The Chamber Scene
HUNTINGTON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
305 Warren Street • Huntington, Indiana 46750 • (260) 356-5300 • www.huntington-chamber.com • February 2013
Mission of “Y” consistent through 100 years
With $2,860 pledged
by local citizens to “fix
up” the Briant Building,
which was located at
the corner of Warren
and Franklin Streets,
today’s Parkview Huntington Family YMCA
had its beginnings in a
Ryan Lemon
meeting at the Courthouse on the evening of January 10, 1913.
The front page of The Huntington Press
(one of two daily newspapers in 1913) on
the following day, reported the meeting and
unanimous vote by those in attendance, to
organize the Young Men’s Association. The
Y is celebrating its 100th Anniversary
throughout 2013 with special events under
the leadership of Ryan Lemon its current
executive director.
The Huntington Press reported, “The
mass meeting, which was regarded as exceptionally large in spite of the bad weather,
was called to order by J.W. Caswell, president of the Commercial Association
(today’s Chamber of Commerce).” Caswell
explained that “having such an organization
was regarded as doing something for the
younger generation and making the older
ones young again.”
First known as the HYMA (Huntington
Young Men’s Association), the organization
opened up-to-date athletic facilities and
clubrooms for boys and young men of
Huntington at the newly refurbished rented
facility on May 15, 1913. Boys under 11
years of age paid no dues with membership
fees for boys 12 to 18 being $1 per year.
Women were honorary members upon election, with Tuesday being Ladies Day. By
January 1915 there were 581 members. The
colors of the association were grey and maroon. The first general secretary was hired
and received an annual salary of $720. Paul
M. Taylor was the president of the Y’s first
board of directors.
Mrs. Wallace Grayston was the leader in
the formation of the Women and Girls’ Division of the Y. Her quote, “Women and
Today, the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA sits on the campus of Parkview Huntington Hospital and is located at 1160 W 500 N. 5,650 members utilize 57,000 square feet
of space at the Y where Ryan Lemon is the executive director.
girls have cooperated enthusiastically and
now are to share with the men and boys the
same wonderful association privileges.”
She continued, “Such an inclusive perspective must surely make for a more perfect realization of the aim that all women and girls
might have life and have it more abundantly.”
The first Boy Scout troop in Huntington
County was organized by the Y in October
1917 and the Y opened its first camp on
leased property in July 1919. The annual
budget by 1921 was $4,500 and there were
845 members.
A banquet was held in March 1922 to
commemorate the conversion of the HYMA
to the YMCA. The formal affiliation with
the state YMCA was completed in January
of that year. As reported in The Huntington
Herald on March 8, 1922, “The banquet
was held in the YMCA gym with more than
200 businessmen of the city in attendance.”
During the evening it was suggested by the
Huntington Ministerial Association that “in
the near future there shall be provided funds
to build a complete and modern edifice in
which to enlarge and render more beautiful
the work of the YMCA.”
Camp Dick Runyan, formerly located on
Lake Tippecanoe near North Webster, had
its beginnings in 1924 when Win Runyan
donated $5,000 for the purchase of a permanent camp for boys of Huntington County.
The camp was named in memory of Win’s
son Dick who passed away from illness on
his 15th birthday, January 13, 1924. Camp
Dick Runyan served as a resident camp for
the last time in the summer of 2003 and in
September 2006, it was sold to the Muncie
YMCA.
A letter written in February 1927 from
F.E. (Ed) Wickenheiser to the YMCA board
of directors promised $10,000 in cash and
a provision for an endowment provided the
Y hold a capital campaign to raise not less
than $250,000. The funds were to be used
to purchase a site for a building as well as
build and equip the facility. The amount was
later reduced to $225,000 and in May 1927,
the final total of $229,588 was pledged with
over 3,000 citizens donating to the fund.
J.M. Triggs, original member, and Charles
R. Bailey, board president from 1916 to
1931, also shared the vision of a permanent
home for the Y.
(Story Continued on Page 2)
Page 2
Huntington County Chamber of Commerce
J.P Kenower became chairman of the
building committee and the dedication of
the completed 607 Warren Street YMCA
building took place on May 18, 1930. The
Berry Feed Barn originally stood at Warren
and E. Washington Streets according to the
July 24, 1938 edition of The Herald-Press.
Robert W. Stevens was the architect for the
new Y building. The originator of the project, Wickenheiser, passed away in May
1930, two months prior to the dedication.
Glen Hummer was secured to take over
swimming instruction and coach the swim
team at the YMCA in October 1932. Hummer remained with the YMCA through the
1970s winning 11 national and 15 Indiana
YMCA swimming and diving championships and several individual championships. Hummer taught 2,294 area
youngsters how to swim, became a national
YMCA coach in 1969 and produced two
Olympic medalists (Matt Vogel and Gary
Dilley), 359 individual state champs, 32
All-Americans and 18 individual national
champions.
One of Hummer’s swimmers, George
Haines, went on to become the most successful swim coach in the world as a 7-time
Olympic swimming coach instructing over
50 Olympic medalists and founder of the
Santa Clara Swim Club. Hummer also established the Huntington Mile in 1957
which was the first age-group water open
swim meet in the U.S. It takes place at Lake
Clare and continues today. Stephen Doerscher has also been a swim instructor/coach
involved with the Y for over 40 years.
Ed Sunley took the position of physical
director in October 1936 and eventually became the general secretary in January 1941.
The Y grew dramatically under the 27 years
of Ed’s leadership. Membership increased
from 1,000 to 2,839 and the budget increased from $22,000 yearly to over
$85,000. His wife Mamie Sunley became
the Women’s and Girls Department secretary in January 1943. Mamie was responsible for the beginning of Huntington’s Girl
Scout program. Ed and Mamie retained Y
leadership positions until 1963. Under their
leadership, the Swing-Inn weekly teen
dances were established in 1942. The
Swing-Inn continued until the early 1970s.
In the 1950s most Huntington County elementary schools had organized boys’ basketball teams. Ezra Williams recognized
that there were boys without teams that
needed a place to play. He approached Ed
Sunley and Ed Talley, Y physical director,
February 2013
and built youth league
basketball at the YMCA
beginning Midget League
in 1959 for fourth, fifth
and sixth graders. There
were eight teams originally and 100 boys. One
such player was Kim
Howenstine. At ten years
old Howenstine passed
away in 1964 from brain
cancer. The league was
renamed Kim League
basketball in his honor
and continues today.
Though Williams sufSpecial thanks to the Indiana Room at the
fered with polio and
struggled to climb the Huntington City-Township Public Library
stairs to the gymnasium for the historical information made
at the former Y building,
he continued keeping available for this article.
score for many years with
Kim League basketball.
Preschool began at the
YMCA in 1973. Anne
Pittenger, who worked at
the Y for 27 years from
1971 until retiring in
1998, was instrumental in
the program’s beginning.
She also served as aquatics director and family
life director. Karen Larr
has been coordinator of
the preschool program
since 1998. Current
classes available in two
preschool classrooms in- The top photo shows an early formal gathering in the YMCA
clude Twinkling Stars, a building which was located at 607 Warren Street. Youngsters
two-day class for two- practice their shooting skills in the basement of the original Y
year-olds, and Super in the bottom photo.
Stars for ages three to
Street facility. Samuel M. Kaiser, manager
five.
of Art Chemical Products Inc., chaired the
At the 50th anniversary of the YMCA in YMCA Development Fund Program, the
1980, Max Kelley was the executive direc- largest fund-raising effort ever attempted to
tor and had held that position since 1963. that point in Huntington County by a private
Everett E. Goshorn, principal of Central El- agency. About 200 volunteers covered four
ementary School, was president of the major campaign divisions. Anne Pittenger
board of directors. Much remodeling and was YMCA acting director at that time. Les
many changes were made over the years, Chafin was the physical director.
but the exterior remained the same. The faThrough fundraising a new racquetball
cility boasted a pool, gym, club rooms, court was constructed north of the Warren
lobby, youth game room, meeting rooms, Street building, the pool was renovated, a
exercise and fitness center, locker and new roof was put in place and some paintshower rooms. A survey of the community ing and redecorating took place in the intefound that the people wanted more.
rior in 1984. The results of the fundraiser
In 1982 a $1 million capital improvement covered the $425,000 cost. Harry Linback
fund drive was launched aimed at renovat- became executive director of the YMCA in
ing and substantially expanding the Warren
(Story Continued on Page 3)
February 2013
Huntington County Chamber of Commerce
1985 and served in that role until 2002.
As work-out equipment improved and
the demand at the Y consistent, new Matrix
fitness equipment was introduced. An area
was created and the new equipment installed in December of 2004. Also in 2004,
a building committee was organized with
Bill Zimmer, chairman. Zimmer was instrumental in exploring the feasibility of a new
Y and in its design and construction. Zimmer joined the Y in the 1980s and has
served on the board of directors and foundation board.
In 2005 Miracle League began at the Y.
Tim Allen, marketing director/youth sports,
created the first baseball Miracle League allowing for youth with special needs to participate in a coach’s pitch-type baseball
program. In 2007, Allen created the Champions League flag football program and followed that with creating Champions League
soccer. All three sports are now played at
the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA.
On June 1, 2007 ground was broken for
the beginning of the current Parkview Huntington Family YMCA at 1160 W 500 N.
Dan Akeley, Y executive director at that
time, said in an interview published in the
June 7, 2007 issue of The TAB that Y memberships had grown 67 percent in the previous three years and program participation
increased dramatically. He continued, “With
the overall increase in participation the old
facility was not functional to handle the
needs of the Huntington community. A new
facility would enable the YMCA to continue its current programs as well as expand
programs needed by the community.” The
pool was closed in September 2007 at the
Warren Street facility due to the collapse of
the concrete ceiling.
A Huntington YMCA capital campaign
begun in 2006 raised $7.5 million, and the
Y received $2 million in December 2006
from the Parkview Huntington Hospital
Community Benefit fund and Parkview
Health, which included the seven-acre site
worth $450,000 the Y is located on. Debra
Miller was chair of the board of directors of
the Y and Michael Zahn, vice chairman.
Steve Zahn served as the chairman of the
capital campaign committee which included
Carol Byrd, Rick DeLaney, Bill Hancher,
Marj Hiner, Steve Kimmel, Ned Kiser, Jon
Knecht, Ed Vessels and Michael Zahn. Rick
DeLaney was the chairman of the foundation.
On Saturday, November 8, 2008 runners
made the 1.6-mile trek from the old YMCA
Page 3
building on Warren Street to
the new 57,000-square-foot
Parkview Huntington Family
YMCA to celebrate the
grand opening. Father Ron
Rieder, SS. Peter & Paul
Catholic Church and member of the Parkview Huntington Family YMCA board,
prayed the prayer of dedication and had previously
swam the first lap in the new
pool on October 27. The old
The original YMCA building at 607 Warren Street was
building was demolished on
dedicated
on May 18, 1930. It was demolished on March
March 30, 2009.
30,
2009.
The Parkview Huntington
Family YMCA has two insons for all ages, water fitness, lifeguarding,
door pools, a warm recreational/therapy CPR and first aid, many forms of dance,
pool with a zero entry area and the Hummer gymnastics, women’s self defense classes,
Natatorium, a 25 yard, 8 lane competition youth teen leaders, adult sports, Silverpool. The gymnasium includes two basket- Sneakers fitness program, group exercise
ball/volleyball courts and fitness classes, classes, yoga, pilates, cardio-blast, zumba,
gymnastics and more also take place here. indoor group cycling, aerobics, circuit trainThe 6,000-square-foot fitness center sports ing, body sculpting, nutrition information
state-of-the-art fitness equipment including and more are offered at the Y. Personal
cardio machines, free weights, strength and trainers are on staff to help personalize fityouth equipment. A suspended 1/11 mile in- ness programs.
door track also adds to fitness activities
The Y received a new logo in July 2010
available to members. There are also two when the YMCA of the USA, the National
racquetball/walleyball courts and the two YMCA organization in Washington D.C.,
aerobics/dance studios have floating wood conducted a major rebranding campaign.
flooring and mirrors. Two preschool class- The traditional black and red Y logo became
rooms and the child watch area are large teal green and blue with a new form.
enough to accommodate many children
Outdoors at the Y, sand volleyball courts
with separate areas for infants, toddlers and are used when weather permits and many
youth. The Y member package is complete other community activities take place on the
with men, women and family locker rooms, grounds. A new playground was added to
sauna and steam rooms and a party room the grounds through a grant received in
available for rent.
April of 2012. Volunteers helped to conThe current board of directors: Chad struct the handicapped-accessible area
Daugherty, Jody Davenport, Dave Davis, which benefits children in the areas of physDerek Dyer, D.C., Lisa Garrott, Austin ical fitness, cognitive health and emotional
Hess, Tom Karst, Josh Kesler, John well-being. Long-time Y member and volMarkley, Kendall Mickley, Valerie Powers, unteer Ryan Lemon became the executive
Father Ron Rieder, Joe Santa, Kay Schwob, director of the Y September 17, 2012.
Ronda Smelser, Julie Utendorf, M.D. and
Though many changes have taken place
Michael Zahn is committed to providing over the 100 years of the Y in Huntington,
strong leadership.
one constant remains, its mission, “To put
The staff of Don Cozad, senior program Christian principles into practice through
director/aquatics director; Todd Latta, fit- programs that build a healthy spirit, mind
ness director; Pam Santos, membership di- and body for all.” Today the Y is thriving
rector; Ken Betterly, property manager; Rob with a membership of 5,650 and a variety
Miller, youth sports director; Lisa Leist, fit- of new programs impacting many lives. The
ness and nutrition specialist; Jill Gradeless, Y works hard to be an active partner in the
dance coordinator; Scott Craft, day camp community.
director/fitness instructor and Vanessa MaFor more information about the Parkview
cias-Hannie, mission advancement director, Huntington YMCA call (260) 359-9622 or
oversee the many programs the Y offers.
visit www.huntingtony.org.
Programs such as youth sports, swim les-
Page 4
Huntington County Chamber of Commerce
February 2013
Chamber holds 89th
Annual Meeting
Shown in the photo are the winners of the Chamber annual awards and Chamber chairs.
From left, Lee Pasko, iAB Financial Bank, Chamber chairman of the board for 2013; Kyle
Hamilton, president, Our Sunday Visitor, winner of the Chamber Partner Award; Rose Wall,
retiring board member, Chairman’s Award; Phyllis Renz, Huntington County Visitor and
Convention Bureau, Volunteer of the Year; Terry Miller, Real Living Ness Bros. Realtors,
Ambassador of the Year and Nicole Johnson, Chamber chair of the board for 2012. Not
pictured is George DeWeese, DeWeese Soft Water who was awarded this year’s Community Excellence Award.
FEBRUARY
Business of the Month
Wall Legal Services
Shown in the photo above, from left: Sue Rumple, Beacon Credit Union; Steve Godfroy, New York Life Insurance; Phyllis Renz, Huntington County Visitor & Convention
Bureau; Steve Kimmel, executive director, Huntington County Chamber of Commerce;
Joe Burgess, Pace Chevrolet; Gene Snowden, Real Living Ness Bros.; Lesa Scott;
Justin Wall, owner, Wall Legal Services; JoDeane Knowles, TCU; Kathleen Rinehart;
Cindy Marshall, Wall Legal Services; Amy Stansell, Northview Inn & Suites; Leroy Rinehart and Cynthia Wall.
The Chamber of Commerce held its
89th Annual Meeting on Monday, January
21 at the Huntington PAL Club. The 215
people who enjoyed the evening set a new
attendance record for an annual meeting.
Jeremy Nix, Matheny Hahn Denman &
Nix welcomed the group and The Honorable Brooks Fetters, Mayor of the City of
Huntington, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Greg Smitley, iAB Financial Bank gave
the invocation. Dinner was served by
Sodexo Catering Services.
Executive Director Steve Kimmel explained that Chamber membership is now
401, a record number. He thanked outgoing 2012 chair of the board Nicole Johnson for her service to the Chamber. Lee
Pasko, iAB Financial Bank, succeeds
Johnson as chairman of the board for 2013
and also spoke to the group. He presented
Johnson with the Chair of The Chamber
Award plaque.
Johnson thanked the Ambassador group
and all the volunteers involved in the
Chamber’s activities and urged more people to get involved in the community. Cochairs Scott Trauner and Jim Scheiber
were recognized for their coordination of
the Huntington County Business EXPO in
2012. Joe Burgess, chairman, and the Heritage Days Steering Committee, and the
committee that staged the A B.I.G. Day
annual golf outing and dinner were
thanked. Johnson went on to pass out
awards to individuals and businesses who
have served the Chamber and the community.
Plaques were also presented to retiring
board members: Tracey Shafer, Huntington County Community School Corporation; Seth Marshall, BSB Investments;
Rose Wall, former owner of Wehr Into
Flowers and Richard Najuch, the New
Huntington Theatre and Supper Club. Incoming board members were introduced:
Ryan Lemon, Parkview Huntington Family YMCA; Trace Hinesley, Huntington
County Community School Corporation;
Joseph Santa, TrophyCenter Plus and Kay
Schwob, Huntington University.
Rusty Northrop and Evan Burgess of
Midwest Dueling Pianos then entertained
with piano selections. The pair played requests and involved the audience in their
performance for an hour and a half.
February 2013
Huntington County Chamber of Commerce
Youth Services Bureau taking registrations
for Empowering classes for parents
As a parent do you ever feel like pulling your hair out or wonder
what planet your child lives on? Well, you are not alone. Being a
parent is one of the hardest jobs we will ever have. Raising children
in today’s society is even harder. With all of the issues facing
today’s families, is it any wonder why so many families find themselves overwhelmed and struggling? The Youth Services Bureau
can help.
The YSB is taking registrations for the upcoming Empowering
Parent classes. There are two different classes being offered. Growing As Parents (GAP) is designed to cover normal growth and development, age appropriate discipline, nurturing communication
and many other helpful tips. The 2-hour class is offered on Tuesday
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and runs for 6-weeks beginning Tuesday, February 5.
Parent Trap is designed to address the issues parents face as they
parent pre-adolescent and adolescent children. Information on why
a parent reacts to their child’s behaviors, how best to deal in situations when it would be so much easier to give in however, the parent knows the answer should be “No” and more helpful techniques
and information. “Parenting today’s adolescents can be very frustrating and challenging and many families are facing similar frustrations,” stated Mary Jane Klenoski, parenting coordinator. This
series is also a 2-hour class offered weekly on Wednesday’s from 6
p.m. to 8 p.m. The six week series begins Wednesday, February 6.
There is no fee for these classes but registration is required. All
classes are held at the Youth Services Bureau located at 1344 Maple
Drive, Huntington. To learn more about these classes or the agency,
contact the office at (260) 356-9681 or (800) 298-5444. Email questions to [email protected].
Page 5
Chamber Gift Checks A Great Gift Idea!
Gift Checks are gift certificates
that can be used at any participating
Chamber member business. Struggling to determine a birthday, thank
you, congratulations, good job or
Christmas gift? We’ve got a simple
answer in $10 or $25 denominations. We can also print them in any
denomination you wish.
Gift Checks are easy to use and a gift everyone loves to receive. Plus they encourage your friends, family members, coworkers and employees to shop locally. You can purchase them
today by calling the Chamber office at 356-5300 during regular
business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and we will prepare your
order for pick-up.
Purchasing from our local community helps put your money
back into the community. Help Huntington Grow – Buy Local
First.
Welcome New Members
American Legion Post #85
1410 South Jefferson Street, Huntington, IN 46750
Drop & Go Hauling & Delivery
PO Box 5282, Huntington, IN 46750
Farm Credit Mid-America
2102 West 2nd Street, Marion, IN 46952
Garage Door Services
44 East Washington Street, Huntington, IN 46750
Steve Godfroy
Huntington, IN 46750
Huntington Metro Kiwanis
900 Gragg Street, Huntington, IN 46750
Select My Business Card
Select My Business Card
Northview Inn & Suites
We’re Expecting You!
Amy Stansell
General Manager
2820 Hotel Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750
Phone: (260) 359-9000
Fax: (260) 359-9100
[email protected]
Joe Burgess
Sales Manager
ADDRESS SERVICE
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Huntington, IN
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Huntington, IN 46750
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Mark Your Calendars
Chamber After Hours
Wednesday, February 6, 4 to 6 p.m.
Central Apartments
North Jefferson Street
HR Group Meeting
Friday, February 8, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Victory Noll Center
Third House Legislative Session
Saturday, February 16, 10 a.m. to 12 Noon
Huntington City-Township Public Library
Chamber 12@12
Wednesday, February 20, 12 Noon to 1 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce Office
305 Warren Street
PROFESSIONAL JANITORIAL
SERVICE, INC.
Industrial and Commercial Cleaning
Since 1985
SAFEGUARD SERVICES, INC.
Security Guard and Patrol Service
Since 1962
430 Warren Street
Huntington, IN
(260) 356-4726
VACANCY OFFICE SPACE
Located at 1312 Flaxmill Road
BEST LOCATION IN HUNTINGTON
First Year Rent Free
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, AMPLE PARKING
WITH UP TO (10) INDIVIDUAL OFFICES
OWNER WILL MAKE CHANGES TO
MEET YOUR NEEDS!
Chamber After Hours
CALL LIZ McCLAIN OR GENE FLECK AT:
Thursday, March 7, 5 to 7 p.m.
Pace Chevrolet
239 Hauenstein Road
First Year Rent Free
356-6577