Leonard Willett, 68, took over the helm of the small YMCA two weeks ago. The position had been vacant since George Mueller resigned in May.

"It took us a long time to get the right person to be the leader for our organization," David Hansen, outgoing president of the local YMCA, said Thursday. He said the board received a good response during the search for a new executive director. "We were looking specifically for a special set of attributes."

Those attributes the board found in Willett. Hansen said board members were looking for a person with maturity, depth of experience, and one who had an appreciation for small YMCAs. In addition, they found that Willett has a good understanding of the dynamics of small towns.

Willett, who has a bachelor's degree in education from Boston University, has 37 years of experience with the YMCA, a career that started in the 1960s at a YMCA in Boston.

Willett retired seven years ago from the Bath YMCA, where he served as fitness, camping and program director. He took the Dover-Foxcroft-based job, he said, because he missed the activity.

"I missed the people and the day-to-day work," Willett said Thursday. The YMCA plays an integral role in his family, he said, including that of his wife, Kati, and his grown children, one of whom is the aquatic director at the Bath YMCA.

The new Dover-Foxcroft resident said he has served as executive director for the South County YMCA in Venice, Fla., and for the Boothbay Region YMCA. He also has served as administrative director of physical education and fitness at a Pittsburgh, Pa., facility.

Directors want Willett to mentor the professional staff at the YMCA and focus his efforts on senior programming and youth recreational sports. They also will use his expertise in raising funds.

"We have very qualified staff, but they need to upgrade their credentials," Willett said this week.

As for the building, he said, there is much work to be done, as well as funds to be raised to complete that work. The most immediate need, he said, is to replace the pool dehumidifier, which does not work properly. A replacement has been obtained, but the YMCA needs to raise $50,000 to pay for the equipment.

Optimistic that funds can be found, either locally or through grants and foundations, Willett said the need could be shown.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Friday, October 17, 2003 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."