YMCA Program Services and Program Store records

The Program Services Committee was established in 1926 to aid the National Board and the National Council in formulating and implementing movement-wide policies concerning the program and administration of the YMCA. The committee provided recommendations on the YMCA’s fundamental objectives, activities, financing, administration, membership policies, lay leadership, community relations, and extension. The Committee was headed by a chairman and was composed of representatives from other YMCA bodies related to program services, such as representatives from the International Committee and the Student Committee. In addition, the Program Services Committee was directly responsible for several standing committees and select commissions that provided advice on specific areas of YMCA association work. The standing committees were charged with conducting studies and issuing reports to the Program Services Committee, and oversaw a range of YMCA interests, including committees on counseling, public affairs, interracial services, and camping, among many other program areas. These committees were replaced over the years depending on the needs and objectives of the National Council. Additionally, the Program Services Committee focused on strengthening leadership training within the YMCA by developing educational material on physical education, counseling, health, religious education, and personal development.

The Program Store, originally known as "Program Resources," was established in the mid-1970s. Its initial purpose was to act as a distributor and fulfillment house for program materials (including items such as badges, patches, and pins) that had originally been produced by the YMCA's Association Press along with books. With the sale of the Press around that time, the YMCA was left was certain inventory that the buyer had declined. Eventually, working with staff from the various Program Services areas to develop content, the Program Store went on to become a primary supplier of educational material on activities like aquatic sports and camping to YMCAs. Books and videos were produced along with certification manuals on a range of activities. Eventually much of the distribution and fulfillment work was outsourced to a company called Human Kinetics, based in Champaign, Illinois. The YMCA’s Program Store continued to operate into the 2000s under the auspices of the Knowledge Publishing program, but was phased out as of 2014.

Historical information adapted from the collection, an interview with former Director of Program Resources Jerry Glashagel (12 November 2014 at the YMCA Archives), as well as from the Program Store web site (http://secure.sportsawardsonline.com/applications/ymca/store/; viewed July 2012).