About the Presentation: Hudson Rotarian Chris Kost started his talk with a review of the Hudson Y’s history. It was started in1991; the building opened 1995, and it was expanded in 2003. The Y currently has 1937 membership units, 1200 contract members (Silver Sneakers, for example), 84 fitness classes, 1223 new members in 2025. The regional Y organization in Minneapolis, which provides overall governance to all Y’s in the region, is one of the largest Y organizations in the US In world. The geographic span of the Hudson Y includes Woodbury, Hudson, River Falls, Prescott, New Richmond, a wide geographic span.
In terms of youth focus, the Hudson Y had 1900+ kids and teens participating in programs in 2025. Recently the Hudson Y absorbed the debt of Youth Action Hudson program. One specific action Chris cited was that City came to Y and Rotary in 90’s about a skate park. The Skate Park is still operating 27 years later. The facility was renovated in 2024. Click READ MORE for the rest of the summary and to read about Chris Kost, and for a look at Chris's slides, click DOWNLOAD FILES at the bottom of this newsletter.
Beyond the Hudson Y's athletics and outdoor focus, the clubhouse for teens is used for the Transitions Program to help disabled young people who have finished high school to develop work skills.
The regional Y has a model state Assembly in MN, and Chris noted that they are now getting RF students back after losses in 2020. Eight River Falls students engaged this year. Chris provided the example of 2 student participants who wrote a bill to require foster care organizations to keep siblings together. A state senator who was listening talked to the students, wrote a bill, got it passed by the MN legislature, and it’s now the law in Minnesota.
About the Speaker: Chris Kost has been the with the YMCA for almost 19 years. For the last 11 years he has been the Executive Director of the YMCA in Hudson. He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. And, as noted above, Chris is an active Rotarian with the Hudson Daybreak Rotary Club, on the board to of the St. Croix EDC, holds multiple volunteer positions with the Hudson Chamber of commerce. Chris confirms that he is a busy person. Chris adds that he is married with two kids. His wife is a teacher in Minnesota. His kids are a junior at Hudson High and a sophmore at UW Stout. He says that he loves all things sports and can't wait to get out on the golf courses this summer.