After years of struggles, the Northern York County YMCA in Biddeford is now trying a new way to become more solvent ”“ and provide expanded opportunities for its members in the process. Earlier this week, the Northern York County YMCA announced that it has merged with the Cumberland County YMCA, forming the YMCA of Southern Maine, and it seems the collaboration is going to help both organizations better serve their communities.

The organizations have already been sharing management resources like finances, technical support and human resources personnel and systems, since May, and many new benefits are planned for members.

Back in 2005, the Northern York County YMCA was dealing with significant financial struggles and looking at consolidation of management. At the time, the executive director had resigned and the Biddeford location was depending on Sanford-Springvale YMCA Director Becky Harkema to help with its operation.

About a year later, Harkema came on as CEO for both Sanford and Biddeford, charged with addressing problems such as increased costs and loss of revenue at the Biddeford site. But running both operations became too much for her at the time, leading the boards to hire Andrew Orazio to run the Sanford location.

Harkema has since left, but had approached the Cumberland County YMCA before her departure to talk about collaboration.

The Sanford-Springvale YMCA is not part of the new organization this time around, as it’s found it can stand on its own, but the two entities will still have a working relationship. The YMCA of Southern Maine will include the Biddeford site, the Casco Bay Branch in Freeport, the Pineland Branch in New Gloucester and the Greater Portland Branch in Portland.

Since Harkema found it too heavy a load to manage both Biddeford and Sanford, it’s curious that she thought a merger of Biddeford and three Cumberland County locations would be doable, so there’s no guarantee this merger will work out in the long term. As it was when Sanford and Biddeford tried to combine, only one person will be overseeing this newly merged entity, and that’s Helen Brena.

Each branch will have its own executive director, however, which should help keep them all running smoothly. And there’s no doubt that administration costs will be lower with one fewer CEO and other administrative costs combined, thereby leaving more funds to be directed to programming.

This all means that the merger will certainly be a plus for YMCA members, and hopefully it’s for the long term.

Benefits that are already offered at these Cumberland County branches will now be available to Biddeford members, such as free swimming lessons for children, for those who have a family membership; and the inclusion of more group exercise classes.

Members will also now have access to all four facilities, so those who live in Biddeford and work in Portland, or vice versa, can use the most convenient location when they have time.

A review of each site’s programming is also planned, with additional programs being added at all branches, include a healthy living program for members who want to lose weight.

Hopefully, Brena will find a way to manage all four of these locations with the help of each site’s executive director and this merger will become the new reality for YMCA users in the area. It’s hard to argue with cutting overhead costs and increasing offerings, so long as it can be done without a drop in the level of service.

Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski, representing the majority opinion of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.