The YM-YWHA is looking for “one or two angels” – or maybe more – to enable a delegation of local teens to compete in the upcoming JCC Maccabi Games
The Games, which local teens have participated in since 1982, are in Baltimore this year, from Aug. 8 to 12.

But going to the Games has proved a lot more challenging at the 100-year-old institution since the fall of 2008, when the Y board decided by a mere two votes to stop funding its annual $62,500 membership in the JCC Association (JCCA), the umbrella body of North American Jewish community centres the Y was a part of for decades.

Y membership in the JCCA is a mandatory condition for sending a delegation to Baltimore, executive director Michael Crelinsten said.

For the foreseeable future, he indicated, it would take funds from willing individuals – and not the Y’s own budget – to keep the Y within the JCCA and kids competing at the Games.

Crelinsten said the only reason Montreal went to the Games in 2009 was because “two angels” came forward last spring to pay the annual JCCA fee. But “we came very close to not going,” he said, and the Y’s current membership is due to lapse again at the end of May.

Crelinsten said the decision by the Y in 2008 to no longer budget for JCCA membership resulted from the need to make “tough and painful choices” in light of  “enormous financial pressures” on the institution that have not abated and continue to affect JCCs all over the continent.

Complicating the situation this year, he added, is that the Games in Baltimore are later in August than usual and may conflict with other programs Montreal teens also take part in, such as summer camp, travel opportunities and programs in Israel.

The annual JCCA fee is $62,500 – but is $50,000 “net,” Crelinsten said – when JCCA’s resources and support back to the Montreal Y are taken into account.

“In retrospect, was it a wise decision?” Crelinsten repeated when asked.

 “It was debated in depth, and not everyone agreed,” he said. “But on balance, the board determined we could not afford this, given all the pressures and all the demands.

“The kinds of choices the organization has to make are very, very tough. On the other hand, the reason I’m so focused on this particular agenda is because the [JCC Maccabi Games] are such a powerful experience in terms of engaging kids and connecting them to our community.

“With an agenda that is very focused on children, youth and families, the Games are very, very important for our young people. And we need to let the community know it’s important.”

Montreal has been sending a delegation of teens aged 13 to 16 to the JCC Maccabi Games for 27 years, with smaller groups of about 40 going over the last several years. Families pay between $1,400 and $1,800 for children to compete, depending on the sport, such as swimming, in-line hockey, tennis, and basketball.

In 2002, Montreal hosted the JCC Maccabi Games, with memorable opening ceremonies at the Bell Centre.

Richard Nayer, the Y’s youth athletics coordinator who co-ordinated the 2002 Games and led the local delegation to the Games since 2004, said the JCC Games “is not all about sports.

“It’s about connecting to Jewish kids your own age, socially, culturally and athletically.

“Without those Games in place, there would be a gap in our local programs going up through the ranks to the Maccabiah Games and further.”

Crelinsten stressed that the decision by the Y to stop budgeting for JCCA membership “has actually been debated back and forth for a number of years.” Contrary to some perceptions, he said, Y membership has been increasing and is healthy, even though the decision to operate on Saturdays has increased costs short-term.

He said there are no additional costs to the Y related to celebrating its 100th birthday, since that will come from a $20-million capital campaign meant to secure the Y’s future. To date, he said, $5 million has been raised.

Although the Y’s annual $11-million annual operating budget sounds sizable, Crelinsten said the overwhelming majority of funds goes to fixed, overhead costs: salaries, overhead, light, gas, oil.

“The choices for cutting are actually very, very thin. Many of our programs are break-even programming.”

Crelinsten said the Y has maintained its “very good relationship” with the JCCA despite the situation.

“Montreal is a crown jewel community, and the JCCA has every desire for us to be part of the organization. We are very high-profile and admired, but like every community are struggling with enormous financial pressures.”

He said the Y would be taking things “one year at a time,” but the institution had no desire to “jump in and out of the JCCA.

“The organization is working very hard to increase its revenue base, cut expenses, and if through the help of third parties, we can go forward and the cost of being in the JCCA is reduced to a level the board thinks is viable, then it might be time to bring it back for a re-look.

“The [Y] board has not said there is no value in being at the Games, just that at the current cost it can’t afford it.”

Individuals interested in the Y’s participation in the JCC Maccabi Games can call Crelinsten at 514-737-6551.