Think outside the Y wrote on Sep 8, 2008 12:58 PM:Now here's a thought. Why don't those people use the time between 5 AM and 5:30 AM to exercise outside the Y instead of standing around or sitting in their cars?

Expensive equipment is nice, tread mills and stair climbers are nice, but they aren't necessary for a good workout.

Don't quit the club because you can't get your desired starting time - make use of the early morning company and lead the group in Tai Chi or some other warm-up or outdoor exercises - then head inside and finish your workout when the doors open at 5:30 AM.

You Think wrote on Sep 8, 2008 2:18 PM:someone should tell Susan Hight that pleasing customers is what real busniesses do all the time. Disrupt employee schedules? Have you seen the unemployment rate? You will have replacements in a heartbeat. I think the real reason is she is to lazy to do her job and reschedule the employees.

Rob wrote on Sep 8, 2008 4:32 PM:24 hour fitness on Palomar Airport Rd is nice, new and you can work out at 3 am if you want. Why stay at the old smelly Y? I left years ago.

Nick wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:25 PM:What a bunch of whiners....
Here's a novel idea....join LA Fitness up the street, they open at 5:00am.
I know, these guys are to cheap for that.
My heart bleeds...let's see here..Richard Leung is an ophthalmologist who lives in Rancho Santa Fe and can afford to send his daughter to The Bishop School in La Jolla, but he can't afford LA Fitnes.....LOL.
Am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy in this article????

duh wrote on Sep 8, 2008 6:53 PM:Try actually going outside. We supposedly have this great weather- use it!

To You Think wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:31 PM:Isn't it quite obvious that you are one of the complainers in the article. You need to stop harassing the people who show up to work out at 5:30 a.m. - we are tired of you and your number counts.

Look at the big picture... wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:50 PM:The Encinitas Y is a great place and does wonderful things in our community. The staff should be proud of what they accomplish and how they help so many people. As far as the people who are retired, they have all day to exercise what is a half hour when you are in the prime of your retirement. Maybe walk the track in the morning for a half hour and you can blow off some steam. I feel sorry for the staff having to put up with you people who complain.

And this is news wrote on Sep 8, 2008 8:55 PM:How disgusting that the NCT spends time on something like this when there is much more important things to report on. What a laugh, glad I don't take this newspaper and just look at it on-line when I am bored!!

Funny isnt it.. wrote on Sep 8, 2008 9:01 PM:I have never seen 200 people waiting to get into that Y before 5:30 a.m. I wonder where they got the signatures. People will sign anything won't they!

Whats the big deal wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:38 AM:If the Y truly wants to provide access to all, then open at 5:00 a.m. For the rates they charge, they can afford it. As for just exercising outside, at that time of the morning it is dark! I used to jog at 5:00 a.m. and it was hard to see obstacles, cars, dog poop, etc. One half hour shouldn't be that big of deal. Or just make a part of the Y open at that time, like the gym area. Having been swimming at 5:00 a.m., ..., probably not many swimmers lining up.

Lazyworkers wrote on Sep 9, 2008 4:47 AM:Open the place at 5:00. Many peope go early to swim. The Y is a nice club but most of the workers just stand around and are not very helpful. The price of the Y is about the same as LA Fitness for the above poster.

John E wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:07 AM:If I lived in RSF and sent my daughter to school in La Jolla, I would probably use the La Jolla Y isntead of the Encinitas Y, thereby avoiding the extra trip in the morning ...

Where do your dues go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:12 AM:The Y does help a lot of families with scholarships for the afterschool care and sports programs. However the money to help provide scholarships for these programs comes from those of us who pay the monthly fees (which are quite often higher than the private clubs). The only real benefit the adult members get is the fitness facilities. A 5am opening time is reasonable considering what other programs have.

By the way I am not a member of the Encinitas Y.

To Where Your Dues Go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:09 AM:You are so wrong when you say the dues go to scholarship - dues go to support the facility and pay staff. Scholarship money is separate and is raised by the Y. Before you speak, learn the facts.

To Lazyworkers wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:10 AM:The YMCA is not a CLUB!

To Lazyworkers wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:46 AM:Its not a club? Thats odd as when I signed up they referred to my dues as "Club Memberships dues". Why does the article compare it to other "Clubs" then? Quit splitting hairs!!!

Terrils wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:56 AM:It is funny to imagine some poor blue-collar schlub having to come in half an hour earlier (do they get paid at all? Minimum wage?) so a doctor from RSF can get his workout in time to get ... to her private school in La Jolla. Why don't these moneyed folks shell out for a home gym, or a 24-hour pro gym? But no, they'd rather make the poor bums at the Y jump through hoops and twist into knots to service them. Isn't it usually moneyed people who say you get what you pay for?

To Lazayworkers response - wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:58 AM:Show me where in any of the Y paperwork it says CLUB? The YMCA is non-profit unlike other fitness centers in the area! The newspaper obviously is uneducated on such items. I understand you find it hard to be wrong - but you are - ta ta!

RE To Where Your Dues Go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:03 AM:I understand the much of the scholarship comes from private donors. However it was part of the pitch when we joined that some of the dues goes towards scholarships. I am speaking from personal experience so please watch your tone. It is a FACT I was told that part of the dues go to scholarships. Also you mentioned that dues to go to staff & facilities. Doesn’t the same staff serve the scholarship receivers? Hence part of our dues support scholarships.

From the ymca.net website:
“Financial assistance—made possible annually by more than $1.6 billion in public and private support, as well as YMCA members—opens all YMCA programs to those in need”

Did you see “YMCA members””? I have yet to find any reference which states that none of the dues go to scholarships / reduced rates. Perhaps you have a reliable reference which shows that no dues go to scholarship / reduced rates. Or that there are separate staff and facilities (not maintained by dues) which are used only by scholarship recipients.

If you are going to be critical of a poster, please at least provide some reliable references. Thanks

Leta wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:13 AM:85% of the folks that go to "Gyms" like the YMCA and 24 hour nautilus just use the cardio machines that really don't do your heart any good anyway. They barely even get your heart rate up for that matter.

Answer to Where your dues go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 9:16 AM:Yes - I have reliable refereces and will not post them here - then you would be calling them and trying to state a case that you will just not win!

RE Answer to Where your dues go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:32 AM:No worries, even if the policy about dues has changed you already admitted that the dues go to staff & facilities. Staff and facilities are SHARED by members that pay dues AND members that don’t pay dues. That means that the dues ARE SUPPORTING scholarship members.

Sorry you are not confident enough in your opinion to share your citation(s). I look for written documentation from reliable sources (not phone calls). Besides I’m sure there is nothing that says the facilities are not shared. Have a good day.

Priorities wrote on Sep 9, 2008 10:50 AM:If there are 25 people waiting, and 10 quit, then there are still 21,990 members. And according to management, the change in the schedule is partly to make sure they can keep those 21,990 folks happy. They have to look at the entire business and set their priorities accordingly. Do you think they WANT to upset customers?

On a more cynical note, someone says they can't exercise because it is dark? Are we so spoiled in this country that now a lack of sunshine and a nice gym keep us from exercising? In some countries starving people are probably lining up for food at O'Dark thirty, or packing into stinky buses trucking off to factories for $1 a day. Put a little perspective on this. Jog around the parking lot or jump rope or something! Find a solution.

Real Answer o Where Dues Go wrote on Sep 9, 2008 12:00 PM:You are both wrong.
The YMCA does have separate funding for scholarships and even separate fundraising for the facility and programs. If you would like information this why don’t you ask the YMCA and stop speculating.
If you are a member paying dues, you too are on scholarship, you fees are subsidized too. Do you really think your membership dues have built one of the largest YMCA’s in the world? Do you really think membership dues paid for the 5 million dollar indoor pool, the recent fitness center expansion, the personal fitness center upstairs, basketball gym and the list goes on. You are the beneficiary of 10’s of millions of dollars donated by members of the community; donations in land, work and cash.
The membership dues are not even close to enough to fully fund membership operations. You should go look on the wall see the list of families that have made it possible.

Lexi wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:40 PM:Try another club! Change is good!

Frog's open's by 5 am everyday. It's newly remodeled and has GREAT equipment!! Staff is Phenomenal!!

Dealing with Idoits with no LIFE wrote on Sep 9, 2008 1:52 PM:Shame on the NCT for even publishing such a article. The Encinitas YMCA has provided so many programs and opportunities for the surrounding communities and all people do is complain and want more. These 10 to 20 YMCA participants need to look at the world around them. There are so many problems in our world and community that could be addressed. But these people take the time to call the newspaper to come out and slander the YMCA for not opening 20 mins earlier. Please! this is a sad day and age where we complain about a organization that is helping so many families. Try focusing your energy on something constructive that could benefit the entire community not just your little world. I'm sure when you signed up for the membership the hours were clearly posted. I know its tough but try to pull your rich RSF, Encinitas head out of your BMW and deal with it. Why should a facility serving over 25,000 people change for 5 retired guys and a rich guy from RSF. Try staying home with your kids and make breakfast instead of the full time nanny.

Thank you wrote on Sep 9, 2008 3:21 PM:Thank you for your post - Dealing with Idiots with no LIFE - you are so right, I was getting sick reading so many posts from people who don't have anything better to do in life!

breakfast club wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:04 PM:Most people have busy schedules and can only exercise in the ealry AM. If the YMCA can spend $60k on "free" coffee, they can find a way to accomodate a 5AM opening. Boy, I wonder what the dues would if we all didn't pitch-in for that "free" coffee. FYI, an LA Fitness monthly membership is $10 cheaper than than the Y; $30/mo.

To Nick wrote on Sep 9, 2008 6:18 PM:Hey Nick -

Who wants to be in a sweaty gym when the suns shining? I can think of a million other things to do in the daytime. Getting into the gym early when it's dark actually makes a lot of sense. But it sounds like you wouldn't know, because you're drooling on your pillow at 5AM. Use your head.

Please Leave wrote on Sep 9, 2008 7:11 PM:To all the whiners. . . . please cancel your memberships, it will leave more room for us who appreciate the Y.

RE breakfastclub wrote on Sep 9, 2008 8:09 PM:Don’t exaggerate, I know how much the YMCA spends on coffee and although it is a large number your figure of $60,000 is exaggerated. Even if your number $60,000 were correct, if you could do the math, you would know cutting coffee would reduce your monthly dues by a whopping 0.41 cents per month. LA fitness may be cheaper, but they offer only a fraction of facilities and services the YMCA does. I would rather pay $10 more a month to be a part of an organization that helps thousands of children and families in OUR community get access to life changing programs and services. LA Fitness doesn't do that.

Jake wrote on Sep 10, 2008 7:01 AM:To Terrils and "Dealing with Idiots with No Life"

I am writing in response to the "rich guy" comments. The next time that you are in the YMCA look up and you will see the name "Gary Biszantz and Family". This is one of the many people from Rancho Santa Fe who have donated huge amounts of money to the Y to make it what it is today.

yfan wrote on Sep 10, 2008 5:59 PM:I have been a member of the Ecke YMCA since January, 2008. Every staff member I have encountered has been member-focused, friendly and helpful. My monthly fee for 2008 is $41(now it is $44) which I consider to be a great value, given the quality of the facilities.

The dues are definitely cheaper than many facilities in the area. I know. I looked. If a half-hour earlier option is so important, then there are other, more-expensive choices.

boo hoo wrote on Sep 10, 2008 8:11 PM:The 10 to 20 people who wait in line at 5:00 for a door that opens at 5:30 are not only whiners, they're not very bright! Why not arrive when the place opens and you won't have to wait around to work out! Better yet, buy a treadmill or cancel your membership. I can only imagine the strings you pulled with the NCT to actually get a reporter to take this story and a photographer to wake up that early to take your photo. Get a life! The world doesn't revolve around your schedule and workout routine. There are soldiers dying daily in Iraq. Do you think anyone gives a hoot about your workout? If I were the person opening the doors for you at 5:20, I'd start tomorrow opening up at 5:30 as it states on the front door. After all, one of you actually called him a "blue-collar schlup" making minimum wage or working for free. Please identify yourself to this YMCA employee in the morning as he lets you in the building, won't you? How pathetic to degrade the employees for a corporate decision. Find another gym!

m wrote on Sep 11, 2008 9:04 AM:As one of the people waiting for the door to open in the morning I resent comments from people to lazy to get up and exercise before they go to work or if they are retired to get on with their day.

The "Y" needs to get in step with other facilities in the area and open at 5:00 am. Perhaps a new Director would address the desires of all the members.

To M wrote on Sep 11, 2008 5:51 PM:Go ahead and resent all you want! Obviously we work and choose to work out at the Y afterwards - so quit being so sensitive. Is it not obvious to you that this article was not news! The NCT was wrong in putting it in the paper - NO ONE CARES what you people feel about the Y including us staff members!!