The Lions Club welcomed Katie McElhaney as their guest speaker on April 30. She is the Executive Director of the Okmulgee County Family YMCA and has been in health and wellness her entire professional life, working with the YMCA for nine years.
McElhaney has a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Business Administration. She has a passion for helping people of all ages and is happy to be here.
Originally from Iowa, McElhaney came to Oklahoma for college and never left. Her husband is a firefighter here in Okmulgee and they reside on a ranch with their two dogs, two cats and four horses.
McElhaney, known as “the Y girl,” started as a personal trainer and has moved to work in numerous different areas of physical fitness. She spoke about the recent two million dollar renovation at the Okmulgee County Y and shared a virtual tour of the before and after!
The Y came up with $300,000 of this and with the help of others, they made it happen! They also recently had their 2024 Annual Campaign where they surpassed their goal of $60,000 and raised $70,000!
The funds from these campaigns are re-invested back into the community. The Y also helps those who cannot afford a membership and have the mindset of “not turning anyone away.”
McElhaney also touched on numerous programs they provide to the community with the grant and scholarship funded “GO Program” being the highlight. The Y works with Okmulgee Public Schools and the GO Program is an after school program located at Okmulgee Primary.
The Y also partners with the Okmulgee Education Foundation to provide a mentoring program. Mentors are able to work one on one with students for an hour after school.
Some teachers work from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the latest due to most kids loving the program and not wanting the day to end! The kids are star tested and they focus on social, emotional and curriculum.
“Students grades have shot up with this oneon- one attention,” she exclaimed.
There is also a Y summer camp program that is also grant and scholarship funded. Katie stated they are trying to stay connected and plugged in with young adults in the community and offer free membership to HS students.
In 2019, the Y had maybe 30 staff members, whereas they now have 55 staff members and around 75 in the summer. The Okmulgee Y pool is getting ready to open.
McElhaney shared May 24 to be the date of opening and they’re currently working on hiring lifeguards. For members, the use of the pool is included in their membership and for non-members, the price is a daily fee of $8.
Swim lessons are available during the morning and evening in June, July and August. They also have a swim team and provide water aerobics and any child from Okmulgee Primary can attend swim lessons for free thanks to a grant. For more information on membership, visit Membership Cost YMCA of Greater Tulsa (ymcatulsa.org).
McElhaney closed in saying they recently applied for a $10,000 grant for volleyball and it was accepted. Be on the lookout for volleyball in the near future!
