Team Work
YMCA on the receiving end of security system
- By Kim Rahfaldt
- Jun 01, 2017
Sometimes you need to be in the right place at
the right time. Sometimes, it’s who you know.
For Karrie Gabbard, executive director of the
East Butler County Family YMCA in Hamilton,
Ohio, it was both. Gabbard and her team were
starting to discuss the idea of raising money for a good security
system. They had been dealing with graffiti, theft and car
break-ins, and knew it was time to upgrade for the sake of their
membership and the numerous programs for children they run
throughout the year.
Money is Tight
As typical non-profits go, money is tight, and money for a security
system, deemed almost a luxury, was difficult to justify. They had six
bad cameras installed but with no money in the budget to upgrade
them.
As they were identifying donors to contribute to the project,
an instructor told her about Securadyne Systems’ Community Day.
Once a year, Securadyne, an electronic security systems integrator,
closes its office and performs work in the local community. The instructor’s
husband worked for Securadyne Systems.
Victor Hoffman, account executive for Securadyne, was excited
about helping out his local YMCA. He and Securadyne project manager,
Jeremy Brewer, reached out to Dennis Gibbs, Great Lakes regional
sales manager at AMAG Technology, to see if AMAG could
donate a new video management system.
“We just started talking about how we could raise money for a
good security system when this opportunity fell into my lap,” Gabbard
said. “We determined our basic needs, what Securadyne and
AMAG could provide, and set the installation date. We were thrilled.”
AMAG Technology’s Symmetry CompleteView VMS sits on the
front desk where employees can monitor activity occurring throughout
the facility. The YMCA installed 12 cameras total. Five were
purchased and the remaining were either donated or refurbished by
Securadyne. Cameras monitored critical areas such as the doorways,
front desk, hallways, workout areas, vending machines, parking lots,
kiddy care area and the basketball court.
This YMCA branch is the largest of seven in the area and services
about 15,000 members, not including guests. Kettering Hospital Network
uses a section of their building for a physical therapy office and
orthopedics office. The main lobby camera provides a general view of
the shared hallway.
Installing a video system was critical for the numerous children’s
programs held. The summer day camp program services about 100
kids children day, and they go all over the building. A drop-in babysitting
service provides members with 2.5 hours of free babysitting
a week, and children as young as 6 weeks’ old are in those rooms.
Cameras are stationed in each of the three babysitting rooms, which
are divided by age, and parents can watch their children on a monitor
in the wellness center.
More than 100 children participate in a half-day preschool program
that is open mornings and afternoons in three classrooms. Installing
cameras in the preschool area is part of phase two.
“Prior to this we had six cameras that didn’t cover much,” Gabbard
said. “We have twice the number of members as the other seven
YMCA branches and host several outside groups. Between our traffic
and theft, I am so thankful for our new security system.”
Gabbard enjoys the ease of use with the system and the flexibility
it provides. She and her team can playback incidents when needed,
and anticipate helping local police in the future. Gabbard also likes
that she can view her video management system from her phone or
iPad from anywhere.
“We were happy to donate our time to a worthy cause and help
the YMCA with their security needs,” said Victor Hoffman, account
executive at Securadyne Systems.
“Working with Securadyne to donate a video system to the
YMCA was a great experience and worthwhile
cause,” Gibbs said. “We are proud to participate
and look forward to working with the YMCA
more in the future.”
Security in place, it is a great partnership between
the two companies.
This article originally appeared in the June 2017 issue of Security Today.
About the Author
Kim Rahfaldt is Director of Media Relations at AMAG Technology, Inc., based in Torrance, Calif.