Local YMCA Board Member Leads National Conference

Anyone who's worked with the Westfield YMCA knows the name: Darielle Walsh. She's been working with the Y since 1992 and served four years as the chair of the Westfield Y Board. She's now a current board member.

"My parents always taught me, work hard, do good and give back, so I want to be involved in my community" Walsh said.

Now Walsh is taking her experience in Westfield to the national level, organizing a conference for those who work in YMCA's all across the country.

As chair of the 2010 nationwide YMCA General Assembly, Walsh was responsible for directing every aspect of the planning for the conference, which more than 3,500 people are expected to attend the conference which goes from July 8 - 11. She did it completely as a volunteer.

"I see the value in getting everyone together under the same tent to talk about and plan for the future," Walsh said. "It is so important and unique to connect staff and volunteers at a conference where they can network and learn together." 

The General Assembly is held every three years and this year will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Walsh, a former town councilwoman and Board of Education president, has been working on the event for the past three years - guiding staff, planning and booking speakers and working with the event's budget. She's held several meetings in Salt Lake City and Chicago, where the YMCA national headquarters is located.

Walsh is not entirely unfamiliar with what it takes to plan the event. She served on the planning committee for the 2006 General Assembly in Nashville. She also sat on the National YMCA Board from 2002 to 2005.

Walsh, who is active in the Rotary and Optimist Clubs, said the theme for this year's conference is "Connect. Educate. Inspire." The goal is to connect YMCA staff and volunteers, educate them on new and innovative approaches to issues facing YMCA's across the country and, of course, inspire them.

Featured speakers for the event include Dr. John C. Maxwell, internationally recognized leadership expert and bestselling author; Soledad O'Brien, CNN anchor and special correspondent and Keith Harrell, nationally acclaimed motivational speaker.

Walsh said she's really looking forward to the event.

"Being there with all these people who are so focused on the mission of the YMCA," she said.

When asked if she's nervous at all about how the event will unfold, Walsh said laughing: "I don't get nervous. I'm not that type of person."