FAIRMONT — One of the foundations for the proposed community center in Fairmont is substantial programming from the YMCA, and a team from the Albert Lea Family Y is committed to developing that protocol.

Dennis Dieser, Albert Lea executive director, has worked for the facility for 36 years while Whitney Sauer joined the full-time staff as community program director for Albert Lea and Fairmont just three weeks ago, after working there part time for five years. Dieser will assist in getting the community center built, and Sauer will concentrate on cultivating programs.

Sauer, who is working out of the CER office at Fairmont Elementary School, plans to split her time between Albert Lea and Fairmont. Because of commitments in Albert Lea, she plans to be in Fairmont on Mondays and Wednesdays, but no regular office hours have been set yet.

“Whitney will be talking to people. We’ll be doing a lot of presentations about what we do, who we are,” Dieser said.

He has been coming to Fairmont for about a year, so he actually will be introducing Sauer to a lot of stakeholders he has met.

“Our goal this year is special events and partnering with other agencies or entities to get our name out, show them what we’re doing. The whole goal is to get acquainted with the community and let the community know who we are,” he said.

Sauer brings an eclectic background. A native of Albert Lea, she attended North Dakota State University, where she earned degrees in history, anthropology and international studies with a minor in Spanish. After graduating, she returned home during her job search. Her mother mentioned the Albert Lea Y was hiring.

She worked part time at the Y for five years, as well as working a full-time job until three weeks ago, when she assumed the full-time duties of community program director, dividing her time between Fairmont and Albert Lea.

Sauer relishes her work at the Y and says she wouldn’t consider leaving it unless there was a chance for her dream job as an archaeologist, like the fictional movie character Indiana Jones.

She beams as she talks about her work last summer with the youth soccer program and one young boy in particular.

“At first, when I just looked at him, he’d start crying. Then after working with him for about six weeks, he was out there on the field, playing, away from his mom,” Sauer said. “His mom, for the most part, had been down on the field with him, but the last two practices, she was sitting with the rest of the families, and he was on the field by himself. It was really good to see that.”

“She does a really good job, not only with the children. Through her actions, she’s educating the adults that are around, changing the attitudes there,” Dieser said. “That’s a key focus over all our programs.”

Sauer adopts that focus by working with her young charges on character development such respect, discipline and sportsmanship, and other aspects that help them grow.

Dieser points out another of Sauer’s talents is special events. A Halloween “trunk or treat” drew a capacity crowd last year, not just Y members but people from throughout the Albert Lea area.

“Within a week, Whitney had it all put together,” Dieser said. “We had police, fire and ambulance in the parking lot, and a bounce house and games set up inside. We were packed right after the doors opened. The event was free, but the staff decided to do a bake sale for our roof replacement. We raised about $900 that was totally unplanned.”

“That was exciting to see. It was fun,” Sauer said.

“That’s going to be a real strength for her here, engaging with the community with special events to bring people together, adding to and strengthening what’s already here,” Dieser said.

“I was born and raised in Albert Lea,” Sauer said. “I lived there most of my life so I know my community pretty well, especially through the Y. I’m looking forward to that here, getting to know new people, networking and helping this community grow. I will treat it like my own community.”

“I think we’re bringing in a great team. I’m confident with Whitney. People will be amazed by her,” Dieser said.

Sauer can be reached by email at whitneys @ymcaal.org or by calling her at (507) 402-5956.