ECHOES Grand Canyon Chapter December 2020 View as Webpage

Merry Christmas

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Greetings! This year has been unique in the many collective events starting with the COVID-19 virus last winter. It seems like we’ve all been living in caves for much of 2020.    We don’t have any amazing vacations to share, no YMCA Alumni reunions or gatherings…. just Zoom calls. And raging wildfires, civil unrest and politics.   Dave and I have spent most of this year sequestered in our home. We did venture out to Pensacola, Fla. to spend October on our boat. We worked on it, slept on it, ate on it and rarely left it. We settled back into the routine at home in November.   Marian took a leave of absence from Chaplain work at Presbyterian Hospital for a couple months. Then I learned I could minister from home and so I spent many hours on the phone or on video trying to comfort others who were dying from this dreadful virus.  The hospital asked me to coordinate its annual Holiday Box program where we reach out to the counselors of Title 1 (really poor) schools. They provide names and wish lists of needy students. Then employees of the hospital choose a family to sponsor and provide a holiday box of gifts. We sponsored 119 families.   What about you? Are you looking forward to 2021 like we all are? Won’t it be wonderful if the vaccine stops the virus and we can begin to mingle with others again?  We plan to join the YMCA Alumni Travel Club on a Viking Ocean Cruise called "Trade Routes of the Middle Ages" in October. Hope you'll consider joining us. Our prayer is that you will stay healthy and well until we can meet again.   We wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Marian and Dave Marian and Dave Bolton, Co-Presidents

From Lynn Vaughn: I am home for the holidays, hunkered down in Fort Collins. Hope you all stay happy, healthy and whole as well.   From Robert Ruesch: Merry Christmas! I am writing a story on Facebook about Gilbert Small, the elf, NOT on the Shelf.   From Norma Hansen: 2020 had so many can'ts but the story of Christ’s birth brings hope…have faith for a Happy 2021. Hugs!   From Don Deal: After nearly 18 years in Colorado, it is time to return to the desert and be closer to family. We will be living at the Mountain View Retirement Village in Tucson. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!   From Tom Aguilar-Downing: Using the quarantine to do a genealogical deep dive. Happy holidays. Stay healthy.   From Jim Lipscomb: We are staying isolated for protection. However I do get out to play golf once or twice a week. We hope everyone will have a wonderful holiday and pray for a bright future!   From Ed Carleo: Merry Merry Christmas!

Thank you After many years of serving our chapter as Treasurer and Membership Chairman respectively, Rich and Susan Hill have decided to step down from these duties. We can never thank them enough for the time and energy they gave us. Their commitment to YMCA Alumni remains and they continue as members in our chapter. Thank you Rich and Susan. Hat in the ring? Are you interested in becoming more involved with our chapter? Contact us to put your name in the ring for the election to take place at our 2021 Annual Meeting.

We remember... Bob Taylor Bob Taylor, a legend in the YMCA, passed away in September. He spent his entire career in the YMCA from Ohio to Colorado where his last position was as a Y-USA consultant. Bob was well-known for writing YMCA region newsletters, for his consulting abilities and for his interest in helping others. Bob was a member of the Grand Canyon Chapter for many years and he will be missed.

Denise Berceli, Tempe, AZ Dr. Sandra Howard, Centennial, CO Dr. Jack Joseph, Scottsdale, AZ      Jim Kauffman, Huntsville, Utah Steve Courts, Johnstown, CO Ann Samson, Phoenix, AZ Gary Forster,  Bellingham, Wash.

Here's news from some of our members... FROM PRES JOHNSON:  June 4 – 90th Birthday. 30-car parade by house from church... 9 holes of golf 3-4 times a week for months now... a lot of reading, mostly mysteries... frequent cul de sac neighborhood get-togethers, adhering to guidelines...visits from sons and family and a granddaughter. FROM NONI O’SULLIVAN: Al (my sweetie) and I did get to Flagstaff for a week to cool off and then later we went to Pinetop. Al hurt his back and barely got off the couch. Looking forward to some fun travels in 2021. FROM DANE WOLL: Our youngest daughter has been living with us and came down with Covid 19 in April. She has recovered despite double pneumonia. Golf at Forty Niners has been my greatest relief during the summer. Nancy and I will be leaving for a week at our beach condo soon. We miss seeing all of you.

FROM CRIS CIASCA: We left the beach in Rocky Point on March 17 with plans to return on the 20th, but the Mayor closed entry into Puerto Penasco for April, May and June due to COVID. Al had back surgery and a 15-day hospital stay, followed by a knee replacement for our dog, Hannah, and then another foot surgery for me. We are back in Mexico now enjoying paradise. FROM RICH HILL: Susan and I have been following the La Posada guidelines which closely follow the CDC and Arizona rules. Susan does Zoom meetings presenting her Art Talks to other organizations. Fires in Colorado threatened our daughters and family in Estes Park. They were evacuated with one family going to Littleton (a Denver suburb) and the other to Boulder. All is OK at the moment, but the Estes Park Y is having a very rough time of it, as are many Ys across the country. FROM JOHN BROOKS: We made a fast trip to El Paso to celebrate our granddaughter’s 18th birthday and then found out El Paso was the worst place to visit when we got home. We've just managed to stay home, play golf, watch a lot of movies and Ann sewing masks for hospitals. FROM CRAIG ALTSCHUL & PEGGI SIMMONS: We missed living in Arizona, so we moved back from New Mexico to Rancho Sahuarita, just south of Tucson in September. We'll be hosting the YMCA Alumni Travel Club "Trade Routes of the Middle Ages" Viking Ocean Cruise in October. There's still room and a vaccine on its way, so consider joining Marian and Dave and us. It's a great itinerary.

Donate Don't forget to donate to our Emergency Assistance Fund. There is still time to do so. There is lots of need out there with our fellow YMCA Alumni, so if you can shake away a few $$$ to EAF there would be many blessings as a result. Click on the button to the left to donate securely online. -- John Brooks

It's that time again to renew your membership in YMCA Alumni for 2021. It's quick, safe and simple to do it online (just click the button below). Prefer to renew by check? The November printed issue of The CONNECTION included the form and a return envelope. Our total dues (national and chapter) are $35 single or $40 household. Renew Reunion '22 in 'The Big Easy' Make your plans to join us in New Orleans, Jan. 12-15, 2022 for YMCA Alumni Reunion '22. Then, there's an option to join "A Caribbean Reunion" cruise from the Port of New Orleans immediately following the reunion. Watch for details soon.

Have you joined the newest YMCA Alumni membership benefit? It's free to join and you can take advantage of thousands of special offers and discounts. Register by clicking the button below. Your referral code is 7T2M15. Questions? Call 1-866-644-4621. BenefitHub Fall 2021 Adventures Sept. 28-Oct.5: Active & Discovery On The Rhine Oct. 4-18: Trade Routes of the Middle Ages Travel

Chapter leaders Co-Presidents: Marian and Dave Bolton Secretary: Pam Hegarty EAF Representative: John Brooks International: Pete and Jan Smargon ECHOES Production: Craig Altschul and Peggi Simmons Click on name to send email.

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‌	YMCA Alumni Mission: "...to enable members to promote a nurturing worldwide Christian Fellowship that provides educational, social, service and charitable opportunities."