(Presented during Aug. 28 YMCA Metro Board Meeting)
Dear Y Friends and Family,
After careful thought and deliberation, I've decided to retire at the end of the year. My wife, Deb, and I have given it a lot of thought and prayer and have decided that this is a good time to spend more time together as a family.
We've had a wonderful 41-year career with the Y and have met some of the best people a community could offer in every stop along the way – Ohio, Texas, North Carolina and now Florida. Deb and I agree that Orlando has been the best. This is home and we plan to stay here – and no, I’m not sick.
The board has been large, more than 50 members on average. Some board members stayed for a short time, others have given a lifetime to the Y. When you have that kind of commitment – people who have given a lifetime of consistent support, encouragement, and giving – it motivates us to give nothing but the best effort. It’s also very inspiring to other board members and staff, and we don’t take that type of commitment lightly.
We – the board and me as CEO – have always been on the same page. The rapport between the staff and the board has been exceptional. For 21 years, we’ve had an incredible relationship and I will always value, appreciate and remember it.
It has been an honor to be associated with one of the finest Ys in North America. We have accomplished wonderful projects and helped thousands of people along the way. I often say that God has had a firm hand on the steering wheel. We have never strayed from our mission and vision, and without it, we could have never accomplished what we did.
There are many people I want to thank, but I’ll save that for another time and another day. I hope you are as excited as Deb and I as we look forward to the next chapter of our lives. We are not done. We still have a lot of things to accomplish.
God Bless,
Jim Ferber