BOB McDOWELL

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Greetings! I hope you all are doing well and enjoying the summer of '26!

As we all celebrate the USA's 250th Anniversary, I urge you all to also remember our beloved YMCA, which is celebrating 175 years of impactful service. The anniversary theme is "No Place Like This Place." 

As I think and encourage you to think back on our time with the Y, we should all be able to remember why we did what we did for the communities that we served. I know we all have fond memories of how we locally, either collectively or individually, made a positive impact on a child, adult, senior or entire family during our time with the Y. 

May we never stop remembering and, more importantly, strive to continue to serve others. We were all given a gift, and I give thanks for the opportunity we have had and continue to have to serve others. We have all been a part of and should be proud of making the Y, A Place Like No Other Place. 

Last month I was privileged to travel to St. Louis June 2-4 for our National YMCA Alumni training event called "48 hours” in St. Louis" with chapter presidents and National YMCA Alumni Board members. A well-organized and presented agenda included an emphasis on Membership Development. As we all know, that is how our chapter exists as we strive to Connect, Travel, and Serve. I urge you all to reach out to one another, to consider attending events locally and journey a bit with the YMCA Alumni Travel Club,

I am very encouraged by Rich Curl, Larry Richardson, Craig Wolf, John Monsted, and Susan Jacobs, who recently met to discuss member recruitment and involvement and have set a meeting date of Oct. 8 to rally as many South Central PA and NW MD Alumni for an early evening gathering/social with a location TBD in the Harrisburg and York area. Thank you, Rich, Larry, Craig and Susan for this important connection work.

We had a great visit and time of refreshment at the home of Joyce and Len Wilson on June 17 in Strathmere, NJ (“Down Da Shore ”). As usual, the fellowship and food were awesome, and we had a wonderful time together. Thank you so much, Joyce and Len, for opening up your beautiful home for us to connect.

Please join me in welcoming new Central Atlantic Chapter Members: Bette Frances from Wilmington, DE, who most recently worked at the YMCA of DE, and Mary Cermak from Rockville, MD, who most recently worked at the Kirkwood YMCA in Missouri.

I hope you can join Karen and me Oct. 6-8, 2026, for our Three Chapter Gathering (New England, Central Atlantic and McBurney-Morse) at The Sea Crest Beach Resort in Falmouth, MA (Cape Cod). Early-bird registration ends on 8/1/26. Check your emails for information, and thank you, Len Wilson, for being a member of the planning team. 

Mark your calendars: Our Holiday Christmas Lunch and Auction is Dec. 3 and please plan to attend the National YMCA Alumni Reunion in Kansas City June 16-19, 2027. Watch The Connection and our website for details.  

Finally, we should all be proud of the action our Board took, which included the approval of the distribution of proceeds from our annual Holiday Auction as follows: $500 each to Y World Service, EAF, Jerusalem YMCA, and the International Service Corps.

Please let me know if you have any questions. Have a safe and happy remainder of the summer of '26.

Bob

Bob McDowell, President,

Central Atlantic YMCA Alumni

Our 2026 YMCA Alumni Donor Campaign has kicked off, and we need each of you to respond. We hope you watched this important video by Past President Jean Carmichael making this important case. If you missed it, click the button below. Please watch, then donate.

CHAPTER EVENTS:

MORRIS ARBORETUM; DAY AT THE SHORE

Photos L-R -- Cathy Fromm and Joyce Wilson with Walt Fromm and Deb Zvanut; Karen and Bob McDowell, Carl Zvanut, Louise Foley, and Jen Helm Clarke. Bottom L-R -- Betty and John Eikrem, Joe and Veronica Elias, Len and Joyce Wilson.

MORRIS ARBORETUM: On a beautiful spring day in May, chapter members gathered at Morris Arboretum in Philadelphia's Chestnut Hill section. 

The group was split into two groups, and we toured the area (it’s really big). Walt Fromm and Deb Zvanut secured electric scooters; it wasn’t easy to keep up with them.

The Morris's were avid collectors of exotic plants and trees. Some of the most interesting were the Dawn-Redwood from China, which was around when dinosaurs roamed and believed to be extinct. Another interesting tree was the Blue Atlas Cedar from the Atlas Mountains in North Africa. The grounds are truly a sight to behold. After the tour, the gang went to the Fort Inn & Bar in Fort Washington to recover from our walk. 

Photos: Left, top-bottom -- Frannie and Pete Smith, Joyce Wilson; Betty and John Eikrem. Right top to bottom -- Ken and Chris White; Bob McDowell, Sherry and Mark Elsasser: Lois Van Zanten, Barbara Taylor, Hank Van Zanten, Wendy Fox, Carl and Deb Zvanut, Cathy and Walt Fromm, and Roy Taylor.

A DAY AT THE SHORE: Chapter members gathered at the Wilsons in Strathmere, Cape May County, NJ, June 17 for a day of friendship, fun, and food. Lunch was a smorgasbord of seafood chowder, beef tips, appetizers, and salads. 

Games followed; Cathy Fromm is a killer Cornhole player. Some of the guests stayed overnight and continued the party until the next day. It was great to catch up with many of our YMCA friends.

Top L-R -- Carl and Deb Zvanut, Ken and Chris White, Walt Fromm, Bob McDowell, Barbara Taylor, Joyce and Len Wilson, Sherry and Mark Elsasser; Bottom L-R -- Hank and Lois Van Zanten, Frannie and Pete Smith, Roy Taylor, John and Betty Eikrem, Cathy Fromm, and Wendy Fox.

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON: Dec. 3 for our chapter Christmas Luncheon and Auction. We will be returning to Toscano 52 in Feasterville, PA. So, gather your money and get ready to donate an interesting item and bid with abandon. It’s always for a YMCA cause. Look for more information in the fall.

ISC Chapter Chair Deb Zvanut has a report on ISC from Tracy Muckey, National Chair, for your reading enjoyment. Click the button below to catch up on what our fellow YMCA Alumni are doing to help YMCAs around the globe.

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE OUR MEMBERS?

DEB ZVANUT and friends took a trip to Scotland and London in April. They spent two weeks traveling through Scotland and ending in London. The first week covered 817 miles to tour the Isle of Skye. Deb then joined 28 adult Girl Scouts from the Lehigh Valley in London to learn about the history of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts at Pax Lodge, one of the five Girl Scout World Centers. The group spent an exciting week touring London and seeing Wicked in the West End. Photos

L-R -- Deb at Isle of Skye, Scotland and at Pax Lodge Girl Guide Centre, London.

JUDE GALLAHER celebrated her 80^th birthday with her daughter Judy Sailer, son-in-law Chris, and grandson CJ, and his friend Devon, as they drove up to Acadia National Park. Traveling over the George Washington Bridge into New York is not for the faint of heart. They stayed in Bar Harbor, ME and explored all three sections of the park, While the kids climbed over the rocks, Jude took lots of photos of lighthouses, puffins, and seals. They shared Sand Beach with a baby seal whose mom had dropped it off while hunting. She apparently told him not to talk to strangers. Photos L-R -- The baby seal; Chris and Judy Sailer, Jude, CJ Sailer.

MAURA AND DAVID STEVENSON completed a seven-day bike trip riding along the Rhine River in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. Offered through Backroads, the Stevensons would bike during the day and then meet their AmaWaterways river cruise ship later in the afternoon.

THE WHITES AND FROMMS enjoyed Barcelona Summer Nights at The Buck Hotel in Feasterville, PA. The three-course meal included Escalivada (cold salad over rustic sourdough bread), Seafood Paella, and burnt Basque cheesecake (so delicious). Chef Daniel impressed us with his culinary skills. It was a great night of eating with good friends.

THE GOLF GUYS had a busy spring and significantly increased their numbers. Chapter members Rich Curl and Jay Schaffer and eight other of their Y friends spent several days of fun and golfing in Fort Myers, FL. Our regulars, Rich, Bob, Tony, and Mark, recently golfed for three days in South Central PA. Look for the guys at a golf club near you!

Top L-R -- George Romell, Tony Shuman, John Flynn, Rich Curl, Jay Schaeffer, Journey Johnson, Tom Looby, John Pries, Kevin Washington, and Paul Gorman. Bottom L-R Tony Fragale, Bob McDowell, Mark Elsasser, and Rich Curl.

ANOTHER CHANCE:

SWISS TRAIN ADVENTURE RETURNS IN APRIL 2027

April 14-24, 2027

No tour or cruise has ever had so many overwhelmingly positive reports from members, so we are doing something we've never done before: Your YMCA Alumni Travel Club is repeating last spring's Scenic Switzerland by Train tour April 14-24, 2027. 

It’s the perfect way to see Switzerland’s breathtaking mountains, charming mountain resorts, fascinating old towns, and beautiful lakes, all while you relax aboard the world-famous Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Gornergrat Cog Railway and others. This escorted trip by Cosmos, part of the Globus Tours family, sold out within days of its announcement last time, so don’t delay. Your YMCA Alumni hosts are Debbie and Larry Garvin.

Click the button below to register and/or call Go Travel at (407) 774-2229 and identify yourself as a YMCA Alumni member.

CHAPTER LEADERS

President: Bob McDowell

Co-Chair: Vacant

Vice President/Membership: Cathy Fromm

Vice President/Programs: Vacant

Secretary: Veronica Elias

Treasurer: Betteann Kramer

Clippings Editor: Jude Gallaher

EAF: Hank Van Zanten

ISC/World Service: Debbi Zvanut

Member-at-Large: Rich Curl

Member-at-Large: Alane McCahey

Past President: Len Wilson 

Click on name in red to send email

Clippings is produced for the Central Atlantic Chapter

by craig altschul + associates.

The mission of YMCA Alumni is "to enable members to promote a nurturing worldwide Christian Fellowship that provides educational, social, service and charitable opportunities."

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