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Volunteers Applications Available for 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships
Applications are now available for volunteer positions at the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Sheboygan, June 25-28, 2008. 
The elite competition is an event of a lifetime with more than 1,500 gymnasts from around the country competing for top honors. This is the first time Sheboygan is hosting these national games. An audience of more than 3,000 is expected, along with some celebrity appearances.
Opportunities are available June 23-30, 2008, during Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as many other stations throughout the Championship, including set-up and take-down.
Individuals, as well as groups – including youth groups chaperoned by an adult – are encouraged to take part in the celebration by donating time.
Every YMCA National Gymnastics Championships volunteer will receive a complimentary t-shirt, credentials and a ticket to Closing Ceremony as well as entry to the event volunteered for.
In order to assure that all children participating in the games are in a safe environment, appropriate background checks will be conducted on all adult volunteers based on position and duties. It’s just one of the many ways the Sheboygan YMCA helps to protect children and other vulnerable people served by the YMCA.
To receive an application please contact Jill Tenpas at 920-451-8000, ext. 122 or email ygymprog@sheobygancountyymca.org. Applications are also available online at www.ymcanationals2008.org.
Sponsor Sought for National Gymnastics Championship
Next summer more than 3,000 spectators are anticipated to watch the closing ceremonies at the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Sheboygan on June 28, 2008.
The Closing Ceremonies are similar in structure to that of the Olympics complete with a national emcee, well-known performer and awards for the best of the best.
To assist with expenses, the Sheboygan YMCA Springers gymnastics team is seeking an exclusive sponsor for the closing ceremony.
The company selected to sponsor the ceremony will not only gain recognition among the thousands of guests and gymnasts, but will also be awarded VIP seating, name recognition on all banners, signs and volunteer t-shirts, inclusion on the website – which already receives well over 1,000 hits a week – and much more.
“We already have teams signing up for the competition,” said Denice Nugent, Sheboygan YMCA gymnastics coordinator. “This is going to be a huge event and we are counting on business partners to help make the Championship a huge success.”
More than 1,500 gymnasts from around the country are expected to attend the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships June 25-28, 2008.
The multi-day championship will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring World champion gymnast and West Allis native, Chellsie Memmel.
“We are hoping to line up something just as big and even more exciting for closing ceremonies,” said Nugent. “We are just looking for a business that will partner with us.”
A number of other sponsorship opportunities are available, for more information please contact Cheri Louwagie at itscool@ymcanationals2008.org or 920-208-1971.
For more information about the event visit www.ymcanationals2008.org.
Vendor Opportunities Still Available
Although still seven months away, spaces are rapidly filling for vendors and concessionaires wishing to participate in the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships which will be held in Sheboygan June 25-28, 2008.
An anticipated 5,000 gymnasts and audience members are expected to attend the event which will be held at Sheboygan North High School.
A number of booths are still available in the atrium, “Vendor’s Hall,” and outside of the Awards Auditorium. Multiple booths will receive a 10 percent discount after the first booth, electricity is available.
Leotards may not be sold.
For more information and/or to obtain an application, please contact Cheri Louwagie at itscool@ymcanationals2008.org or 920-208-1971.
For more information about the event visit www.ymcanationals2008.org.
Youth gymnastics: Opening Ceremony gets sponsor
Sheboygan Press article dated October 7, 2007
The Lakeshore Springers have announced Johnsonville Sausage Inc., will be the exclusive sponsor of the Opening Ceremony for the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships that will be held in Sheboygan June 25-28, 2008.
The Lakeshore Springers team is the newly merged Sheboygan County YMCA Springers and Manitowoc/Two Rivers YMCA Lakeshore Flyers.
An anticipated 5,000 gymnasts and spectators are expected Opening Ceremony, scheduled for June 25, 2008.
The Opening Ceremony includes more than five hours of events, including a parade of states, musical entertainment and a ceremony featuring a keynote address by former world gymnastics champion Chellsie Memmel.
The 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships are expected to be the largest championship in the history of the games with competitors ranging in age from 5 to adult.
"When we first started talking with Johnsonville Sausage about this major sponsorship, they encouraged us to think big," said Denice Nugent, senior program director/gymnastics, Sheboygan County YMCA. "What better sponsor could you ask for than a local, family-owned company that has a big heart and the largest grill capable of feeding all these hungry gymnasts and their families. We couldn't think of a better company to help us make this a great first impression."
Johnsonville's donations are expected to cover the cost of expenses for the Opening Ceremony.
"The opportunity the Springers have brought to Sheboygan by hosting these national games is just astounding," said Tony Rammer, art director/eMarketing, Johnsonville Sausage Inc.
"The level of competition and the prestige of the championships is something Johnsonville is honored to be a part of."
Opening Ceremony tickets will be made available to the public as the date of the championships nears.
For more information visit www.ymcanationals2008.org.
2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships Apparel
YMCA gymnasts, their families and fans can now order merchandise with the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships logo thanks to an agreement with GK Elite Sportswear.
Leotards, shirts, shorts, capris, pants, jackets, hoodies, t-shirts, polo shirts and mesh shorts can be ordered with either the Y Nationals logo or the YMCA National 2008 Championships logo. Girls also have the option of ordering three different shirts that coordinate with the jackets, shorts and pants.
To save money for gymnasts before the big event, leotards, as well as boy’s and men’s mesh shorts are available at a special pre-order price. The price will go up at the meet, so order today!
More advantages to ordering online include the opportunity to select from a wide array of colors and designs, the ability to personalize items with names and/or team logos, as well as the opportunity to select jewel colors on the leotards and jackets.
To order visit www.gkelite.com and scroll down the page to the Y Nationals logo located on the left-hand side of the page. Embroidery personalization is only available on the web. It costs an additional per letter fee. NO embroidery will be available at the Nationals Championships in June.
Merchandise can be ordered for the holidays, birthdays and other occasions.
Elite Sportswear GK is the most recognized manufacturer of gymnastics apparel in the world. GK is recognized around the globe for superior quality, styling and fit; and friendly knowledgeable customer service.
Every GK garment that is manufactured by Elite Sportswear must pass 100 percent of it’s quality control checks before it is packaged and shipped.
Community Notes: YMCA Springers looking for sponsors
Sheboygan Press article dated September 1, 2007
Next summer more than 3,000 spectators are anticipated to watch the closing ceremonies at the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships in Sheboygan on June 28.
The closing ceremonies are similar in structure to that of the Olympics complete with a national emcee, well-known performer and awards for the best of the best.
To assist with expenses, the Sheboygan YMCA Springers gymnastics team is seeking an exclusive sponsor for the closing ceremony.
The company selected to sponsor the ceremony will not only gain recognition among the thousands of guests and gymnasts, but will also be awarded VIP seating, name recognition on all banners, signs and volunteer T-shirts, inclusion on the Web site — which already receives well over 1,000 hits a week — and much more.
"We already have teams signing up for the competition," said Denice Nugent, Sheboygan YMCA gymnastics coordinator. "This is going to be a huge event and we are counting on business partners to help make the championship a huge success."
More than 1,500 gymnasts from around the country are expected to attend the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships June 25-28.
The multi-day championship will kick off with an opening ceremony featuring world champion gymnast and West Allis native, Chellsie Memmel.
"We are hoping to line up something just as big and even more exciting for closing ceremonies," said Nugent. "We are just looking for a business that will partner with us."
A number of other sponsorship opportunities are available, for more information please contact Cheri Louwagie at itscool@ymcanationals2008.org or (920) 208-1971.
For more information about the event visit www.ymcanationals2008. org.
Copyrighted article used with permission from The Sheboygan Press.
World-class gymnast to visit Sheboygan
Sheboygan Press article dated March 15, 2007
Sheboygan's youth gymnasts are already excited about hosting the 2008 Sheboygan 
YMCA national championships. Now, there is further reason to be pumped about the event.
The YMCA announced recently that Chellsie Memmel, a West Allis native and one of the top gymnasts in the world, will speak at the opening ceremony for the event, set for June of 2008. "We're very excited that this worked out," said Sheboygan YMCA gymnastics coordinator Denice Nugent.
"This represents the caliber we're aiming for, in all areas of this meet." Nugent said she met Memmel and her parents at the Lake Owen Gymastics Camp near Hayward this past summer.
"I was very impressed with how personable she was," Nugent recalled. Memmel, the 2005 all-around world champion will be appearing only days after trying to qualify for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
Memmel was on her way to defending her all-around title in 2006 but an injury suffered in the team finals denied her a chance. Nugent said Memmel's agenda also includes signing autographs, answering questions and mingling with the gymnasts.
The national event is expected to attract 1,000 to 1,500 gymnasts to Sheboygan.
An Olympics-style ceremony kicks off the four-day event.
Copyrighted article used with permission from The Sheboygan Press.
Local YMCA to host national gymnastics event in 2008
Sheboygan Press article dated December 13, 2006
The Sheboygan School Board unanimously voted Tuesday night in favor of holding the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championship and Festival at the Acuity Field House at North High School, along with North's surrounding athletic facilities, from June 25-28.
The Sheboygan YMCA recently learned that it would be hosting the national event, which is expected to draw between 1,000 to 1,500 athletes from ages 6 to 18, along with attracting 3,000 spectators, according to event administrators.
Copyrighted article used with permission from The Sheboygan Press.
Sheboygan chosen as host city of 2008 gymnastics championships
YMCA lands national event
Sheboygan Press article dated November 27, 2006
When the Sheboygan YMCA entered a bid to host the 2000 National Gymnastics Championships, it was passed over mainly because the city didn't have the facilities to stage an event of such magnitude.
But with the addition of the new fieldhouses at North and South high schools, the YMCA's bid for the 2008 Championships had everything the selection committee was looking for.
The Sheboygan YMCA learned recently it was awarded the 2008 YMCA National Gymnastics Championships, which will be held in June of that year. The four-day competition will be held at either North or South's new fieldhouse. That decision is likely to happen in December.
The event is expected to draw 1,000 to 1,500 athletes. An Olympics-style opening 
ceremony, which includes a parade of states, opening addresses, nationally recognized guest speakers, recognition of graduating seniors and announcement of scholarship awards, will kickoff the event. The Championships could mean millions of dollars for the local economy, said Denice Nugent, Senior Program Director/Gymnastics at the YMCA.
"When we put in the bid in 2000, it was over $1 million at that point," said Nugent. Efforts to host the 2008 Championships have been ongoing for several years. The new fieldhouses highlighted the latest bid. A local contingent, led by Nugent, Cheri Louwagie and Tim Herrmann, traveled to Seattle earlier this month to make a PowerPoint presentation to the selection committee. When they were finished, Nugent said the local group liked their chances.
"We showed (the committee) all that Sheboygan would have to offer, how great our parents are and the area's history with hosting huge events, like the PGA (in 2004) and Road America," said Nugent.
The following day, the committee chose Sheboygan over Greenwood, S.C., to host the 2008 Championship.
The YMCA's history of hosting the annual Snowflake Invite (with upwards of 800 gymnasts), the experience of the program and the individuals in charge of it, also contributed to Sheboygan's winning bid.
The 2007 National Championships are scheduled for June 27-30 Puyallup, Wash., near Tacoma.
The majority of athletes will compete just once, but the nation's top gymnasts will 
compete all three days. The championships conclude with event finals and closing ceremonies. "There's lots to work on, constantly it seems like; so many facets. We want it to be the best national meet there's ever been," said Nugent.
Community help needed
The event, officially hosted by the Sheboygan County YMCA's Board of Directors, Sheboygan Springers team and the gymnastics staff, is seeking volunteers, sponsors, vendors and partners. In fact, Nugent estimates that around 1,000 volunteers could be needed to run an event of this scope. She also emphasized that volunteers do not need a gymnastics background to help out. "It can be anybody in the community, there are so many aspects of (volunteering)," she said. "We need ushers for the opening ceremonies, we need to feed the judges..." If you have questions, please send us an email at itscool@ymcanationals2008.org or call the Y Nationals Hotline at 920-451-8001 x202. "We're working with vendors; we want to really showcase what Sheboygan County has to offer." said Nugent.
Copyrighted article used with permission from The Sheboygan Press.