The Marston Chapter Grapevine
October 2020
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Greetings!
As a chapter, we have made many new friends, and we have also lost several dear ones.
We have traveled to exotic lands, learned to appreciate new foods and beverages, and spent precious time with family and friends. Now, as a chapter, we are looking forward to more community service.
I am excited about the activities we have already planned for our chapter, and optimistic about future events and activities for our group. I want to wish everyone all the best for the New Year, and for the bright future ahead of us.
One of those blessings is the privilege to make our voices heard by voting. The right to vote has been won for us time and again by the courage and sacrifice of countless brave patriots, and I urge you to make your voice heard in the upcoming November 3rd election. Vote early or vote on election day; vote by mail or vote in person; but whatever you do, exercise your power!
As a Y alumnus, I am proud to see that, true to its traditions, the San Diego YMCA is stepping up to support the community: Every local Y in San Diego County serves as a drop box location where you can safely deliver your ballot. (All of the local libraries also have drop boxes for ballots.)
It has been said many times, but it bears repeating: We will get through this together! All of us have experienced the power of Y fellowship; that fellowship has seen us through many years of hard work, of successes and failures, of joys and sorrows.
Let us continue to support each other, and let us reach out to the wider community in fellowship and hope. Stay safe, stay peaceful, and vote!
Victor Botello
President
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Emergency Assistance Fund
'Amazing Love, Care, Generosity' by YMCA Alumni
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Across the country, 235 YMCA Alumni have made EAF donations totaling $49,625. That is amazing love, caring and generosity by our Alumni members. Additional funds have given by Y Actives and several Corporate YMCAs, plus interest and dividends from the EAF Trust Fund.
This has enabled EAF to grant awards to 44 Y Colleagues in need of financial assistance to receive $157,761 so far this year. EAF’s latest grant was awarded to a YMCA Alumni couple to assist them in helping to finance a handicapped accessible van for their disabled son so he could safely be transported to regular doctor visits and attend needed social events.
National YMCA Alumni Membership, above chapter membership, is a benefit that enables you to have access to EAF Funds if you find yourself facing an unexpected financial crisis due to no fault of your own.
With three months to go, we anticipate the need for additional donations to help us meet the expected requests coming up. For those who have not yet made a donation to EAF, we hope you will please consider a gift that will go directly to help “one of our own’”
You may securely donate online by clicking on the button below. Or, if you prefer, mail your check directly to: EAF @ YMCA of the USA, Financial Dev. Division 16th floor, 101 N Upper Wacker Drive, Chicago IL. 60606.
Be sure to indicate your Marston YMCA Alumni Chapter on the check. There is still time for you to join the 14 other chapter members in this great effort to help our YMCA colleagues. Contact Bill Parkhurst if you have any questions or would like more information.
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Staying Connected Via Zoom |
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We continue to strive to enrich our retirees lives with safe ways to gather through Zoom. Recently we held a Zoom workshop presented by Darlynne Menkin a former news reporter. Some great tips were shared all while connecting with our alumni members. Stay tuned for more safe socially distanced activities.
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Our Holiday Party...Zoom Style
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Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 9 at 4:30 p.m. for the traditional YMCA Alumni Marston Chapter holiday event... this time via zoom. The party will be led by Darlynne and Marc Menkin of Where You Want to Be Tours and feature Ed Toole of the YMCA Retirement Fund.
Ed will update us all on the status of the fund, answer any questions. While different than our in person holiday celebration it will give everyone the opportunity to connect, share and hear a special holiday message. Register today by printing and completing the flyer and mailing to Julie Rose. Just click on the button to download it.
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Meet Ed Toole: Ed joined the YMCA Retirement Fund in June 2015. He is currently the Director of Education and a Certified Financial Planner™ professional, providing organization leadership of the Fund’s educational offerings to participants, retirees and YMCAs as employers.
Prior to joining the Fund, Ed served over a decade in the YMCA movement, beginning his Y career as a branch executive director for the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina, then CEO of the Greater Holyoke YMCA in Massachusetts, and then as YMCA of the USA Resource Director for Connecticut and Rhode Island YMCAs.
Ed is both a former YMCA of the USA Group Work trainer and Diversity Change Agent. He was also a participant of the 2012 Inaugural YMCA Leadership Symposium. He earned his B.A. from Fairfield University in Connecticut and his MBA from the Isenberg School of Management, University of Massachusetts-Amherst.
Register today. Print and complete the flyer and mail to Julie Rose.
Just click on the button to download it.
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'Go Places' With Friends:
Travel Club Update
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Be sure to log onto the YMCA Alumni Travel Club Information Center for up-to-date info on all trips currently scheduled for 2021 and 2022. We especially like the looks of a just-announced Caribbean Cruise immediately following the the next YMCA Alumni Reunion Jan. 12-15 2022,in New Orleans. Check it out!
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News Along The Marston Grapevine... |
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Victor and Judy Botello have continued leading a quiet life during this pandemic, although thankfully they are both healthy and have been able to spend some outdoor time with their local grandkids and with some close friends.
They also enjoy a weekly happy hour on Zoom with a group of long-time dear friends; and keep busy with exercise classes, various Board involvements, and their vegetable garden. In addition, they have been taking an on-line cooking class from the Culinary Institute of America, and have fun experimenting with some of the new recipes and techniques they are learning.
On September 8th, they plunged into several weeks of joyful excitement with the launch of their youngest son’s first book. It has already won a good deal of critical praise, including from the New York Times, and their son has been interviewed on a number of radio shows and popular podcasts.
His book is called Money: the True Story of a Made Up Thing, and it’s a brisk, entertaining look at the history of money from earliest times till today. Victor says, “I’m not being at all biased when I say that it’s a terrific read! Of course we are very proud of him and happy for his success.”
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Steve and Denise Rowe took a trip to Colorado with their son Nick included camping at 10,000 feet in Crested Butte and biking along the river in Durango and catching up with Nick.
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Sam and Judy Wurtzbacher say "All is good!" We got cabin fever and decided to plan a trip to North and South Dakota and Wyoming. We traveled with another YMCA Alumni couple, Bob and Judy Shafer.
The road trip took them to The Badlands, Deadwood, Mt Rushmore and Custer State Park. Custer State had many beautiful hiking trails. They stopped in and toured the Wooly Mammoth Site to see the dry sink hole where 60 mammoths along with other animals were entrapped.
In North Dakota they took a couple hikes in Teddy Roosevelt National Park and took in a one man play about Teddy’s life (he actually looked like Teddy), and was impressed with his forethought to establish the U.S. National Forest Service, proclaim 18 national monuments, created 5 national parks, 150 national forests and dozens of federal reserves – over 230 million acres of protected land. While in Wyoming, they hiked around Devils Tower, Roosevelt's first national monument under the new Antiquities Act in 1906. All in all, it was a wonderful trip.
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Gerry Martin has been enjoying her neighborhood and friendly neighbors while alternately dog walking a Border Collie and Silken Windhound for her neighbor.
She has also participated in a traditional birthday breakfast and dinner celebrations with long-time friends. Regular Thursday Mexican food take-outs sharing with her Baja amigos add to normalcy of times. In addition she enjoys learning more about gardening, reading, exercising and music. Gerry appreciates all the house improvement projects her son, Todd, has accomplished – and there are more to come!
Other than missing her grandchildren, family and Roger, she is good. Gerry is looking forward to seeing her two sisters in Yakima WA in mid-October that she has not seen for over two years!
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Phyllis Lyte is inside most of the time, since she is at high risk for any illness, especially Covid-19. She also is learning to use Zoom, so she is able to attend a lot of meetings and presentations of interest. She plans to be able to create her own meetings and visit with family and friends.
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Fred and Anne Dee Pahl are staying close to home right now and doing home improvement projects. They just finished their new "walk in shower" renovation which will make it easier to step up and in and out of our jacuzzi tub safely.
Son Tyler just received an honor as an outstanding state life guard not only for his ocean "water safety" skills, but also his knowledge of handling emergency situations on the beach. Swimmers are safer!
They returned for a great one-week trip with son Todd and his wife Nicolette at the the Red Wolfe Lakeside Lodge right on the North Shore where it was a a gorgeous week.
They are off to Las Vegas for their niece's wedding ceremony in October at the Holiday Inn Desert Club. They look forward to the visit with their Ohio family. Then, to a time share week - London Bridge Resort in Lake Havasu City. and a 7 - day New Years Cruise on the Mexican Riviera.
In 2021 for one of their trips they are planning a two to three-week trip to Hawaii visiting the Big Island, Maui and Honolulu. They plan to attend the 80th celebration of Pearl Harbor which they anticipate to be a very emotional and memorable event.
Congratulations to Fred and Anne Dee on their 59th wedding anniversary.
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Rick and Lorraine Riehman: On a bright and beautiful 4th of July, Rick and Lorraine experienced a healing of hearts and a settling of souls by supporting the Escondido Police and Fire Department in prayer. Thirty Escondido believers went to the Police/Fire Department and prayed over the first responders.
What an amazing time and wonderful morning as they lifted up those who serve and protect us every day. It’s critical that we continue to support and pray for those who risk their lives each and every day for our well-being. If you would like to get in touch with the Escondido PD. Chaplain, Rick would be glad to share the information. May each and every prayer reach the heart of God and bring peace and healing to our communities.
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Pattie and Steve Griffin: Are enjoying their new granddaughter Marlee. She joins granddaughters Olivia and Brooklyn in spending special days in and around the pool at Pattie and Steve’s home in Ramona.
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Oscar Escalada is pleased to report that he has regained movement of his hand and arm. He is now able to lift and move it a bit. He continues to lead Bible Study over Zoom and looks forward to seeing everyone when it is safe to do so.
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Rich Collato: A new granddaughter Scarlett Rae Collato recently joined the Collato family. She and her big sister Zoey May Collato enjoy each other and being with grandpa.
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Bea Halk sends grateful thanks to all who have been praying for her son Bob’s recovery. He is adjusting to maneuvering with only one eye and is patiently waiting for biopsy results and further treatment plans.
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Jeanne and Van Schmelzer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year. Congratulations and we wish you many more!
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Have You Joined YMCA Alumni's New Benefit? |
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We hope you read all about the great new YMCA Alumni benefit in the October issue of The CONNECTION. It's called BenefitHub and it's the world's largest discount purchasing platform for members of organizations like ours and employers. It's fast and easy to join. Free, too. Click on the logo for info and links.
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Marston YMCA Alumni Chapter Leaders |
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Thank you to the following YMCA Alumni members for volunteering to help our chapter and serve as board officers and members at large
for 2020-2022:
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Honorary Member: Bea Halk YMCA Hall of Fame
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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