Cincinnati YMCAs Adopt IDenticard's
IVIS Plus Digital Imaging System
How do you keep track of over 100,000 members in your organization and still put a face with a name?
Cincinnati YMCAs were faced with a problem: a large number of people using the branch facilities weren't current members, because of unrenewed memberships or late payments. While members carried photo identification cards, each YMCA had no way of knowing the current status of each membership. As a solution, seven of the Greater Cincinnati YMCAs have implemented IDenticard's IVIS Plus 1000 Digital Imaging System to tie membership, security and marketing together in one integrated system.
Real-time Membership Control
The IVIS Plus digital imaging system allows YMCAs to track membership data in one system and, as it is one of the few systems compatible with YMCA's Y-Metro membership database, allows the accounting department to track members in good standing or to resolve any membership issues. As the system operates on real-time data, access for members can be controlled the same day data is entered. In addition to providing on-site photo capture, the digital camera allows the YMCAs to take and store photographs off-site. That makes it especially convenient to reach groups such as childcare centers who participate in YMCA field trips instead of coming to a facility.
The system stores data, including ID photos of members and staff and membership status, directly in the system, making it accessible to all integrated branches and, in conjunction with bar coded ID cards, allows members to access any Cincinnati YMCA facility. The YMCA's Metro Membership is a city-wide membership that allows members who work and live in different parts of town to work out at any of the YMCA branches, making an integrated system an important part of the YMCA program.
Security
"With over 110,000 members -- a city unto itself -- there was no way we could know information about every member," says Dwight Blubaugh, Director of Information Systems for the YMCA - Cincinnati. "We made a pledge to our members that we were going to install a more efficient system." In addition to ensuring all memberships are current, the IVIS Plus linked with the Y-Metro software system enables YMCA staff to know in an emergency who a member is, look up any allergies or medical problems, and obtain emergency contact numbers, all before emergency medical teams arrive on site.
Marketing
"In addition to membership control, the Cincinnati YMCAs are tracking facility usage. With this data, the Y's can develop reports on the heaviest usage times, run cross-comparisons on what age groups use the facilities and at what time. Demographic information lets the YMCAs create effective programs, scheduled for the most convenient time. For more information, click here or call 800-233-0298. | 
