LEN WILSON

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hello Craig,

Joyce and I were very disappointed that COVID, contracted by both of us, forced the cancellation of another festive luncheon at our shore home last month. Let’s look forward to next year, and circle September 10 and 11, 2025 for great weather, food and fun at the shore in Strathmere. Book overnight stays with us early if you travel quite a distance.

Hopefully, you have reserved Dec. 5 this year and plan to be with chapter friends for our Christmas Luncheon at the William Penn Inn. The food and atmosphere were terrific last year, and this year’s auction will provide opportunities to go home with some excellent items while you support World Service, EAF, ISC, and special causes at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly and the Jerusalem International YMCA.

We had a very productive executive meeting last week and plan to work on a variety of ways to increase our contacts with other Y retirees in our area. Our officers plan to stay with me for next term, but we are seeking a person to take over the role of Secretary (Jude wants to concentrate on Clippings) and it is about time to identify someone to work with me in the role of Vice Chair as we plunge into a busy year.

Let me introduce the concept of “A God Moment”, which I shared with the board last week. Sometimes, something happens, or you learn something from someone that makes a major positive impression or learning for you. Sometimes a door opens, or an opportunity beckons, that you never expected. Think about it and be thankful for the moment.

Joyce has been in severe pain for the last two months limiting our enjoyment with friends and family at the shore and taking away some of the great opportunities at Silver Bay.

We returned from Silver Bay determined to discover what could be done, suspecting that surgery beckoned. We immediately scheduled two opinions from recommended surgery centers. Both indicated that surgery was the only option.

Our second visit was on a Friday at Penn with a very highly recommended surgeon who spent time discussing every question and concern we brought up. We decided to opt for surgery and were informed that late December was the first opening. But the scheduler provided us with a God moment. “If we can complete all the pre-requirements this afternoon, we just had a cancellation for Monday morning.”

What a whirlwind of a weekend… leaving the shore… packing up for Philly and mentally preparing for Monday morning surgery. Well, that’s behind us now and Joyce is well on the road to a very successful recovery at our home in Philly. You never know…

Let’s hope we can all navigate through the election, shouting and increasing fears of a larger war in the Middle East. Take time to savor a few special “moments” to enjoy the fall foliage, the warmth, and the love of Thanksgiving and Christmas with family and friends. I plan to see many of you at the William Penn Inn in December.

Best wishes to you all.

SILVER BAY YMCA

THREE-CHAPTER NETWORKING

September 16 to 19 found chapter members enjoying the three-chapter networking experience at Silver Bay in the NY Adirondacks. Top photo: Members from the Central Atlantic, New England, and McBurney-Morse Chapters attended. Bottom: Our President Len Wilson was a speaker, while Joyce and Denise Wilson think he said something funny; Denise, Len, Joyce Wilson, Maura and Dave Stevenson.

Here's a Christmas memory photo for our luncheon last year. Be sure to join us this December.

DEC. 5:

OUR CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON...

FUN, FOOD AND HOLIDAY CHEER

NANCY GRAY, VICE PRESIDENT, PROGRAMS

We are returning to the beautiful William Penn Inn in lovely Gwynedd, PA The lunch/holiday event is always full of fun and good cheer, not to mention good food. We have a choice of Chicken Parm or blackberry/BBQ Porkchops for $48 per person; tangerine grilled Salmon for $57 per person.

Our live auction will benefit World Service (Jerusalem & Lebanon YMCAs), ISC, EAF, as well as Blue Ridge Assembly (which was devastated during Hurricane Helene). We ask that you bring a special (not used) unwrapped gift that someone else would want to bid on. A donation by check or cash is also welcome. Thank you to Len Wilson for once again serving as our auctioneer.

RENEW NOW

ONLINE OR BY MAIL

KATHY FROMM, VICE PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP

Remember when we were working and spent more time with our colleagues than our families? Remember the friendships we forged; remember the fun we had at our APD/AYP meetings? Remember the great trainings, good food, and the opportunity to network with Y colleagues from all levels?

There were many CEOs and Branch Executives hunting for future staff at those meetings. Well, even though we’ve hung up our whistles and briefcases, we can still get together, renew our friendships, and have fun.

It’s that time of the year, to renew your membership in YMCA Alumni and our Central Atlantic Chapter and keep the networking going. We get together four or five times a year and enjoy each other’s company. Our dues are modest: $33 for an individual and $37 for a household per year. When you reach age 90 the dues go away (something to look forward to). 

You may also contribute to the chapter and national YMCA Alumni at the same time. It’s easy. Click the button below and safely renew online at our YMCA Alumni website. Or look for the membership “renew-by-mail” packet in your snail mail in early November and send in your check. Please renew now.

ALANE MCCAHEY

ON OUR BOARD

Alane joined the Central Atlantic Chapter Board of Directors in 2024 as a Member-at -Large. Alane and the YMCA found each other in Brooklyn in 1972 when she was 18 years old, and they never parted ways.

In the half century since then, the Y led her both literally and figuratively, across bridges from Brooklyn to Manhattan to Staten Island and New Jersey and finally Pennsylvania as a retiree. 

This journey delivered her opportunities along the way, going from camp counselor to youth director (filled with van trips, beach trips, sleepovers, Youth and Government).

Returning to the Y after a 10-year break to raise her children, Alane changed her focus to branch membership addressing the needs and concerns of members, families, and the community.

While in Staten Island during this time, we were all devastated by the attacks on the World Trade Center. She never would have imagined locking the doors and not allowing parents or members to enter or leave the building. Fortunately, the Y rebounded and was able to support our families and the community.

Alane later moved to New Jersey to become executive of the Rahway Branch of the Gateway Family YMCA in Elizabeth. She retired in 2019 and has now crossed one more bridge, this time into Pennsylvania so she and her husband John (of 47 years) can share their time with their three grandchildren (10,7 and 5). It’s all about the grandkids, she notes. “Parents are just transportation.”

BOB MCDOWELL

LED PROJECT AT LANDSDALE Y

Chapter member Bob McDowell along with some adult and teen members of his Church, LCBC Harleysville, spent a Saturday morning recently at the Lansdale Community YMCA painting a childcare area and doing some outside cleanup. Bob was the team leader, and his group was part of a much larger effort of his church where over a thousand LCBC volunteers served in their communities that Saturday.

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

OUR MEMBERS ON THE GO

Photos, Top: Tony and Georgia Fragale cruising on the Rhine River; YMCA home for migrant teens in Tijuana, Mexico; Carl and Debbi Zavant, Joyce and Len Wilson, Barbara and Roy Taylor at a birthday lunch for Len at the beach.

ON THE RHINE

Tony and Georgia Fragale Georgia recently returned from a Rhine River Cruise via Ama Waterways. The cruise took them from Amsterdam, Netherlands to Basel, Switzerland. They reported smooth sailing with good people, great food, and excursions in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Cologne, Rüdesheim and Heidelberg, Germany, and Luzern, Switzerland. 

BY THE SEA AND IN MEXICO

Barbara and Roy Taylor and Carl and Debbi Zvanut spent two days in Ocean City NJ, where Deb got to be a Jersey girl and stick her toes in the Atlantic Ocean. They joined COVID-recovered Len and Joyce Wilson for Len’s 82nd birthday lunch.

Debbi will be joining the ISC trip to the Tijuana YMCA Oct. 22 to 28. The San Diego YMCA and the Marston YMCA Alumni Chapter are working with the Tijuana YMCA which provides a home for migrant teens who are stuck in Mexico while their parents are legally in the U.S. The teens range in age from 13 to 18. The Mexican government does not provide any services to the children or the YMCA. ISC has received donations of clothing for the male teens and Debbi collected more than $600 in cash donations to buy clothing for the girls.

DAVE AND MAURA STEVENSON

WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS

2024 has been an exciting year for Dave and Maura Stevenson. Dave brought his 38-year YMCA career to a close retiring as the President and CEO of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA in January. Maura retired, too. as an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences (Anatomy and Physiology) at Quinnipiac University in June and she will continue to serve at Quinnipiac as Professor Emerita.

Dave returned to the programs that attracted him to the Y in 1979 (youth work) and he enjoyed teaching second graders how to swim this past winter and spring.

Maura led the Stevenson’s relocation to Silver Spring, MD to be closer to their two children, their spouses, and their new grandson. Their son, Patrick (a political strategist), and his spouse, Julie (an attorney) make their home in Northeast D.C. Their daughter, Maggie, and her husband, Abe, are physicians living in the same area. Maggie and Abe are also the proud parents of Charlie, their first grandchild.

The Stevenson’s were also able to attend the YMCA Alumni Fall Gathering at the Silver Bay YMCA, NY in September where they renewed old friendships, made new friends, and enjoyed an excellent program at the historic Y conference center on Lake George, NY. The Stevenson’s thank the leadership of the Central Atlantic, McBurney-Morse, and New England YMCA Alumni Chapters for an excellent experience.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND (EAF)

HURRICANES SPUR NEED FOR AID

HANK VAN ZANTEN, EAF CHAIR

The Southeast region of the U.S. has been slammed by two hurricanes in the last several weeks. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have wreaked unbelievable damage across the region not only in property damage but in loss of life. Numerous YMCAs, staff, and retirees have been severely impacted. 

There have been more than 263 (last count) EAF emergency grant requests at $1000 each. (They are still coming in.) EAF’s available funds this year are $250,000 so we’ll need additional help. YUSA and the Retirement Fund have both pledged $25,000 in matching funds to help meet Y staff and retirees' requests. 

If you haven’t made your gift this year, please do so ASAP. You might consider doubling your gift; after all, these are our friends and colleagues. You aren’t giving to a faceless organization; you are giving to us.

WE REMEMBER...

KIM JOHNSON, MARGIE CAMERON

KIM D. JOHNSON, 67, of Reading, formerly of Kutztown, passed away July 10, 2024. Born in Reading, she was the daughter of the late Gordon (Bruce) and Barbara Boyer Balthaser. Kim graduated from Kutztown Area High School and in 1978 graduated from Kutztown State College with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

She was employed by the Fleetwood Area School District until 1983 when she approached the Tri-Valley branch of the YMCA of Reading and Berks Co for a part-time summer day camp job.

Kim loved working with kids and the mission of the YMCA, so a part-time job developed into a 39-year YMCA career. Thirteen years as Program Director, then Executive Director of Tri-Valley, during which she initiated and expanded youth sports, enrichment, and childcare programs.

She became Vice President of the YMCA of Reading and Berks County and later President and CEO until retiring in 2022. She was a member of the AYP, the Executive Committee of the PA State Alliance of YMCAs, and a board member of the World Affairs Council of Greater Reading, in addition to her participation in various other organizations in the Berks County area.

The programs that were initiated during her leadership have impacted children and adults from all walks of life in the city of Reading and throughout Berks County and will remain her legacy. Kim was very close to her family. She loved caring for the many cats she rescued over the years.

MARGARET (MARGIE) W. CAMERON died Oct. 3, 2024 from complications of Parkinson’s disease. Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Carlin O. Williams and Edna (Overturf) Williams. Margie was a graduate of Allentown High School and was proud to have been a member of the first coed class at Muhlenberg College, the Class of 1961.

Margie and her husband Bill lived most of their married lives in Upper Gwynedd Township, Montgomery County while Bill was CEO of the North Penn YMCA in Lansdale. Margie was employed for many years, as an English-as-a-Second-Language teacher in the North Penn School District.

She wrote an ESL curriculum guide that was used in the district for many years. She was an active member of the Lansdale Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Margie published a book of children’s poems in 2013, titled “Silly Rhymes for Silly Kids.” She and Bill observed their 63rd wedding anniversary in August.

At Luther Crest, Margie was one of the leaders of a Parkinson’s support group. She also led a group of residents writing their autobiographies.

In addition to her husband, Margie is survived by three children and eight grandchildren. A memorial service is planned. Contributions may be sent to the Luther Crest Benevolent Care Fund in lieu of flowers.

2025-2026 ADVENTURES

YMCA ALUMNI TRAVEL CLUB

Jan. 26-Feb. 2, 2025:

YMCA Alumni Reunion-at Sea-Cruise on

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas

June 17-July 3, 2025:

Land of the Midnight Sun Cruise on Emerald Princess

Sept. 14-24, 2025:

Majestic Canadian Rockies Globus motor coach tour

Oct. 8-18, 2025:

Istanbul to the Adriatic cruise on Explora

Feb. 21-March 9, 2026:

Charms of the Mekong River Cruise on

AMA Waterways with land extensions

Mid-May 2026:

Scenic Switzerland by Rail with Cosmos Tours

Late May 2026:

Alaska: The Last Frontier cruise on Celebrity Edge

A fourth adventure for 2026 will be

announced later this fall. 

Photos: Istanbul to the Adriatic on Explora; Switzerland by Rail

CHAPTER LEADERS

President: Len Wilson

VP Membership: Cathy Fromm

VP Programs: Nancy Gray

Secretary: Jude Gallaher

Treasurer: Betteanne Kramer

Hospitality/EAF: Hank and Lois Van Zanten

World Service/ISC: Debbi Zvanut

Clippings Editor: Jude Gallaher

Special Projects:  Gary Graham

Member-at-Large: Alane McCahey

Member-at-Large: Rich Curl

Member-at-Large: Bob McDowell

Past President: Barbara Taylor

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."