SERVING ARIZONA * COLORADO * NEW MEXICO * UTAH
WYOMING * W. NEBRASKA * W. KANSAS
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Greetings!
We hope everyone is enjoying the beginning of summer. Here in New Mexico we are plagued with drought and huge forest fires throughout our state. We have lived here for over 35 years and cannot remember extreme heat and dry weather like this. We are all praying for rain!
Charlotte Waters (our Grand Canyon Chapter Membership Director) and I recently returned from "48 Hours", a YMCA Alumni National training session in St. Louis for chapter leaders. Check out Char’s membership report for more information from that meeting.
Our Chapter Board is currently looking for members to fill these openings:
1. Editor for Echoes, our chapter newsletter.
2. Cluster Leaders for Northern Arizona and for Colorado
3. Chapter Vice President for Programs
4. Chapter President
We have served this chapter for more than 6 years and it’s time for new leadership. If you are interested or would like to nominate someone for any of these openings, please contact Charlotte or me.
Thank you to Bob Shelton in Phoenix who worked hard the past two years to develop luncheons for the Northern Arizona retirees. Bob can’t continue to organize these, but we thank him for his tireless work.
Thank you also to those who helped with the YMCA Alumni National Service Project: Bill Moss, Rick Taylor, Pete Smargon and to all of you who donated!
In lieu of a Grand Canyon Chapter gathering this Fall, we are encouraging members to join us in New Orleans, Nov. 2-4, for YMCA Alumni Reunion '22. We hope to see you there!
Marian and Dave
Marian and Dave Bolton, Co-Presidents
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Members Corner
By Charlotte Waters
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Colorado Springs seems to be waking to spring slowly with cool temperatures.
I’m sure we’ll be wishing for more of that this summer. After the last 2½ years, I know many of us are enjoying the opportunity to resume activities with family and friends. I realized that I definitely took that for granted. How about you?
Along those lines I’m providing a list of our members by city and state so that you might see current or not-met-yet friends as part of your region in our vast chapter. If you’d like to reach out to someone, feel free to contact me and I’ll see about making some connections.
Did you know that you don’t have to be retired from the YMCA in order to join the YMCA Alumni? Feel free to encourage your YMCA friends and family to consider joining even if they are still working at their YMCA. In addition to enjoying membership benefits, existing YMCA staff members can enjoy opportunities to stay connected to retired YMCA colleagues and friends.
Welcome to the following new members who’ve joined our Grand Canyon Chapter since fall, 2021:
Dan and Gwen Dummermuth, Timnath, Colorado
John and Debbie Ford, Conifer, Colorado
Donald and Rochelle Remaly, Broomfield, Colorado
Dave and Lisa Powell, Oro Valley, Arizona
Julie Rickert, Cottonwood, Arizona
Looking to connect with a local YMCA Alumni member? Here is a list of our Grand Canyon Chapter members. If you’d like to reach someone, I’ll see about getting you connected. Let me know if there are any updates needed. Email Charlotte.
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We need Cluster Leaders
The Grand Canyon Chapter covers a geographically diverse area. If you’d like to serve as a “cluster” leader for your area, let me know. This person may serve as point of contact for Alumni members in that area to organize local events and get togethers.
For example, Arizona has two clusters: one for the northern part of the state and one for the southern part of the state. If you’d like to serve for one of these regions, let me know: Central Colorado, Northern Colorado, and Kansas.
Or, perhaps you’d like to offer to serve as a luncheon host for your area and set up a happy hour, luncheon or dinner at a local restaurant occasionally. I can help send out communications about your event not only to your area but also to our entire chapter in the event we have someone traveling and would like to attend.
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Checking in with clusters
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Southern Arizona Cluster by John Brooks
Nine members of the Southern Arizona YMCA Alumni Cluster met for lunch at the Café ALA Cart in Tucson. Those attending included Pete Walsh and his friend, Rose, Dane Woll, John and Ann Brooks, Craig Altschul and Peggi Simmons, and Don and Joyce Deal.
We learned that the Wolls have gone through a lot of remodeling of their home including roofing and kitchen updates. They have spent time in Rocky Point as much as possible. Pete and Rose will be heading to their East Coast retreats for the summer. John and Ann Brooks recently returned from a 10-day trip to beautiful Costa Rica. Don and Joyce noted they have given up on long term travel but enjoy shorter one-day trips.
Don has temporarily lost feeling in his right foot which prevents him from driving as of this moment. Craig and Peggi are still working and are hosting the YMCA Alumni Travel Club Alaska Cruise, Colorado's Historic Trains and Viking Trade Routes of the Middle Age Cruise in the next several months.
We will try to pull together a summer outing perhaps in July. Dane suggested that we plan our November gathering in downtown Tucson and take in the Gifford Memorial. Also discussed was a golf outing with the Northern Arizona group in the Casa Grande area.
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Northern Arizona Cluster
by Bob Shelton
The Phoenix Cluster met this winter at the Café Zupas in Phoenix. Those in attendance were Jerry and Sue Beavers, Don Deal, Bob and Norleen Shelton, Laura Taylor and Dane Woll.
Following lunch and a time of getting acquainted and re-acquainted, the meeting was opened with a devotion by Bob Shelton on “Infinite Care” from “INDEED Devotions” of Walk thru the Bible Ministries.
Discussions were held about how to attract others to attend cluster meetings, how often to meet and establish the next meeting date. With the small attendance, there may not be a lot of interest.
Dane shared with us about the Tucson/Southern Arizona Cluster, and indicated they meet two or three times a year - usually, for lunch and/or maybe an outing. No business is conducted and it’s quite enjoyable.
The consensus was that we should not meet more than three times a year, and it should be fun – that’s what attracts others. The conclusion was we try for a golf outing in Casa Grande at a Golf Club known to Dane. He will investigate its possibility. In Casa Grande, it could be a joint meeting with the Tucson folks.
We also took some time to review the Arizona Directory list, and selected some names we have not heard from, for those present to contact and check on their well-being, and their interest in the cluster.
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New Mexico Cluster
by Pam Hegarty
The Albuquerque and surrounding area retirees took a break for several months due to the COVID pandemic. We are now meeting for lunch again on the third Thursday at a different restaurant each time. This year we have enjoyed food and fellowship at Mimi’s, Cheddar’s, Olive Garden, Slate Street Café and Spinns Burgers. Some of our members have passed away leaving us with fewer attendees, but a good time is always had by all. (Photo: Jim and Mary Lipscomb, Pam Hegarty)
Colorado Cluster by "It could be YOU"
Someone is needed to head up this cluster. Could that person be YOU? If so, let us know! We’ll give you lots of help!
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Our YMCA Emergency Assistance Fund was able to respond to grant requests last year, nationwide, totaling $86,841 which helped to reduce the emotional and physical stress involved.
Support of this caring and sharing came from our chapter membership contributions of over $2,000 in 2021.
Because of you and your continual generosity, EAF was there for those Y staff and YMCA alumni who faced an emergency financial situation. This has been an ongoing program for more than a century, taking care of our own. EAF is here for you!
Our EAF is funded for and by YMCA active professionals and retirees. So a BIG THANKS goes out to you that have supported this effort over the years. Together our combined donations have had a major impact on lives disrupted by unexpected and extreme economic hardships.
Please join with your fellow chapter members in supporting EAF again this year and discover the joy of giving, knowing that your gift will make a direct difference for an active/retired colleague in need.
Click the button below to donate securely online.
--John Brooks, Chapter EAF Chair
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Larry Valentine, May 11
Ann Brooks, May 17
Kent Meyer, May 22
Richard Hill, May 26
Sue Beavers, June 4
John Brooks, June 10
Joyce Deal, June 20
John Barclay, June 27
Norma Hansen, July 20
Did you know that the year following your 90th birthday, your YMCA Alumni membership converts to a Lifetime Membership and becomes free!
Pickleball anyone?
Charlotte Waters, Colorado Springs, is interested in getting a YMCA Alumni group to play a few times (or more?) a month in the Colorado Springs area. Email Charlotte or call/text to (719) 649-2284.
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YMCA Alumni Donor Campaign underway this summer; Donate now
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"I believe in what YMCA Alumni is doing. I hope you do as well and will support our administrative financial needs. Our goal in this annual campaign is $32,000. Click the button to donate now. Thank you."
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Groundbreaking was a banner day for National Service Project
by Bill Moss
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May 19 was a banner day for our YMCA Alumni National Service Project, conducted in partnership with the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires (formerly known as the Sioux YMCA). The Marketing Team of our National Committee was on site in Dupree, South Dakota for the Groundbreaking Ceremony.
The team arrived on site a few days early to get everything set up for the event.
The colorful ceremony was captured live on Facebook and viewed by nearly 600 of our members across the country. In addition, there was a camera crew on site to record the event for a video that will be produced and utilized when fundraising resumes in the fall.
The first wave of volunteers reported to begin work on May 15. There was a lot of site work that had to be accomplished to get the project started. Additional waves will follow throughout the summer.
We have raised a total of $548,542 from 498 donors to date. We will resume fundraising among our membership in January.
In the meantime, watch The CONNECTION and Facebook for regular updates.
--Bill Moss is Chapter National Service Project representative
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Early Bird registration closes July 31 for Reunion '22; Don't delay
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Be sure to register for YMCA Alumni Reunion '22 in New Orleans Nov. 2-4. Early birds are eligible to win one of ten $100 bills to be used during "Dinner with Friends" evenings. Join us in The Big Easy.
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Head to Costa Rica in February with the YMCA Alumni Travel Club
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Escape winter with the YMCA Alumni Travel Club Feb. 25-March 13, 2023 on this affordable adventure to Costa Rica’s natural paradise with pricing at $980 pp. Come with us to a place where untouched landscapes meet tropical beaches.
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Finance Report from Treasurer Rich Hill
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ECHOES
is produced for the
Grand Canyon Chapter by
craig altschul + associates
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Vice President: Vacant
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."
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