Barbara Taylor stepped down as President following 11 years of service to Central Atlantic Chapter at our Christmas Luncheon Dec. 7 at the Lambertville Inn in Lambertville N.J. Barb thanked the various board members who served with her, especially Cathy Fromm, Vice-President of Membership, and former Treasurer, Veronica Elias. 

Barb and her husband Roy had just returned to the area when Ken White approached her to stand for election as President. Little did she know what she was getting in for; she thought she was going to serve for three years, but she did such a good job, no one wanted to take her place. 

(See below for Barb’s farewell letter to members)  

January 2023

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Hello Craig,

Serving as the president of this wonderful chapter for the past 11 years has been a true privilege. I’ve enjoyed working with our board members present and past. We have managed to keep connected through emails, events and our Clippings newsletter and Zoom video. Our board has been active and productive by being able to engage new officers to fill the posts of outgoing ones. We also added a new Program Director VP position that has provided us with exciting outings.     

The last 10 years we were able to increase our trips, enjoy summer beach day luncheons at the Wilson’s home on the Jersey Shore and a lovely restaurant for our Christmas/holiday luncheon. I think our best accomplishment was to establish an auction to raise much needed funds for people around the world through World Service, including Puerto Rico, Haiti and Ukraine. Our members have been exceedingly generous over the years. It identifies us as still a caring organization who love to serve others in need.

We also were excited to be part of the National Service Project helping people on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in S.D. by building tiny homes and small Y branches for YMCA of the Seven Council Fires programming.

I thank you all for your support to our chapter and your friendship. Roy and I will be looking forward to our stay at The Inn at Leola Village in Lancaster County which you so graciously gave us. It was totally unexpected and we thank you for your kindness and generosity.

I still will be part of the Board and active but am looking forward to helping our future President continue to improve our wonderful chapter.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy New Year and God bless you all.

Barbara Taylor, President

Len Wilson and Ken White, both former chapter presidents, are in the process of identifying a new president to step in and fill Barbara Taylor’s unexpired term. If you get a call from one of them, the “correct answer” is YES.

Photos: Top Left: A Merry Christmas luncheon in Lambertville; Right: Board members from the past 10 years attending the lunch -- Back Row L-R:Roy Taylor, Barbra Taylor Hank Van Zanten, Jude Gallaher. Front row L-R: Betteanne Kramer, Cathy Fromm, Nancy Gray, Veronica Elias, Deb Zvanut, Lois Van Zanten. Below: Auctioneer Len Wilson and Bidder-Upper Joyce Wilson.

Our chapter held its annual Christmas Luncheon Dec. 7 at the Lambertville Inn in Lambertville, N.J. Some 29 members came together to enjoy each other’s company, do a bit of chapter business, exchange gifts and raise some money for World Service through a live auction. 

The event kicked off with a short meeting to approve the amended chapter by-laws, followed by a sit-down lunch. We then opened the live auction. Len Wilson did a fine job as the auctioneer, while his wife Joyce did a fine job upping the bids (much to Len’s chagrin). We raised $1,569 in the auction including gifts from some members who couldn’t outbid Joyce.

Next on the agenda was the gift exchange, also known as Cutthroat Santa. Basically, we brought wrapped white elephants or pretty good gifts and let the fun begin. Participants can steal another’s gift or take from the table. The comedy highlight of the exchange was a 1999 YUSA directory and, needless to say, no one stole that gift. 

At the conclusion of the luncheon, Ken White presented Barbara Taylor, who is stepping down as chapter President after 11 years, with a gift certificate to The Inn at Leola Village, a resort in Lancaster County for a stay and dinner. It was a gift from a grateful chapter board and membership for her steadfast service.

Our Central Atlantic Chapter members contributed $2,235 to the YMCA Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) in 2022. Jim and Mikey Havlick, National EAF Co-Chairs, extend their appreciation to our chapter and contributors for this generous gift. I look forward to increasing our total contribution in 2023, and have set a goal of $2,500. Please consider a gift this year to your fellow Y retirees who are facing difficult times.

George and Nancy Gray (top photos) were finally able to re-book their trips to Alaska and Norway that were canceled due to COVID. It was worth the wait. They traveled in June to the beautiful state of Alaska on a land and cruise trip from Anchorage to Vancouver. The Alaska wilderness was breathtaking and the adventures were unlimited. The highlight of their trip was taking a helicopter ride and landing on Yanert glacier - a once in a lifetime experience.

Then it was off to Norway in October, the rainbow of colors of the trees against the backdrop of the Fjords were too beautiful to describe. They cruised from Amsterdam throughout Norway and then took a scenic train ride from Bergen to Oslo. One of the highlights was the train ride. The views of the fjords were simply breathtaking. Photos do not do it justice. George and Nancy would highly recommend a visit to both of these places.

While on a cruise last fall, Chris and Ken White enjoyed martinis (shaken, not stirred) in the Sky Lounge, a totally frozen bar on Norwegian Cruise Lines’s Breakaway. (Bottom photo) They sat on ice stools and drank from ice glasses. It brings new meaning to the phrase “have a cold one.”

Check all the details and register for a YMCA Alumni Travel Club adventure in 2023 in New York City, cruise the Danube Dreams and Mackinac Island. Tune up in 2024 in America's Music Cities and join YMCA Alumni's Reunion at Sea in early 2025.

Central Atlantic Chapter Leaders

President: Currently vacant

Membership: Cathy Fromm

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

Past President: Barbara Taylor

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