMERS PARTICIPATED IN VARIOUS LEARN TO SWIM PROGRAMS INCLUDING CHILDREN AND ADULT. MORE THAN A 100 "ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS", OVER THE AGE OF 55 PARTICIPATED IN DAILY WATER FITNESS PROGRAMS, WHILE MORE THAN 300 CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT TO SWIM. WELLNESS PROGRAMMING: IN 2014 THE YMCA SERVED MORE THAN 2,800 MEMBERS IN VARIOUS WELLNESS AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES. THROUGH OUR STRONG WELLNESS BASED INITIATIVE, AND OUR CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVATE AMERICA THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA SERVES A VARIETY OF PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS THAT MIRROR THE MAKEUP OF THE HALL COUNTY AREA. ALL FEES TO PARTICIPATE IN WELLNESS PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN OUR MEMBERSHIP FEE WHICH IS BASED ON FAMILY SIZE AND INCOME. MORE THAN 85 GROUP EXERCISE CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE ALONG WITH OUR KID FIT PROGRAMS, ROCK & ROLL FITNESS PROGRAMS, WALKING CLUBS, WATER AEROBICS AND MORE. BEGINNNING IN 2008 THE YMCA WENT FURTHER IN PROVIDING ONLINE FITNESS TRACKING INCLUDED FOR EVERY MEMBER OF THE YMCA. IN AN EFFORT TO ENSURE ALL MEMBERS KEEP WITH THEIR PROGRAMS THE ONLINE SYSTEM, CALLED FITLINXX TRACKS AND UPDATES MEMBERS ON THEIR PROGRESS. IN ADDITION, YMCA TRAINERS AND COACHES ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. OPEN DOORS PROGRAM: IN 2014 THE YMCA SERVED MORE THAN 16,500 PEOPLE WITHIN THE DOORS OF OUR FACILITIES AND PROGRAMS. THROUGH OUR OPEN DOORS PROGRAM EVERY PERSON WISHING TO BE A PART OF THE YMCA IS ALLOWED TO DO SO REGARDLESS OF THE ABILITY TO PAY. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR EXCELLENT FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, GRANTS AND FOUNDATIONS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL SITES WHERE CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AT NO CHARGE. OVERALL, 23% OF ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND FACILITY MEMBERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR FINANCIAL AND OPEN DOORS PROGRAM. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 11B |
THE RETURN IS REVIEWED BY THE CEO AND CFO BEFORE IT IS SUBMITTED. IN ADDITION, A COPY OF THE RETURN IS PROVIDED TO EACH BOARD MEMBER. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 12C |
ANNUALLY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION SENDS A COPY OF THE CONFLICT OF ITNEREST POLICY AND QUESTIONNAIRE TO EACH DIRECTOR, OFFICER, AND SELECTED EMPLOYEE. THAT INDIVIDUAL MUST COMPLETE AND SIGN THE FORM AND RETURN IT TO THE PRESIDENT. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15A |
ONE OF THE KEY PERFORMANCE FACTORS AMONG BEST PRACTICES FOR HUMAN RESOURCES ORGANIZATIONS IS THE MONITORING, CONTROLLING, AND ADMINISTERING OF COMPENSATION POLICIES, PROCESSES, AND PROGRAMS. IN THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA OUR COMPENSATION PROGRAM, POLICIES AND PROCEDURES ARE DESIGNED TO ENSURE: COMPETITIVE SALARIES PROVIDE EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK WITHOUT REGARD TO SEX, RACE, RELIGION, OR ETHNIC DIFFERENCES. PROVIDE A STRUCTURED "JOBS-GRADE SYSTEM BASED ON HAY ANALYSIS AND BEST PRACTICES. ANNUAL SALARY SURVEY REVIEWS AND PROGRESSIVE REGIONAL SALARY ANALYSIS IN PROVIDING DIRECTION ON COMPENSATION PLANNING, MERIT POOL DEVELOPMENT, AND JOB VALUING. CONSIDER COLA IMPACTS REGARDING ANY ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED BASED ON COST OF LIVING, JOB MARKET VALUES, SKILLS AND TECHNICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS ON JOBS CHANGES AND / OR ENHANCEMENTS. IN ADDITION TO OUR STRUCTURED COMPENSATION PRACTICES, THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS YMCA'S COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY IS A "PAY FOR PERFORMANCE" POLICY. WE CONTINUE TO STRIVE TO REWARD TOP PERFORMERS AND TO ENCOURAGE IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT IN RELEVANT AREAS AND TECHNICAL KNOWHOW AND SKILLS. JOB GRADES ARE ESTABLISHED SO THAT SALARY RANGES REFLECT THE JOB'S VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS TO REFLECT IMPACT OF RELATED WORK TO THE OVERALL SUCCESS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. IT SHALL BE NOTED THAT PART OF THE COMPENSATION FOR FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ARE THE BENEFITS PROVIDED IN SUCH AREAS AS HEALTH INSURANCE, DENTAL INSURANCE, LIFE INSURANCE, VACATION TIME, AND PERSONAL PAID TIME OFF FOR OBSERVED HOLIDAYS. IN ADDITION BENEFIT DOLLARS PROVIDED TO SUPPORT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR JOB AND CAREER GROWTH. KEY COMPONENTS TO OUR PROCESS INCLUDE: CONSISTENCY IN POLICY APPLICATION. TIMELY SURVEYS AND SALARY REVIEWS ON AN ANNUAL BASE. JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT FULLY REFLECT NEEDED TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AS WELL AS POSITION VALUE TO THE ORGANIZATION APPLICATION OF RE-EVALUATION PROCESSES REGARDING JOB CATEGORIES, AND JOB FAMILIES BASED ON RELATED IMPACT AND CHANGING NEEDS OF OUR ORGANIZATION. MAINTENANCE OF AN EXEMPT AND NON-EXEMPT, AND EXECUTIVE JOB STRUCTURES. ADHERENCE TO OUR "PAY FOR PERFORMANCE" PRACTICES. CONSISTENTLY REWARDS FOR ADVANCEMENT OF RELEVANT TECHNICAL SKILLS, AND THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF ASSOCIATES. RECOGNITION OF EXTERNAL ECONOMIC PRESSURES THAT CAN AND DO IMPACT OUR EMPLOYEES AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE. THE VALUES OF FAIRNESS ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR PAY PHILOSOPHY COUPLED WITH STRONG ADHERENCE TO CONSISTENCY OF BEST PRACTICES IN ADMINISTRATING OUR "PAY FOR PERFORMANCE" COMPENSATION PLAN. |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 15B |
AS ABOVE |
| FORM 990, PAGE 6, PART VI, LINE 19 |
AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST |
Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.