The Metro Atlanta YMCA leadership is merging the Fayette Family YMCA with the Summit YMCA in Coweta County. The merger was initiated in late 2008 and will not result in any loss of programs. The only change to date is the loss of Fayette’s long-time executive director and the possible merger of the two local boards.

The action was necessary to create efficiencies and savings for an organization that has seen a significant drop-off in donations, said Kristen Obaranes, Metro Atlanta YMCA communications director.

In the “merger” the metro YMCA has fired long-time Fayette Family YMCA Director Pam Young, who has been with the organization 14 years. Obaranes said that move was not based on performance, as Young has done an exceptional job in meeting the needs of Fayette County.

“This is not a reflection on Pam at all,” Obaranes said.

Young’s job title changed several months ago from executive director of Fayette Family to regional resource development director, said Fayette/Summit YMCA Executive Director Jeff Alevy.

Fayette Family YMCA’s facilities on Huiet Road include an outdoor pool, a “lodge” and a large-scale playground on the site. The lodge hosted various groups including a Leaders Club of youth who meet weekly and volunteer for various activities. Last weekend the club helped repair a Douglas County home that had been damaged by flooding.

By far the largest and most recognized program offered by the Fayette Family YMCA is the summer camp that employes 50-60 seasonal staff and volunteers, Young said last week. Obaranes and Alevy both said the summer camp will continue in Fayette County.

The lodge on the Fayette property has historically hosted small community theater performances as well. Other programs and activities such as holiday break camp, Leaders Club, group rentals, volunteer projects and other activities are expected to continue with very few overall programmatic changes, Alevy said.

Unlike Fayette, The Summit YMCA includes an indoor pool, a gym and a host of wellness offerings.

This summer was the first time the Fayette Family and Summit YMCAs jointly hosted the summer camp, which is conducted during the day Monday for Friday. The camp’s target audience is children who might otherwise be latchkey kids while their parents go to work, said Fayette YMCA board member Andre DeLorenzo.

An annual fund-raising campaign to pay for scholarships to programs and particularly the summer camp is on target to meet its goal of raising $75,000 this year, Obaranes said. That money will continue to be used exclusively for Fayette residents, she added.

But the economy has affected Fayette Family YMCA with a 20 percent decrease in program fee revenue as the economy has families scaling back their recreational activities, Obaranes said.

At the board level, Alevy said the two organizations rolled into one in late 2008. It was at that point that, essentially, the Fayette Family YMCA ceased to exist, Alevy said. The move followed others in the Metro Atlanta YMCA system due to financial considerations, Alevy added.

The only thing left to do now is to decide whether the two boards will remain separate or if they will merge, Alevy said. The decision will be made at an upcoming board meeting with Metro Atlanta staff present.

Alevy said the main thing is to continue with the service to the community.

“We’re thankful to be in Fayette and we’ll continue to serve the citizens at the Fayette site,” Alevy said.

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