Plan to join us for a very special, first-of-its-kind 3-chapter event at Silver Bay YMCA on Lake George in the New York Adirondack Mountains. Members of Central Atlantic, McBurney Morse and New England Chapters will gather on September 20-22, 2022. It will be your chance to connect with colleagues and friends and enjoy the many amenities of Silver Bay, Lake George and the Adirondacks. Click on the button for detailed information and to register by August 12, 2022. |
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Summertime in the Central Atlantic |
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Greetings!
Summer is here! I hope you are planning an exciting, healthy season with family and friends.
This past Spring we enjoyed a wonderful visit to beautiful Winterthur in Delaware. Our next event is the annual summer shore picnic at the Wilson’s beach house in Strathmere, N.J. We also are looking forward to the 3-chapter gather at Silver Bay Sept. 20-22.
At our recent Zoom chapter board meeting, we discussed ways to gain new members by reaching out to areas that are not represented. At the recent 48-Hours in May meeting, which included Chapter Presidents and National Board members, we discussed various ways to engage new and old members. One of the ideas, presented by Phil Morgan, is an ambassador program which reaches out to these far-reaching areas. Also, possibly using a buddy system that will connect a new member with an active member.
We also went through the national website and upgraded areas such as the geographic service areas by state adding it to the masthead. In addition, we added a new member’s sales piece, ‘Reasons to Join.’ Please visit our website to learn more about the whole YMCA Alumni organization. You will be impressed.
Our Reunion '22 in New Orleans is Nov. 2-4. The early bird registration opportunity to win one of 10, $100 bills to use at one of the Reunion's "Dinner with Friends" evenings, is only available until July 31. There is a wonderful program planned with great food, fun adventures and seeing or meeting members from all over.
I have some personal news. I have served as your chapter President, going on 11 years, and it’s time for me to step down. It has been fun, rewarding and I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but our chapter needs new leadership. The process has begun to find a new President starting in 2023. Our board has recently added new officers so now it’s time to find a new President. Ken White and Len Wilson, along with the current Board, are involved.
Enjoy the weather. I am looking forward to our upcoming events and seeing more of you.
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Barbara Taylor, President
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Where in the world is Matt?
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The answer to that question is in Nürnberg Germany! Chapter member Matt Lieninger from York, Pa. recently headed to Nürnberg for a International Service Corps (ISC) assignment.
His task was to assist the Nürnberg YMCA CEO, management team and Board of Directors in creating a vision for the future of the existing YMCA facility. He conducted a SWOT analysis and enlisted support from former YMCA colleagues with expertise in architecture and planning. He also designed and implemented a survey of the membership. Key observations and recommendations were made in the following areas: planning, finances, membership, program and facilities.
His personal enrichment included a Bavarian cultural immersion. The bakeries, beer and sausages are every bit as good as advertised. The culture of street vendors is incredible. There is a bakery/coffee shop on every corner.
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According to Matt, history is alive everywhere in Germany. He was able to visit cities and sites big and small: Wendelstein, Dachau, Munich, Pappenheim, Bamberg, Wernfels Castle, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Dresden, Erfurt and, of course, Germany's finest city - of Nuremberg. Matt feels very strongly that one important lesson from all this history is that no matter how “advanced” we may think of ourselves we still have a sinful nature that only the Love of Christ can overcome.
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The Nürnberg YMCA shares that love every day. It never would have occurred to him to offer a Sunday morning worship experience at any YMCA in the USA. They have found a marvelous balance in being very much a Christian home for many yet not a formal church.
Ollie, the Nürnberg Y General secretary, asked Matt what he would tell his colleagues at home and what his wishes for this YMCA would be. Matt thinks that if Sir George Williams were to return to earth and visit every YMCA in the world, he would find none that he would be more pleased with than the Nürnberg YMCA.
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A springtime visit to Winterthur |
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Some 13 chapter members set their sights on Winterthur Garden, Museum and Library in Winterthur, Del. A self-guided tour of the Museum revealed an exhibition entitled: "Jacqueline Kennedy and H. F. du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House."
The exhibition focused on the meeting of Jacqueline Kennedy and H.F. DuPont at Winterthur in 1961, when she toured his home and asked him to help her restore the White House. On February 14, 1962, Mrs. Kennedy conducted a tour of the White House that was broadcast on CBS and NBC.
The museum also holds many priceless objects including the original painting by Benjamin West of the “Treaty of Paris.” The painting is unfinished because the British delegates refused to be in it. Apparently, not everyone was happy with the outcome of the Revolutionary War. Catch the picture above of Joyce Wilson channeling Jackie on the stairs.Also note how it took four directors to check in. Glad they weren't changing a light bulb.
Lunch was enjoyed in the cafeteria and, after that, most of the group viewed a collection of artfully crafted Campbell’s soup tureens.
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Coming up: A day the beach Sept. 14 |
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Chapter members are invited to spend the day at Len and Joyce Wilson's house in Strathmere, N.J. Wednesday Sept. 14. Strathmere is approximately one hour from the Walt Whitman bridge. The Wilsons live on a barrier island in Upper Township, Cape May County, one block from the ocean and one block from the bay.
It is a very narrow island bordered north and south by Ocean City and Sea Isle City. The beach, ocean and bay are especially welcoming in what is known as the “shoulder season.” The crowds are gone but the air is soft and the water is as warm as it ever gets. So mark Sept. 14 as a special time for all our chapter members to enjoy. Watch for more information. (Photo: Cathy, Gary and Deb at last year's event)
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Reunion '22
Last call for early birds:
Win one of 10, $100 bills
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You'll need to register for YMCA Alumni Reunion '22 by July 31 to be eligible to win one of 10, $100 bills to spend at one of the Reunion's "Dinners with Friends" in New Orleans Nov. 2-4. just click the button for details and to register.
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Happy Anniversary to Len and Joyce |
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Len and Joyce Wilson will mark their 60th year of marriage August 26. When they were married in a little Episcopal church on the south shore of Long Island in 1962, Len was preparing to enter Naval OCS and Joyce was about to begin her first year of teaching high school English. After serving on a destroyer, Len chose the YMCA as his career of 40 years, and Joyce had a series of challenging positions in education and business before she entered the ministry as Len was asked to lead the Jerusalem YMCA. They spent several years in Jerusalem and returned to live in Philadelphia, PA and Strathmere, NJ. Happy anniversary.
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Jude is sous chef this issue |
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Chef Ken is on medical leave, so Sous Chef Jude Gallaher is filling in. Ken is in a battle with COVID. He plans on returning to the kitchen in our October issue.
My recipe is the result of a holiday cruise to the Caribbean in 2005 on Holland America Line. I’m not really a fan of soup (which is, of course, blasphemy from someone who lived in Philadelphia, so close to the Campbell’s soup factory), but the menu offered Blueberry Soup.
I ordered it because I love blueberries. The soup was beyond delicious, so I asked if I could have the recipe. I did make one change to it because I didn't have any champagne in the fridge.
Well, a couple of days later, the server hands me a slip of paper that has the recipe for Blueberry Soup. As I started to read it, I began to laugh. My friends asked what was so funny. I told them that the first ingredient was 128 quarts of blueberries; the rest of the items were just as enormous including gallons of sour cream. Clearly this was made for the ship's passengers. Fortunately, I did not have to translate that into something a normal family could make because the chef was kind enough to do that for me. Here it is for your culinary enjoyment.
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Chilled Blueberry Soup
Holland America Cruise Line and Jude Gallaher
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
2 pints fresh or frozen blueberries
2 cups sour cream 1 cup whole milk
1 cup ginger ale ¼ cup sugar
2 tablespoons champagne or sparkling cider (if you don’t have any champagne hanging around)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Whipped cream (optional)
Reserve some of the blueberries for garnish. In a blender, puree the remaining berries until smooth. Strain the mixture through a fine sieve over a bowl, pushing through as much of the pulp as you can leaving the seeds etc. behind.
Whisk the remaining ingredients, except for the reserved berries into the puree, cover and refrigerate until cold.
To serve, divide the soup among chilled bowls and garnish with reserved berries and whipped cream (or not).
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Travel Club on the GO again |
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Three trips long planned by your YMCA Alumni Travel Club are finally on the road (or water) again. The Royal Caribbean President's Cruise to Alaska has just returned from a great time in "The Last Frontier." Colorado's Historic Trains heads out early next month and thrice-postponed Viking Ocean Cruise Trade Routes of the Middle Ages catches the waves in late September. All three sold out. Central Atlantic Chapter's Haan and Sue Phelps will be aboard the Colorado Historic Trains.
Be sure to read GOING PLACES, our Travel Club newsletter, included in the Aug. 1 issue of The CONNECTION for news of trips on the horizon for 2023. Space is always limited so do not delay signing up.velClub
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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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