What is the relationship between the Skaneateles Community Center and the Auburn YMCA?  For the first eight years of its operation from 2002-2010, the Skaneateles Community Center (SCC) was operated by the Town of Skaneateles. During much of this time, the SCC operated at an annual loss, which was subsidized by the Town of Skaneateles. The Skaneateles Recreational Charitable Trust (SRCT), the group formed to construct the Center, retained ownership of the facility during these years, but the plan had always been to transfer ownership of the facility to the Village of Skaneateles within its first five years of operation. By 2009, it was apparent that the management of the SCC by the Town of Skaneateles was not sustainable. At the same time, the Village of Skaneateles decided it was not favorable to take over ownership of the facility. The SRCT changed its name and is now legally doing business as the Skaneateles Community Center Board of Directors. After extensive research and review, the SCC Board reached an agreement with the Auburn YMCA whereby the Auburn YMCA would operate the facility and provide programming while the Skaneateles Community Center Board would retain ownership of the facility. The SCC Board of Directors, populated with local residents of the Skaneateles community, firmly believes that the Auburn YMCA’s managerial expertise complemented by the local knowledge and control residing in the SCC Board of Directors will ensure the continued success of our great facility. Who is overseeing the planning and construction of the new addition, the SCC Board of Directors or the Auburn YMCA?  This expansion and renovation project has been in the planning stages since the Community Center was first constructed and is being fully overseen and executed by the SCC Board of Directors. The Auburn YMCA staff has been a key partner in providing assistance in the project’s planning. What will become of the Allyn Arena?  The completion of this second and final phase of the SCC’s development will unlock the potential for redevelopment of the old rink facility in Austin Park. However, the Allyn Arena is owned by the Village and managed by the Town. As such, the future of the Allyn Arena will be determined by the Village and the Town. We anticipate that our municipal leaders will study the best use for this facility going forward and the SCC Board of Directors looks forward to participating in those studies/discussions in the coming months and years. What is the financial position of the Skaneateles Community Center? What will be the financial implications with the new addition?  Through various updates to the facility and excellent management by the Auburn YMCA, the SCC has achieved financial stability. In 2014, the Skaneateles Community Center anticipates covering all of its operating expenses. The operating pro forma for the expansion shows a significantly positive impact on the SCC’s operational costs. What is the plan for future capital repairs and maintenance?  The current capital campaign is designed to establish a $250,000 endowment fund, which shall be applied toward future capital repairs and maintenance. In addition to this endowment, there currently exists two other endowments, one to support the aquatics portion of the center and another which was formed to provide capital improvements to the old rink in the Allyn Arena. Once construction of the expansion is complete, the Allyn Arena rink will be shut down and its endowment will be transferred to the community center for capital improvements to its two rink facilities. Following the completion of construction, it is the intention of the SCC Board of Directors to focus on implementing an annual endowment growth program. We expect that this program will include an outreach to the local community to engender legacy gifting through bequests. We also intend to build the endowment through annual excess operating revenues.