The Heart of the Y

The YMCA of Fredericton’s Welcome Desk team is truly the heart of the Y. They are always there to greet you with a smile or a joke, or just commiserate about the weather. They are there to field all of your questions, handle your concerns or get you registered for a new program.

Working behind the Welcome Desk is a mix of challenges and rewards, busy times and down times. These days, a big challenge facing the Welcome Desk team and our Y members is the obstacle to communication imposed through both masks and plexiglass. Everyone understands that safety is paramount, but we all miss seeing those smiles.  On the lighter side, Trudy Pond reminds us “Smile with your eyes!” And our YMCA members keep the team smiling. The team loves it when members check in and share jokes and friendly conversation. There is a fun and social aspect to being part of the Welcome Desk team, and this is where they thrive.

Since 2007, Trudy Pond has been welcoming people from behind the desk and motivating members to get active through the fitness classes she teaches.  Trudy’s positive energy and wry sense of humour help members through the challenges of Group Centergy, Group Active and Group Blast. One member mentioned how Trudy’s classes feel like a get-together with a group of fun friends. Trudy brings this same sense of friendship and fun to her duties at the Welcome Desk as well.

Lori Schriver is not only a mainstay of the Welcome Desk she is also the Y’s resident problem solver. For the past 10 years, Lori has been handling the many phone calls, providing members with assistance and greeting members at the desk. Although there can be many challenges throughout the day, the challenges seem to melt away when members greet Lori and seek her out just to catch up.

Lourdes Aparicio is the captain of the ship, so to speak. She is the Y’s Manager of Membership Services. Coming to us from the hospitality industry, Lourdes started working at the YMCA of Fredericton in the Fall of 2020.  When asked about the best part of the job, Lourdes turns to her team and they agree that they love it when members greet the people behind the welcome desk. It really puts a smile on their faces and they love greeting people too. So, next time you pass by the Y’s Welcome Desk, make sure to wave “hello” and show Lourdes, Trudy, Lori, Abby, Jake, Alex, Rahshida, Seldon, Joktan, Wallis, Emma, Donna and Hannah some love!