1 /5 Matthew John: I attended here for a few months recently and also when I was a kid.
Considering its supposed to be a Christian establishment I was not treated in a Christian way, catholic sure, not Christian.
The staff here can be nice, but are usually stuck up. It took 6 weeks to get one to realize I wasnt hitting on her and was just being nice, like I am with literally everyone.
Unfortunately the management here is not properly integrated and there is an absolute failure regarding communication and authority to permit.
One instance is use of facilities for non standard functions. If the courts are open and empty and you want to stretch or dance, and you receive approval from multiple staff, upon shift change that approval isnt worth a break and you will be reprimanded. It doesnt matter that you talk to them later with the staff who gave approval, youre still warned. Ive even asked management and been approved to dance but then its revoked, because of the fact I was reprimanded for doing something I was allowed to. This being after stating that there was an issue previously and asking explicitly for an exception given the fact the facility wasnt in use and I wouldnt continue to dance if people arrived or had issue with it.
Not only that but decorum overall is substandard. Rules held generally at YMCA in multiple states (NYC NY, ESVA VA, San Francisco CA) are selectively applied at this YMCA. Its very unusual.
Look Im not some stranger in a new town...
My family has roots going back 8 Generations in this valley, one of the islands on the river was named after my moms side. A cousin of mine was Governor back in the day, multiple relative are prominent Doctors Lawyers and School Administrators.
Although we might not be the largest clan, or the most well known.. we are definitely a middle of the pack group.. (frankly that speaks for something around here).. we know what to expect from the community and THIS YMCA seems only interested in catering to young children, Wilkes University students and retired dues paying men exclusively with the addition of 2 Muslim families and the occasional event.
To have someone discriminate against me for dancing on an empty basketball court and lightly singing a few songs while jogging on the treadmill, its disappointing.
They could have just said, certain facilities are only to be used for their assigned function, regardless of whether other functions can be held there. Instead they leave things up in the air and yoyo their preferences and willingness to be considerate and accommodating.
They could have sign stating No singing or talking while on the treadmills (Im SURE there still isnt, 14 months later).
Instead, they fail to state their way of thinking and I believe they use the lack of instruction to discriminate against people who do not fit their express demographic interests.
Ill end my review with the following:
Judging someone for finding a place to pursue fitness, and expecting them to do things you havent even dictated within the rules is inconsiderate and a study in stress and failure to administrate your duties.
Knowingly oppressing fitness enthusiast and their related activities just because they either seek to conduct themselves in a place those actions arent normally held or appear different is wrong.
Expressing being Christian practitioners and then being intolerant of your own gospel is just sad.
