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The Clippings
Central Atlantic Chapter
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It was a happy holiday lunch
for Central Atlantic members
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Pete and Frannie Smith enjoy the Central Atlantic Chapter holiday party in Lambertville, N.J. |
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Chris White isn't buying what auctioneer Len Wilson is selling. |
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'We're in a better place in 2022' |
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Greetings!
Happy 2022 to all of our members and their families. Wishing you all a happy, healthy, safe year of many new memories with friends and families.
Our new year unfortunately is starting out with grave concern for our health due to spread of this new strain of COVID. But we are in a better place than last year as we have been able renew some semblance of normal life.
Because of this new outbreak, our 2022 reunion in New Orleans in January has been rescheduled for November 2-4. All of the events, speakers and schedule are the same, so we hope the new date will bring back those who had been enrolled plus lots more. The weather in New Orleans is great in November.
Looking back briefly, our holiday party in December at Lambertville Station in New Jersey was just so much fun. Twenty-two of us enjoyed a delicious lunch, a silly Secret Santa, and another successful auction led by our master auctioneer, Len Wilson. This year we raised $2,200 which will be divided to three causes – Haiti Y, Sioux Y, and the YMCA Alumni National Service project. There will be much more on this important protect.
We are planning a spring event and our annual summer beach party with the hope of no more COVID concerns. More information to follow.
Enjoy the winter weather, spring is just around the corner, and hopefully we will all be gathering soon.
Please stay safe, wear those masks and keep praying COVID leaves us soon.
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Barbara Taylor, President
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Report: Membership renewal cut-off looming
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Our chapter, as of the Dec. 31 membership report, has a total of 106 members, consisting of 6 lifetime members, 39 households and 21 individuals. A reminder email was sent on Jan. 10 to all members not-yet-renewed. Please renew your membership by clicking the button below before March 1 when all non-renewals will be terminated.
-- Cathy Fromm, Membership Director
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We got together for a
road trip in the fall
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Another special day was held for our YMCA Alumni group since our last newsletter. The weather was perfect Oct. 14 and the scenery was spectacular with the beautiful colors of fall. Many of our Alumni made their way to Jim Thorpe, a historic town in the Pocono Mountains.
After strolling through the town, everyone met at Molly Maguire’s for lunch for some fellowship and good food. After lunch, some of us hopped on the train for the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway tour which was a narrated tour on a diesel engine train that travels through the State Park.
The town had a lot to see such as the Mauch Chuck Museum, the Asa Packer Mansion, the Opera House and Old Jail. It was a full day, so nice to get together and have fellowship with our group, which was so missed in 2020.
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A New Year's message from the Wilsons |
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Last December, when we were writing this note, we were waiting to see if the brother of my daughter-in-law transmitted his COVID condition to my son’s family during a recent visit. Joyce and I had a very small gathering at Thanksgiving due to a family quarantine situation and the dreaded contagion threatened our Christmas gathering.
Thankfully, Joyce and I had our booster shots, and living at the shore has lessened our
exposure even though it’s predicted that most of us will come in contact with the latest strain. We hope all of your holidays and New Year celebrations were healthy ones.
We were planning to attend the YMCA Alumni Reunion in New Orleans but the event has been postponed until November. Hopefully, all who had planned to attend will be able to make the new date, and it will be more convenient for others to attend.
Len is still playing pickleball outdoors a couple of days each week when the indoor gym is not available. He goes out dressed for the Artic and somehow manages to have fun with fellow picklers. Joyce is maintaining her walking routine around our little island and marveling at all the new construction taking place. It seems as though people are not taking the warning of rising sea levels too seriously in the short run.
We are making plans to celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary next August and hope some of you will be available for the grand occasion. Stay tuned for details, as well as the fun-filled chapter luncheon in Strathmere next summer.
Happy New Year and our Best to you all.
Len and Joyce
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Posole for the winter soul by Chef Kenno |
This Mexican comfort food is a soup for the winter months. Some refer to it as a stew because it is so hearty. It is well eaten in Central Mexico with every family having their own version and ingredients. In our household, it has become a favorite. |
One of the main ingredients is hominy which is not often used in today’s recipes. I strongly suggest using only “Goya” hominy. Been canning soup this week getting ready for winter. Follow me here for more recipes.
-- Chef Kenno
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A report from EAF Representative Hank Van Zanten.
Our chapter increased the number of contributors from 12 in 2020 to 17 in 2021. I should know the total donated by our chapter in late January.
As our EAF Representative, I want to thank everyone who assisted their fellow YMCA Alumni members who are facing financial difficulties.
In other news: I read in the Inquirer recently that Dick Betts, former President of the YMCA of Philadelphia and Vicinity, passed away at age 87.
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Lois Van Zanten, who fell in Philadelphia last month after enjoying dinner with her family, spent three days in the hospital, but is recuperating and doing much better. Lois and Hank had registered for the YMCA Alumni Reunion in New Orleans, but her doctor advised her to forgo the trip. Hopefully, now that the trip date has been changed, she will be ready to go. Lois thanks all those who sent cards and called with their best wishes. |
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Walt Fromm celebrated a big birthday turning 82 on Jan. 2.
The Fromm’s will be celebrating their 34th Wedding Anniversary on a Viking ocean cruise to Central America with a partial passage through the Panama Canal in early March.
Happy Birthday, Walt, and congratulations to Cathy and you. Have a wonderful trip!
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Campaign underway for first phase of YMCA Alumni’s
National Service Project
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“We believe that you, as a member of YMCA Alumni, a retiree from years of service in the YMCA profession, will be motivated by this purpose-driven opportunity to serve,” says Gary Graham, fundraising chair.
“If the housing insecurity and difficulty of providing YMCA programming to the youth and families of this vast service area calls you to take action, you will want to support our YMCA Alumni National Service Project,” Graham adds.
Gary Graham and Deb Zvanut, our chapter representatives to the National Service Project Standing Committee, report that the financial support goal for Phase One (Jan. 1-March 31, 2022) of our project is $100,000. The total includes building and completing the first move-in ready tiny home prototype in the new village and all the infrastructure and furnishings to propel the project forward into second and third stages, which will include six more homes and two "twigs" (branches). The full amount must be raised by March 31 for construction to begin.
Considering your contribution? Want to learn more about the YMCA Alumni National Service Project? Take the time to visit the special Virtual Case Statement by clicking www.tinyurl.com/wawokiye. Bookmark it as new information; updates are regularly added..
If you’re wondering: “wawokiye” means generosity in the Lakota Sioux language.
Unlike the case statements of days gone by that were printed and largely wasted away on a prospective donor's office shelf, our Virtual Case Statement is a living document that will be updated as progress is made. You will find plenty of information about the project, the Sioux YMCA, how to become a volunteer (on and off-site) and, most important of all, you can make a secure donation online.
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November in the Big Easy --
Register now, reserve hotel
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We're all re-scheduled for YMCA Alumni Reunion '22 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in New Orleans Nov.
2-4, 2022.
The weather's perfect in November and you need to register now.
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In June 2021, my husband and I volunteered with ISC, but rather than go abroad, due to COVID limitations, the ISC went to the Sioux YMCA in the Sioux Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota.
We found it a rewarding experience and we shared much of that experience in previous newsletters. I was on the painting team at YMCA Camp Marrowbone, and Carl was on the cabin construction team. If you’d like to know more about our trip or the ISC program, please contact Debbi Zvanut. ISC plans to send a YMCA Alumni member to the Nuremberg YMCA later this spring. Watch for some info on ISC in your email shortly.
-- Debbi Zvanut, ISC representative
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YMCA Alumni trips on tap for 2022 |
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Central Atlantic Chapter Leaders
Click on name in blue to send email.
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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