The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about the Christian County YMCA, during their weekly luncheon Tuesday.

Executive Director Chris Weittenhillier, along with Andrea Bach and Jenny Foster, talked about the current status of the Y and the many programs it offers Christian County residents.

Weittenhillier told the Kiwanis Club that the Y currently has some 36-hundred members, which is some eleven percent of the county's population.  Weittenhillier added that the Y continues to offer many programs as well as starting new ones.  The Y has taken over the local “Rock Steady Boxing”, an exercise program assisting 12 to 15 residents with Parkinson's Disease. 

Weittenhillier said the Y recently hired 2 people after long-time membership secretary Darlene Bouvet retired following 31 years of service.  Brittany Moore is the Y's new membership engagement director, and Mary Kate Curtin is their new marketing and membership coordinator.  Curtin recently put the finishing touches on a revamped web site for the Y, as well as a new app for smartphones. 

Weittenhillier said the Y board is focused on not only continuing to provide and grow the many programs, but to retire the remaining 171-thousand dollar debt which dates back to when the new wellness and aquatic center were built in 2001.

Y Program Director Andrea Bach told the Kiwanis Club that they're adding a new diabetes prevention program, and Jenny Foster spoke to Kiwanis members as director of that new program.  Bach talked about national statistics which backed the need for a diabetes prevention program.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.