Senate Resolution No. 2870

BY: Senator DEFRANCISCO

COMMENDING Hal Welsh upon the occasion of his
retirement after 24 years of distinguished service
to the YMCA of Greater Syracuse

WHEREAS, It is the sense of the State of New York to recognize those
skilled and dedicated individuals within our midst whose professional
and personal accomplishments merit the recognition of their local
communities and this great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Hal Welsh upon the occasion of his retirement after 24 years of
distinguished service to the YMCA of Greater Syracuse; he will
officially retire as Executive Director of the YMCA of Greater Syracuse
later this year; and

WHEREAS, Hal Welsh, a resident of Van Buren, New York, took the
reins of running the YMCA of Greater Syracuse in 1993, after he was
recruited from the Lancaster, New York, Family YMCA where he previously
served for 15 years; and

WHEREAS, Over the past 24 years, under the leadership of Hal Welsh,
the YMCA of Greater Syracuse has more than doubled its number of
branches and increased its membership from 3,500 to 57,000, while also
increasing its operating budget to $22 million; and

WHEREAS, Today, the YMCA of Greater Syracuse features a total of
seven branches that are located in downtown Syracuse, Fayetteville,
Manlius, Liverpool, Baldwinsville and Onondaga at the Onondaga Community
College campus, as well as Camp Iroquois, a day camp for children; and

WHEREAS, The YMCA of Greater Syracuse's expanded branches offer
members a wide range of amenities, including swimming pools, workout
facilities, meeting areas, children's programs, healthy living classes,
and many more; and

WHEREAS, During his tenure as Executive Director of the YMCA of
Greater Syracuse, Hal Welsh oversaw many major projects, including
building the Northwest Family YMCA in Baldwinsville, (which began when
Radisson residents expressed the desire for a year-round recreational
facility) that opened its doors in 2015; and

WHEREAS, Hal Welsh was also instrumental in bringing arts
programming and academic support to the YMCA of Greater Syracuse to meet
the needs of more people in the Syracuse area; and

WHEREAS, Hal Welsh has devoted his long and successful career to
making communities stronger and healthier, and along the way have stood
his supportive friends and family; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Hal Welsh upon the occasion of his retirement after 24 years of
distinguished service to the YMCA of Greater Syracuse; and be it further


RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Hal Welsh.