MEET JIMMY WOODRUFF
WHILE JIMMY WOODRUFF HAS SPENT JUST OVER A YEAR AS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE COLUMBUS YMCA, HE’S SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THE PAST 12 MONTHS HELPING THE ORGANIZATION REMAIN OPERATIONAL WHILE ALSO MITIGATING RISKS ASSOCIATED TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WOODRUFF SPOKE ON THE CHALLENGES OF HIS TENURE TO DATE AND WHAT HE SEES AS THE VISION OF THE YMCA IN THE FUTURE.
Name: Jimmy Woodruff
Age: 55
Position: Executive Director of the Columbus YMCA
Starting Date: February 17, 2020
Birthplace: Columbus, Mississippi
Hobbies: Golf, spending time with family and traveling
Spouse: Kim Woodruff
Children: Thomas and Katelyn
How would you describe the last 11-12 months and what effect has the COVID-19 pandemic on how you run things?
I took this position and my first official day was February the 17th. So I came on board and started a second career coming from the retail world, and so not long after I started, just weeks after, we're in the beginnings of the pandemic and then we're shutting down for a couple of months. We really had to make tough decisions and things that we had to do to survive and make it. So it's definitely been a challenge.
I will say that our people — and when I say our people, I mean our staff — just went above and beyond, did everything that they were asked to do and were brought into what we were doing for the last year. Decisions we were making, directions we were going, because everybody loves the ‘Y’ and we want to do everything we can to make sure that we're going to be here for another 90 years, another 100 years.
What was the YMCA’s process and timeline in terms of shutting down?
Well, we did shut down officially around March 20th or 21st and for approximately two months. I think we opened back up in the second week of May. And we did have to furlough some workers. We just had to do what we had to do there. It was not a pleasant thing to have to do, but, like I said, we're a business at the end of the day and we have to do things to make sure that we're gonna still be here.
But working from home on some things, I mean, we were still able to keep our feeding apparatus going, so we were able to actually not just keep that going, but actually grow that. So as we move forward, in time, you’re going to see and hear more about our feeding program and it was really born from COVID.
There was a lot of cleaning and sanitizing and just preparing for the reopening, because we knew we would be reopening at some point. And so we had to work out plans for that, so that when we did open, we could assure everybody that we were going to be safe and you can feel rested at ease when you come to the ‘Y.’ And we're clean and sanitized and we're following all the CDC protocols, all the city, state mandates. Whatever they are, we're going to be right there. Our number one goal, always, is for your safety. When you come here we want you to make sure you know you're safe and that we're gonna be here to take care of everything for you.
How quickly or hesitant have members been about coming back into the fold given the ongoing pandemic?
Obviously you had people who are diehard workout people, so they were ready to come back from day 1. But you have a lot of members that just weren't ready to come back. I mean, it's a setting where there's multiple people and working out in the same room and we're in close contact in some situations, so a lot of apprehension on some people. I will say there's probably still about 40 percent of our membership that still just hasn't really come back yet. They’re just not ready to. They want the whole storm to clear before they come back. But our members have been great with whatever they've been asked to do, whether it's with masks and keeping their distance and keeping our room limits to where they are. They've been very open to doing whatever. Haven’t had any issues there.
It's been really good, because there's just the understanding of what's going on in the environment and we understand that all these things are, it’s not just the ‘Y’ doing them. Everybody's having to do it no matter where you go. People just embrace it. Well it’s just, ‘Hey we’ll do what we have to do to stay safe.’ But I think they’re also ready for (the pandemic) to kind of start clearing up a little bit so they can just come back and just get in their normal routines and stuff.
What was the reasoning for closing the New Hope branch amid the pandemic?
That was strictly related to COVID and the operational costs of keeping it going. We just had to shut it down for that reason and that reason only. So it only had to do with the cost of operating it versus financially what we were dealing with at that time. It's closed indefinitely. We'll see what the long term is going to be for that branch, but we do have the other branch which is in Caledonia — it's doing good.
Obviously the YMCA is a gathering place for people, how do you see that role evolving moving forward?
The ‘Y’ is a safe place. I mean, it's a safe place literally because we are for children, but we're just a safe place for everybody. We’re a safe place for middle-aged (people), we're a safe place for older adults. The ‘Y’ is a really unique place. You just come here and it’s almost like you're insulated from the world and what's going on.
Everybody just gets along and everybody respects each other and everybody encourages others. It's a meeting spot and development place for a lot of things. But we serve so many needs and it really is just a magical place.
I think that pretty well covers it, but is there anything else you’d like to add or you think people should know about the YMCA?
One other thing I might mention is the tradition of the ‘Y.’ The ‘Y started in 1924, so we're almost 100 years (old). We're almost to a Centennial party. And I'll tell you, that if you have lived in Columbus or Lowndes County for your life, this YMCA has influenced you at some point in your lifetime. Whether you took swim lessons when you were nine or 10 or whatever; maybe you played basketball; maybe you were a member when you were in high school, or college or something you came and hung out worked out; or maybe you just had a friend that you came in watch play basketball, the ‘Y’ has touched you in some way if you've lived in this community for any period of time. And so I think that's important, because the ‘Y’ is an institution and it's an icon in Columbus. It’s been here a long time and we're gonna make sure that it's here for another 100 years because there’s a lot of things in the community that need help and need to be served and that's what we're here for.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length
INTERVIEW BY BEN PORTNOY
PHOTO BY LEDRICO ISAAC
