The YMCA claims this is an environmentally important move that will promote conservation in Southern California during our drought. In fact, it will shift the burden of water consumption from the YMCA to the individual members. Without industrial washers operating at capacity at the YMCA, we would expect to see overall water consumption increase as each member washes towels at home or at a laundry-mat.
Conservation is important. There are many YMCAs in California that offer towel service but only provide one towel per member per visit. The Hollywood YMCA, by contrast, has historically allowed members to grab as many towels as they wish. This can lead to overuse. We believe that, if the Hollywood YMCA is serious about regional water conservation, it should maintain its towel service while limiting each member to one towel.
Please sign below if you believe the Hollywood YMCA should keep its towel service in place. We can only make a difference if we stand together against this unilateral change in our gym services.
Updates
September 10, 2014
I have been hearing from so many people at the gym about how much this service keeps our daily routine manageable. We are still waiting for a direct response from management despite them hearing from us quite clearly now.
September 10, 2014
Seeing this level of support reminds me why I started this because my daily routine at the Y just wouldn't be the same without the service we rely on. It feels good knowing so many of you agree that there is a better way to handle conservation than just dumping the work on us.
4 Comments
I agree with Dani that the "conservation" angle is disingenuous. Many gyms address this issue by issuing a towel service fee or limiting the number of towels used by clientele. I think completely eliminating towels goes beyond being a mere inconvenience. Besides the "ick" factor of patrons who sweat and don't have something with which to wipe themselves off, no towel provisions could create a health hazard. Will I have to trust that other members will always have their own sanitized towel on hand? Bacteria like staph thrives in warm, damp environments like gyms--eliminating towels is a terrible idea.
Here's the thing, I get that it's expensive, but that's the real issue, not "water conservation," so they should be honest about that. Additionally, how about a compromise? How about, like other YMCA's across the country, one towel per person?
If the truly wanted to save water towel service would continue. Asking members to bring their own towels means people will be doing more loads of laundry at home instead of a large number of towels being washed at in the Y's industrial washers, and thus more water will be wasted. Conservation is clearly not the issue, it's a budgeting concern. We're not fools. Without a doubt once the drought is over towel service will not resume. Hiding behind false environmentalism is dishonest, and while it may seem like a small issue to those in charge, it is symbolic of the unpleasant attitude of the new management that has taken hold over the past few months. The new people in charge of the Y have brought with them a marked shift in the atmosphere that has not gone unnoticed by the members. These types of decisions may save some money in the short term but will slowly drive people away from the Y and towards other businesses that don't treat members and staff like we are the enemy.
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The YMCA claims this is an environmentally important move that will promote conservation in Southern California during our drought. In fact, it will shift the burden of water consumption from the YMCA to the individual members. Without industrial washers operating at capacity at the YMCA, we would expect to see overall water consumption increase as each member washes towels at home or at a laundry-mat.
Conservation is important. There are many YMCAs in California that offer towel service but only provide one towel per member per visit. The Hollywood YMCA, by contrast, has historically allowed members to grab as many towels as they wish. This can lead to overuse. We believe that, if the Hollywood YMCA is serious about regional water conservation, it should maintain its towel service while limiting each member to one towel.
Please sign below if you believe the Hollywood YMCA should keep its towel service in place. We can only make a difference if we stand together against this unilateral change in our gym services.
Updates
September 10, 2014
I have been hearing from so many people at the gym about how much this service keeps our daily routine manageable. We are still waiting for a direct response from management despite them hearing from us quite clearly now.
September 10, 2014
Seeing this level of support reminds me why I started this because my daily routine at the Y just wouldn't be the same without the service we rely on. It feels good knowing so many of you agree that there is a better way to handle conservation than just dumping the work on us.
4 Comments
When I joined the Y, the staff member made much of the free towel service and that was among the reason I signed a contract with the Y. I have kept my end of the bargain and I expect the Y to do likewise. Instead, the Y is threatening to breach its contract with me and all its members, by taking this unhealthy and counterproductive move. Does the Health Dept know that machines we all use will inevitably be wiped down by towels that have not been washed in days? And it was just reported that the towelettes are not biodegradable and will pose an ever greater health and environmental hazard. Let's keep the Y as the clean, family-oriented place we all signed up for.
I agree with Dani that the "conservation" angle is disingenuous. Many gyms address this issue by issuing a towel service fee or limiting the number of towels used by clientele. I think completely eliminating towels goes beyond being a mere inconvenience. Besides the "ick" factor of patrons who sweat and don't have something with which to wipe themselves off, no towel provisions could create a health hazard. Will I have to trust that other members will always have their own sanitized towel on hand? Bacteria like staph thrives in warm, damp environments like gyms--eliminating towels is a terrible idea.
Here's the thing, I get that it's expensive, but that's the real issue, not "water conservation," so they should be honest about that. Additionally, how about a compromise? How about, like other YMCA's across the country, one towel per person?
If the truly wanted to save water towel service would continue. Asking members to bring their own towels means people will be doing more loads of laundry at home instead of a large number of towels being washed at in the Y's industrial washers, and thus more water will be wasted. Conservation is clearly not the issue, it's a budgeting concern. We're not fools. Without a doubt once the drought is over towel service will not resume. Hiding behind false environmentalism is dishonest, and while it may seem like a small issue to those in charge, it is symbolic of the unpleasant attitude of the new management that has taken hold over the past few months. The new people in charge of the Y have brought with them a marked shift in the atmosphere that has not gone unnoticed by the members. These types of decisions may save some money in the short term but will slowly drive people away from the Y and towards other businesses that don't treat members and staff like we are the enemy.
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When I joined the Y, the staff member made much of the free towel service and that was among the reason I signed a contract with the Y. I have kept my end of the bargain and I expect the Y to do likewise. Instead, the Y is threatening to breach its contract with me and all its members, by taking this unhealthy and counterproductive move. Does the Health Dept know that machines we all use will inevitably be wiped down by towels that have not been washed in days? And it was just reported that the towelettes are not biodegradable and will pose an ever greater health and environmental hazard. Let's keep the Y as the clean, family-oriented place we all signed up for.