WE WISH YOU AND YOURS A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A

HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR

The four tiny homes that make up our new Morningstar Community on the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires site in Dupree, SD are in the final stages of completion.

MORNINGSTAR COMMUNITY

NATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT

The last of five volunteer waves in our National Service Project for this year left Dupree, SD, on the last day of September. All four homes were up and buttoned in for the winter, and all electrical wiring was complete. Among the hardy volunteers from our chapter were Danny and Winnie Maier and Dan and Marilyn Sager.

The Herculean steps undertaken this season were finishing the shell of our fourth and final tiny home, raising the walls, installing the roof beam, placing the roof panels, installing windows, building the front deck and porch roof, installing the plywood sub-flooring inside, and wrapping the home with cement board siding. In short, our construction volunteers accomplished in five waves this year what took 16 waves in the first two years.

Here's what’s next for 2025: The external shells are complete, but we must finish the inside - plumbing, electric, sheet rock, kitchen, bathroom, appliances, and furnishings.  A small group of hearty volunteers are returning in December, braving the winter to finish some inside work so that a local contractor can drywall over the winter.  All this work is expected to be completed with four waves in 2025 toward a special celebration weekend Sept. 21-22 in Dupree.

Registration is available for the four 2025 waves and is filling up quickly. Here are the dates: Wave 1 – May 6-13; Wave 2 - May 13-20; Wave 3 – Sept. 9-16; Wave 4 – Sept. 16-23.

Click the button below for details and the registration form. Our National Service Project website has been refreshed with all new photos from this year’s work, so check it out.

(Photo: Lakota artists painted murals on the sides of all four Tiny Homes last season.)

OUR NEXT GATHERING

SPRINGTIME IN INDIANAPOLIS

Thanks to Nancy Short (photo left) and Mary Beth Carmichael (right) we are planning to have our Hoosier-Buell Chapter Spring Gathering in the Indianapolis area. Our date (late April-early May) will be finalized soon after the venues are completely explored by our two new members. Look for more plans in the next Michianna newsletter.

Nancy Short began her Y involvement while in college as a day camp counselor at the Y in Jeffersonville, near her hometown of New Albany, IN.

After interning a semester at the Baxter Y in Indianapolis and graduating from Indiana Central University (now University of Indianapolis) with a degree in Youth Agency Administration, she accepted her first professional position as a Program Director at the Pikeville Railroad YMCA in Kentucky.

Her career spanned more than 37 years, with positions in a Transportation YMCA (Pikeville, KY), an independent YMCA (Henderson, KY), a YMCA made to go independent from its Association (Martinsville, IN) and the bulk of her career in a variety of positions in the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis.

Nancy retired at the end of March 2024 and spends her time letting her dog in and out of the house all day, traveling, and figuring out what’s next!

Mary Beth Carmichael began her YMCA career in Bloomington, IN at the Monroe County YMCA, while in college at Indiana University. She then moved to the Indianapolis YMCAs starting at Ransburg Branch as the Wellness/Aquatic Director. Next came the West District Branch, a non-facility on the west side of the city. She held various positions within the Greater Indianapolis YMCA.

Her legacy is that she conducted a successful capital campaign and facilitated one of the first hospital/YMCA partnerships in Indianapolis. That YMCA facility has physical therapy, cardiac rehab, doctor’s office, and sports medicine. Cardiac rehab patients share equipment with YMCA members on the wellness floor.

Mary Beth ended her career as District Vice President in November 2022. 

She currently enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren, reading, and traveling to new places.

MEMBERSHIP

IT'S RENEWAL TIME

It is Membership Renewal time. You should have received a renewal notice via the USPS in October. If you have not returned your renewal form, please do so. Also, consider donating to our chapter since there is no chapter membership fee. If you did not get a renewal notice, email Terry Jones and he will send you one.

WE REMEMBER

LARRY D. OWENS

Our sympathies go to the family of Larry Owens of Otterbein, Indiana who died on September 11, 2024. Surviving are his wife, Betty Owens, two sons, Larry K. (Carrie) Owens & Mike (Beth) Owens, and six grandchildren.

Larry retired as a carpenter at YMCA Camp Tecumseh, the place he said he enjoyed working the most. Larry enjoyed fishing, woodworking, gardening, collecting coins and watching the Chicago Cubs and Indianapolis Colts on TV.

2025-2026 ADVENTURES

YMCA ALUMNI TRAVEL CLUB

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.This trip is SOLD OUT You may join the waiting list as it is likely there will be cancellations. Other dates may be available.

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. This trip is SOLD OUT You may join the waiting list as it is likely there will be cancellations. Other dates may be available.

May 15-23, 2026:

Scenic Switzerland by Rail with Cosmos Tours. This trip is SOLD OUT You may join the waiting list as it is likely there will be cancellations. Other dates may be available.

June 5-12, 2026:

Alaska: The Last Frontier cruise on Celebrity Edge

Photos: Norway: Land of the Midnight Sun; Istanbul to the Adriatic on Explora; Switzerland by Rail

CHAPTER LEADERS

Co-Presidents: Dan Sager, Terry Jones

Vice President: Lou Drexler

Interim Treasurer: Terry Jones

Click on name in blue to send email.



Michiana News is produced for the Hoosier-Buell Chapter by craig altschul + associates.

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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."