Easton members voted 41-1 and Nazareth members voted unanimously to approve the merger at a meeting held at the Holiday Inn Express in Palmer Township Monday night.
The front of the The Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg and Vicinity building at 1225 West Lafayette Street in Easton in April 2010.
Nazareth YMCA members will be able to use Easton's YMCA facility and vice versa next year.
The Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity and Nazareth YMCA members approved a merger of the two facilities Monday night.
"The merger allows us to continue in this tradition while envisioning a stronger, more sustainable, and vibrant organization that will enhance members' experiences," said Frank Frey, president and CEO of the Nazareth YMCA.
Easton members voted 41-1 and Nazareth members voted unanimously to approve the merger at a meeting held at the Holiday Inn Express in Palmer Township Monday night.
The merger will become effective Jan. 1.
It will also allow Suburban North Family YMCA in Catasauqua and future Slate Belt YMCA members to use the Nazareth and Easton area facilities. The Slate Belt branch is still in the works.
Memberships will remain the same and all YMCA branches will retain their identity, but internal operational policies and practices would become more uniform, Frey said. No job cuts -- in the branches or corporate -- are planned because of the merger.
The Nazareth YMCA would be the surviving corporation for legal purposes, Frey said. It would operate as the Nazareth YMCA; Family YMCA of Easton, Phillipsburg & Vicinity; Suburban North YMCA and Slate Belt YMCA.
The Nazareth YMCA already manages the Easton, Bethlehem and Suburban North YMCAs.
Nazareth YMCA is going to request a name change to the Greater Valley YMCA or another nongeographic specific name. Frey will retain his position.
A task force is currently exploring the possibility of merging with the Bethlehem YMCA.