OCTOBER 2026

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FIRST YMCA ALUMNI NATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT CONCLUDES

'TWIG' Y BRANCH TO OPEN NEXT YEAR

YMCA Alumni’s first National Service Project has concluded. In the past six weeks, significant progress has been made toward completing a "Twig," a prototype small Y branch, in the outlying community of La Plant on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota.

“Work on the Twig by some 23 YMCA Alumni volunteers along with professional contractors was the last phase of our commitment,” said Steve Rowe of the Marston Chapter (left photo), who chaired this phase of the project.

Remaining work to winter-proof and completely finish the building will move forward with the contractors, Rowe said, under the continued supervision of YMCA of the Seven Council Fires CEO Andrew Corley. The Twig is constructed from large shipping containers used primarily for storage during the project's first phase.

Funding for the Twig, including program space downstairs and living quarters for a Y staff member upstairs, has come from the $1.1 million in total donations for the entire project. Rowe said the Twig is expected to be fully functional when it opens sometime next year. It is located a short walk from Tiospaye Topa K-12 School and a foster home village, and is easily accessible for local children and families.

The project's first phase was completed in September 2025 and included building four Tiny Homes adjacent to the YMCA’s headquarters in Dupree. Each home is now occupied by a single mother and her children. George Painter of the McBurney-Morse Chapter served as YMCA Alumni's General Contractor, working with more than 400 volunteers.

"Special thanks to the representatives from all 17 chapters who served on the Standing Committee, as well as the donors who contributed to make it possible," said Lou Falk, NSP Chair. "This was a project of which all YMCA Alumni can be proud, and one I was honored to lead."

PHILL MORGAN

FROM THE PRESIDENT

I want to highlight chapter service projects. I am not talking about something BIG like building Tiny Homes in South Dakota or a home-building project in the Dominican Republic.

Some chapters do small service projects and incorporate them into their chapter gatherings or run them as separate projects. The Sam Schreiner chapter plans to assemble packages for the homeless in October and have chapter members take them to their communities to donate to organizations that can distribute them.

The New England Chapter participated in Day of Service at the Sharing the Harvest Community Farm Project at the Dartmouth, MA YMCA. This 5-acre farm donates freshly grown fruits and vegetables to local community food banks to support individuals and families in need. In addition, the chapter, in partnership with the three YMCA State Alliances in New England, has begun a mentoring program matching YMCA Alumni members with working staff to provide guidance on career development. 

Members of the Weatherford chapter responded to aid YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene by cleaning out rooms and spaces filled with debris and mud. YMCA Alumni volunteers even inventoried the YMCA gift shop.

Perhaps your chapter would want to discuss a small chapter service project that could help the local Y or the community. Talk about it and plan a small service project for next spring. Engage members. Make it an annual day of service. Your chapter can make a difference.

Until next time,

LEE MUCKEY TO CHAIR NSP²;

RAMP-UP WILL BEGIN IN JANUARY

Lee Muckey, current President of the McCoy Chapter, has been named Chair of the second YMCA Alumni National Service Project (NSP^{2). Initial planning to choose and manage a new national project will begin in January.}

President Phill Morgan announced the appointment as our first project, in partnership with the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires, concluded this week.

“Lee became very active in the latter stages of our current NSP," Morgan said. "He chaired the 2025 celebration of the completion of the four tiny homes in Dupree, SD. Lee and his wife, Tracy, spent a week in La Plant, SD, last month working on the Twig project. 

"We look forward to Lee’s leadership as he and a new Standing Committee begin planning the next YMCA National Service Project,” he added.

Muckey said it is "a tremendous honor" to be asked to chair the new project's Standing Committee.

"With all the talent, creativity and commitment of YMCA Alumni members around the country, I’m certain we can write an interesting and exciting second chapter."

Muckey's career spanned service at three Los Angeles YMCA branches, in the California Bay Area with the Mid-Peninsula Y, and as CEO of the Central Coast YMCA. He retired from the Greater Richmond, VA YMCA.

GENERAL COUNCIL CONFIRMS FOUR TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

FOGARTY, MOHRMAN, HASTEDT, POWER

Four nominees to the YMCA Alumni Board of Directors were formally elected Sept. 10 at an online meeting of the General Council. The Nominating Committee was chaired by Jean Carmichael.

Margaret Fogarty, Grand Canyon Chapter, was elected President. She is the current Secretary. Dennis Mohrman, past president of the Messer-Brandenburg Chapter, was elected Vice President for the Central Region. Bob Hastedt, McBurney-Morse Chapter, was elected Treasurer, a position he previously held. Pam Power, past president of the Schreiner Chapter, was elected Secretary. They take office Jan. 1, 2027, for three-year terms.

The YMCA Alumni General Council, made up of the current Board of Directors and all 17 Chapter Presidents, meets periodically, primarily to elect national and regional officers to replace those whose terms are expiring and to hear administrative updates.

JUNE 16-19, 2027. YUM!

Click on the image above for a short video preview of a mouth-watering visit to Kansas City and its world-famous BBQ. You could eat every meal at a different "BBQ joint" during the Reunion if you're up for it or, better yet, just savor our incredible BBQ night.

We're staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton, just 4 miles from the airport, with a free 24-hour shuttle.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO REGISTER AND SEE ALL REUNION COSTS AND INCLUSIONS AND TO REGISTER.

Yes, you've got a date in Kansas City.

ISC DAY CAMP IN CZECH REPUBLIC

ENGLISH IMMERSION 'WONDERLAND'

BY LAURA KAMPERMAN

Top Photos L-R: ISC volunteers Jon Vance, Alena Wenker, and Kim Decker; campers made their own "Mad Hats." Bottom: Songs and fun like Y camps everywhere.

Imagine you are a camper with English as your second language, sent to day camp to learn English. What would be the perfect theme? How about “Alice in Wonderland,” where everything is magical?

Now imagine you are a volunteer for the YMCA Alumni International Service Corps (ISC), serving as a camp counselor for a week, with that beloved tale as the theme for the activities you will help plan and lead.

That’s what YMCA Alumni members Alena Wenker, Kim Decker, and Jon Vance experienced as English-speaking camp counselors for a week in August in Stary Plzenec, Czech Republic.

“We were all stepping into a world that was a little unfamiliar, a little crazy, and full of surprises,” says Decker. “We played games, danced, acted, competed, solved challenges, and laughed—a lot,”

This is the second summer that the YMCA Plzen has hosted ISC volunteers. Wenker and Decker returned, while Vance experienced the camp for the first time.

“Comparing the two years, last year we were the exotic animals the kids were curious about, but too shy to approach,” says Wenker. “This year, we were their friends whom they hadn’t seen for a year and used every opportunity to talk with us,” she explains.

Verbal interaction is one of the week's key goals: helping campers improve their English-speaking skills.

Decker reflects on her experience, “The Czech campers taught us patience, openness and a willingness to communicate even when we didn’t have all the right words. They reminded me that a smile, a gesture, a laugh or a game can say so much."

To learn more about becoming an ISC volunteer, click HERE to the YMCA Alumni website and complete an interest application or email ISC Chair Tracy Muckey or call her at 804-389-8488.

--Laura Kamperman (above photo) was an ISC volunteer at the camp in 2025. She is President of the YMCA Alumni Weatherford Chapter.

'TIME JUST MARCHES ON'

My family moved from London, Ontario, to Tempe, Arizona, in August 1953. I was 16 and ready to start my senior year of high school.

When school started, I joined the Hi-Y Club. For our induction into the program, we traveled to nearby Phoenix to use the facilities of the newly opened YMCA building.

The brand-new YMCA at 350 N. 1st Avenue wasn't quite finished yet, but it was done enough for our club to hold its induction there and then enjoy a swim in the new pool (au natural, of course).

Areas like the Boys Department, parts of the basement, and some residence rooms were still unfinished, but the NEW Y was open for business.

Fast forward with me 73 years. On the TV news last night, I learned that the Metropolitan Offices of the YMCA were relocating to their Chris Town Branch because their current space in the Downtown Y would no longer be available. The building was getting too old to be used effectively.

A YMCA had been in the Downtown area of Phoenix since shortly after the turn of the 20th century. The original building was on West Jefferson Street, a couple of blocks south and west of the new Y facility. The YWCA had been right next door. The move to North First Avenue was a huge step and the perfect location. There was enough land to provide two parking lots.

The opening of the NEW Y was a great achievement. The Y was viewed as "THE” organization since it had completed a capital campaign (post-war) and was opening a huge new building. It was said that Howard Pyle, a former local radio personality and then Arizona Governor, had been elected on the strength of his leadership as chairman of the successful YMCA Capital Campaign.

Time has a way of just marching on. 

Bill Moss is a member of the Grand Canyon Chapter, serves on the National Service Project Standing Committee and was editor of this newsletter when it was known as "The Old Guard News." Bill was a nominee for the 2025 F. William Stahl Award.

HEY, GOOD LOOKIN’

We get lots of comments about how good The CONNECTION, chapter newsletters, and our website look, and how easy they are to navigate on a laptop or desktop. But not so much on a tablet or, particularly, a phone. That’s because everything is specifically designed for viewing on a laptop or desktop. Our analytics are clear: 97 percent of you view our communications that way. So, just sayin’ – the best way to read our communications is on the “big screen.” -- editor

Nineteen Upper Midwest Chapter members gathered at Sandy Stooke's home on a beautiful early Fall afternoon. Top Photos L-R: Chapter President Orville Lindquist with flowers for the hostess; Sandy and Garth Felty hit the lunch table. Bottom L-R: Doug Herron and Gary Lewis solve the world's problems; Sandy's pup, Honey, makes sure there's leftover food.

Connecticut-area members of the New England Chapter met for lunch at Lucky Lou's in Old Wethersfield. Photo L to R Front Row: Stan and Barbara Styrczula, Chelsea Taylor, Lisa Drouin, Erin Mehaffic, Dorothy Brisco, Mary and Lou Falk, Donna Lisitano. Back Row: Seb Lisitano, Greg Brisco, Mike LaChance, Alan Hurst, Karen Fagerberg, and Harry Rock.

The world's largest cuckoo clock on Main Street in Sugarcreek, OH, got the attention of Chambers Chapter members at their fall reunion, hosted in Amish Country by Dave and Jen Patterson. Lots of activities, from golf to visits to the Age of Steam Railroad Museum and plenty more, kept everyone busy and having fun.

An annual visit to the rustic, beautiful Seabeck Conference Center by a deepwater bay in Washington has long been a tradition for the Pacific Northwest's Allen-Stone Chapter. This year's visit included Jane Pattison's receiving a framed copy of the lyrics to the hymn "In The Garden" for her many years of chapter service; a group photo in front of the comfy fireplace; and a visit to Seabeck's Memorial Garden.

REMINDER: Nominations from chapters and individuals are open through December for YMCA Alumni's most prestigious honor, the 2027 F. William Stahl Award. The award is given "in recognition of Bill's dedication and commitment to the YMCA, the YMCA profession, and the art of written communication." Details and nomination forms are available by emailing either Stahl Award Committee Co-Chairs Nancy Reece or Len Wilson.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

YMCA ALUMNI

Top Row L-R: President: Phill Morgan; VP/East: Larry Garvin;

VP/Central: Dave Rogers; VP/West: Carmelita Gallo.

Second Row L-R: Secretary: Margaret Fogarty; Membership Director: Dave Patterson; Past President: Jean Carmichael.

Bottom Row L-R: Treasurer: Dianne Clark; Assistant Treasurer: Lowell Nees; Assistant Treasurer: Cindy Koenig; Assistant Treasurer: Kurt Kaboth.

THE CONNECTION is written, edited and produced by craig altschul + associates (ca+a). It is published 12 times yearly. Next issue: November 2, 2026.

OUR MISSION: To provide opportunities for members to Connect, Travel, and Serve while nurturing worldwide Christian fellowship. 

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