Jan 25, Stephanie Arnold, Marketing & Content Manager, YMCA of Central Kentucky,

LEXINGTON, KY – The Rotary Club of Lexington held its weekly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 25, at The Mane on Main, Stephanie Arnold, YMCA Central Kentucky, Your Only HUMAN: 5 Reflections on Exercise, Excuses, & Expectations

This meeting will also be on Zoom. For the Zoom link please email, [email protected].

If you would like to have lunch, please contact [email protected] to reserve your meal.

The Rotary Club of Lexington is joined today by YMCA of Central KY Marketing Manager Stephanie Arnold as she shares insights and observations about resolutions, habits, and what you have in common with the fittest, strongest person at the gym.

Stephanie is a longtime Lexingtonian with a heart for people, experiences, and all things local. She has worked in marketing and sales both in for-profit and not-for profit organizations, all of which led to her current role at the YMCA of Central Kentucky, telling stories and building community. She currently works on the marketing team, managing all content creation and delivery for the organization, shining a light on the vast range of programs and services the Y provides to Central Kentucky. She’s lobbying hard to get her official title changed to YMCA Hype Girl. Stephanie thrives on human connection, shared experiences, and collaborative work. When she’s not at the Y working, volunteering, or exercising, she’s eating, reading, or planning her next trip with her favorite travel companions, her husband and son.

As noted on its webpage:

“Since 1853, the YMCA of Central Kentucky has focused on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. At the Y strengthening community is our cause. We know that a strong community can only be achieved when we invest in our kids, our health and our neighbors. By bringing together people from different backgrounds, perspectives and generations, we ensure that all have access to the opportunities, relationships and resources necessary to learn, grow and thrive. . . Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all. With that and our cause of strengthening community, we’re here to make Central Kentucky a better place for all.”

The Y’s program offerings are extensive and cover the broad areas of camps, child care, swimming, education and enrichment, health and fitness and sports and recreation.

Give a warm Rotary welcome to Stephanie Arnold!

ROTARY IN REVIEW

MAINTAINING MOTIVATION AND FITNESS GOALS IN THE NEW YEAR

Rotarian Dylan Harper opened our meeting with a fabulous inspiration and a challenge to all of us to recruit new members who want to change the world.

Our speaker was Stephanie Arnold, Marketing and Content Manager for the YMCA.  She initially thanked us for our partnership in forming the Miracle League.  Then she took us on her personal YMCA journey and how it “changed her life”.  She described how she took one class and never left.  Stephanie described the impact of the YMCA as falling into two categories:  those for whom it provided a wildly transformative experience physically, mentally, socially and/or spiritually, and those for whom it has served as a sustaining presence over the years.

Her journey included a memory of 9/11 and the fact that she was in a group exercise class during the World Trade Center attacks.  She also described how the YMCA was founded by George Williams in London (England, not Kentucky!) during the Industrial Revolution and later found a home in the United States at the famed Old South Church in Boston.

Stephanie spent the remainder of her presentation explaining “why YMCA stories matter” and introducing us to a wide range of YMCA members and their stories.  She closed her presentation with a mnemonic – HUMAN.

H – Have a Plan

U – Understand yourself

M – Make an Appointment

A – Assess and Adjust

N – New and Now

Reflecting on her presentation, I was impressed with the number of similarities there are between the YMCA and Rotary:  we are both changing lives, changing our community and changing the world.

• Jim Richardson