We hope you had a fabulous summer and glorious fall as we head toward winter. Busy times for travel and connecting with friends and family. Your Grand Canyon Chapter Board has been busy working to Make Connections and Build Relationships with and among our members.
This edition of ECHOES will outline what we have learned through a series of Zoom calls and conversations with you. In addition, we will gather some input, ask for your help and update you on happenings.
Lynne Vaughan, President
PAM HEGARTY
WE'LL MISS YOU
Pam Hegarty passed away Sept. 28, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. Pam was a long-time YMCA Executive. She graduated from George Williams college and began her career as a Peace Corp worker.
Her 40-year career took her from New York to Albuquerque, New Mexico where she worked continuously for the YMCA. Pam was a swim instructor touching the lives of many kids as she taught them to swim. Pam was also the Executive Director of the Mountainside YMCA Branch where she provided excellent leadership for many years. She directed the Y's Youth & Government program, leaving her mark upon hundreds of teenagers.
Upon retirement, Pam joined YMCA Alumni and became a board member of our Grand Canyon Chapter, serving for nine years as Secretary and Albuquerque Ambassador, where she arranged for numerous monthly luncheons for local members. She was greatly admired and will be very much missed in the YMCA organization she loved.
IN MEMORIUM
Thomas Aguilar-Downing, Aurora, CO
Merv Bennett, Colorado Springs, CO
Pam Hegarty, Albuquerque, NM
MEMBER ZOOMS
SOME TAKEAWAYS
As we continue to strengthen connections with and among Grand Canyon Chapter YMCA Alumni members, we conducted a series of Zoom meetings to gather input and ideas. Here is a breakdown of our meetings:
Chapter-wide Zoom in March: We offered three separate days/times and unfortunately only one had participants - five members and a national board member.
Cluster Zooms held in August and September: Phoenix: 1 in attendance; Tucson: 0 in attendance; Denver/Colo.: 8 in attendance, 2 were board members and 6 were guests (non-members).
Some of the ideas/suggestions that came up were:
Continue to do Zoom gatherings and do them more frequently;
cluster wide gatherings once per year.
Push involvement in the National Service Projects.
Identify opportunities for local service projects (chapter or cluster based).
Chapter-wide get together every two to three years at YMCA of the Rockies.
If you have questions or ideas, let us know - just click HERE.
A CHAPTER-WIDE GATHERING?
WHEN, WHERE AND HOW
We are currently researching options for a chapter-wide gathering and exploring the idea of pairing it with a chapter-wide service project and/or having a North and South event due to our geography. If you have any thoughts or ideas, click HERE.
MARGARET FOGARTY
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Margaret Fogarty has been a member of YMCA Alumni since 2019. She was drawn to our organization to reconnect and stay connected to YMCA friends across the country.
Margaret spent most of her 30-plus year career at the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region in various job positions. Two of her career years were with the YMCA of Greater Oklahoma City as a Branch Executive. She began her career as a Director of Health & Fitness and ended her career in Human Resources: Staff Training & Development, and as a Training Partner Y for YMCA of the USA.
Margaret is currently serving as Secretary for the National YMCA Alumni Board, with her term ending December 2026. The position of Secretary has given Margaret opportunities for growth in areas that were less familiar to her.
In addition to YMCA Alumni, Margaret volunteers for Family Connections at Catholic Charities in Colorado Springs. She is a reader, EMHC, and a member of the Finance Council of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
“I stepped up to volunteer with YMCA Alumni because I wanted to stay connected to colleagues across the country,” she says. “I also enjoy traveling, and have service to others in my DNA. So it was a natural step to volunteer.”
Margaret and her husband were part of the 2025 YMCA Alumni Reunion Cruise last winter. She served as registrar on the Reunion Committee, and encourages everyone to consider attending a reunion and/or Travel Club cruise or tour, for connection and for fun.
STEP UP
WE NEED YOU
Your Grand Canyon Chapter needs a few members to step up and volunteer to serve. Your current board has five members and could use a few more to help with membership, communication and Cluster support. We particularly need help with the Phoenix, Albuquerque and Tucson Clusters.
Here are some comments from several of our board members saying why they “stepped-up.” We hope they inspire you to do the same.
LYNNE VAUGHAN: I heard there was a need for folks to help by serving on the board and helping to strengthen our chapter. I cared and felt I could help, so I did!
KACY PARTRIDGE: Serving on the board allows me to give back, stay involved, and contribute to something that has given so much to me.
JOHN BARCLAY:I chose to serve on the board because the YMCA has played a meaningful role in my life. Serving on the board allows me to give back, stay involved, and contribute to something that has given so much to me.
MARIAN BOLTON: Through the years, first as VP and then President, I have enjoyed this volunteer work and I continue on the board as Past President.
TERESA HILL: I joined the board last year and have enjoyed being back in the Y fold! The time commitment is minimal and it's been great connecting with old and new like-minded friends.
Will you step up? If you have questions or are interested in serving, click HERE.
ABQ LUNCH BUNCH
The Albuquerque Cluster of our chapter gathered for lunch in August.
(Photo L-R): Dave Bolton, Stephanie Browne, Marian Bolton, Teresa Callahan, Ken Callahan, Pam Hegarty, Jan Smargon, Pete Smargon, Mary Lipscomb, Jim Lipscomb.
Click the arrow to watch this short, fun video created by Shane Niemi. You'll want to re-connect right away. Be sure your sound is on.
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
IT'S TIME TO RE-CONNECT
It's time to re-connect your YMCA Alumni membership. You can re-connect online by clicking the button below.
The Grand Canyon chapter is at 41 units; 60 total members. The unit number breaks down to 4 Lifetime units, 18 Household units and 19 Individual units. The retention rate is currently 88 percent. Nationally, YMCA Alumni is currently at 988 units; 1,500 members. The national renewal rate is 85 percent.
Be sure to book official YMCA Alumni Travel Club adventures and your own individual, family and referred friends travel through Go Travel's expert agents. YMCA Alumni's national budget receives a percentage of all sales and you get the best prices, advice and a smooth booking experience.
2026 will bring choices of spring cruises in the Caribbean with one crossing the pond; an upscale train adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer; a C.I.E. luxury motor coach visit to Spain's amazing cities; cruise Classic Canada from Quebec City to Boston in the fall color season; sail into Alaska before the crowds; and specialty cruises for knitters and widows and widowers.
Check out the next issue of Going Places to be emailed to you Nov. 15, as well. Two trips for 2026 are already sold out (Scenic Switzerland by Rail and America's 250th in NY Harbor and Beyond on Cunard's Queen Mary 2). The lesson: Don't delay.
Visit the brand new Travel Club web page with direct access to all trips for details and booking by clicking the button below.
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