|
JUDY WURTZBACHER
FROM THE PRESIDENT
| | |
I think we are all looking forward to wearing sweaters soon! Fall is a wonderful time to reconnect with friends and enjoy time with YMCA Alumni members.
I encourage each of you to reach out to former Y employees and/or retirees and invite them to join our chapter events. The more members we have, the more friendships we can renew and memories we can share.
Please mark your calendars for our Oktoberfest Luncheon on October 22. Bea Halk has planned a fun afternoon. See more information included in this newsletter.
With the holidays just around the corner, I wish you and your families a wonderful fall season filled with good health, happiness, and special moments together. Looking forward to seeing you soon.
With gratitude
| | |
OCTOBER 22:
MARSTON CHAPTER OKTOBERFEST
| | |
Join us for lunch at our Marston Chapter Oktoberfest.
We'll gather Thursday, October 22, 2026, at 12935 Cree Court (Club House) in Poway, CA 92064.
We have great fun planned for our Fall event: lively music, German food, raffles, and fun games. Cost is $25 per person. Please RSVP to Fraulein Bea Halk with the number in your party.
Please send your check to Marston Treasurer, Herr Sam Wurtzbacher, 4734 Lorraine Dr., San Diego, CA 92115.
| | RICK REIMAN says Summer ’26 was unforgettable. Spending my months serving at a Paraguayan orphanage and an Argentine Christian school taught me that the greatest thing I could offer these kids wasn't lessons or activities. It was simply showing up and being there. Loving them changed me completely, and I left with a full heart and memories of smiles I'll never forget. | | LOWELL AND DIANA LINDSAY joined Jenn Lindsay and her Italian husband Eduardo for a 20-day adventure in London and Scotland built around a 9-day Rail Vacations tour of Scotland riding the country’s major trains — including the famous “Harry Potter” train. Other days were spent exploring London and Edinburgh, plus a search for Lindsay heritage, visiting old Lindsay castles and meeting Anthony Lindsay, the 30th Earl of Crawford, head of Clan Lindsay, who represented Scotland at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camila. We also attended the Fringe Festival and the military tattoo in Edinburgh. The photo shows us wearing Lindsay tartan at Edzell Castle, home of the Lindsays for a couple of centuries. | | KAREN KOHL AND STEVE MOTT are enjoying a long-awaited trip to the Galapagos Islands with National Geographic Lindblad Expeditions, as you read this issue. It was first scheduled in 2020, then canceled when COVID hit. We were finally able to reschedule. We'll have some photos and a description of our trip for the next issue. (That's a stock photo, but we're sure they met Mr. Turtle.) | | GERRY MARTIN says summer was a hit because Spain won the World Cup hosted by the USA, and WTA tennis was fantastic all summer. My Bay Area son made a long-overdue visit, and my grandson made a delightful "surprise " visit. We split wins in "Probe", our favorite word game. The Corporate YMCA's Annual Thank You at Petco Park was a winner. The Padre Friar welcomed me with a hug almost as endearing as Roger's. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at our Oktoberfest luncheon. | |
STEVE ROWE and SAM WURTZBACHER had a productive, rewarding week in La Plant, South Dakota, where we joined fellow YMCA Alumni volunteers to help build a “Twig” – a small program center for the small local community.
We enjoyed working alongside Don Kerr of the Upper Midwest Chapter, Kurt Kaboth of the Willis Chapter, and Andrew Corley, CEO of the YMCA of Seven Council Fires. Together, we contributed to this National YMCA project in support of the Cheyenne Sioux Reservation and its local residents. This was the conclusion of the first YMCA National Service Project.
Collaborating with others in service to the community and helping make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve was a meaningful experience. We are proud to have been part of such an important effort as it was a memorable week of teamwork, service, and community. (Photo: L-R -- Andy Corley, Steve Rowe, Kurt Kaboth, Don Kerr, and in front, Sam Wurtzbacher working in a "Twig" made from shipping containers.)
| | LISA BETTERTON enjoyed a Holland America Cruise to the Greek Islands with her husband, Mom (Bea), and 3 additional family members. Our trip was 20 amazing days, filled with new experiences, fantastic food, and lots of walking. One of my favorite spots was in Barcelona, Spain, where I admired the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia (above photos). | | |
BEA HALK says spring and summer have been amazing. Esther Wellington and I joined my nephew and family on a whirlwind trip to Mexico City. We visited many interesting sites, including the pyramids in Teotihuacan, Freida Kahlo’s home/museum, and of course the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
In July I had a wonderful family vacation with my niece Diana, son Rick and his wife Jacki, daughter Lisa and her husband Bob. We enjoyed a 14-day Mediterranean cruise visiting amazing islands, interesting sites, churches, and museums. My most memorable moments were seeing the volcano erupt in Messina from our cabin and walking the streets St. Paul and others walked so many years ago. The ship was great fun with many activities.
We spent additional days on our own in Athens, where we met an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. Other summer highlights included seeing the Padres at Petco Park with friends, enjoying Taste of Old Town with my son, and joining Gary Wegener for brunch near his home.
| | |
TOM AND DOBBIE MADEYSKI enjoyed staying around San Diego during the summer. We have the best weather (although that heat wave in July-August was something!) Dobbie is volunteering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and Tom continues announcing at Sports Stadium for Point Loma Football, Volleyball, and Mesa College Volleyball. (Watch for the story he wrote about his hobby in the Nov. 15 issue of YMCA Alumni’s Perspective e-Zine.)
We just finished hosting Tom’s brother, sister, and sister-in-law at a Mission Beach VRBO. They met their nieces, Jenna and Jasmine, and nephew Hunter for the first time. Tom was adopted, and only three years ago we found his biological family in Winnipeg, Manitoba. What a fabulous, heartwarming time that was.
| | |
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CORPS FUND DRIVE UNDERWAY NOW
HERE'S AN UPDATE ON ISC
BY TRACY MUCKEY, CHAIR
| | |
Your financial support helps ISC, a program of YMCA Alumni, make experiences like the one described in this story possible in the Czech Republic. We hope you will contribute soon. Our campaign runs through Nov. 30, 2026.
Click the button below to donate.
From the Czech Republic to communities around the world, ISC
creates opportunities for YMCA Alumni members to share their experience, talents, and passion while building lasting friendships.
Alena Wenker is from the Czech Republic. She spent over 30 years in the United States working for the YMCA and teaching Russian at a university in Middle Tennessee. After retiring, Alena joined the YMCA Alumni International Service Corps (ISC).
She connected with the YMCA in the Czech Republic and helped establish a relationship in the small, picturesque town of Starý Plzenec, where the YMCA hosts a day camp and welcomes volunteers to serve as counselors.
Through Alena’s leadership, ISC has sent three volunteers each over the past two years to help children learn English through immersion in fun, engaging daily activities conducted entirely in English.
This year, Jon Vance and Kim Decker joined Alena in Starý Plzenec, spending a week as counselors at the day camp. (Top photo)
| | |
MARSTON CHAPTER LEADERS
President: Judy Wurtzbacher
Vice President: Steve Rowe
Secretary: Piper Haynes
Treasurer: Sam Wurtzbacher
Membership: Lisa Betterton
World Service Chair: Rick Riehman
National Programs: Steve Rowe
Program: Vacant
Newsletter Editor: Tom Madeyski
Reunions: Bea Halk
The Grapevine is produced for the Marston Chapter by craig altschul + associates
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."
| | IMPORTANT NOTE: Please think twice when unsubscribing to any unsolicited email. If Constant Contact sent it to you, they cannot send you any more emails, including from YMCA Alumni. Just flick away emails you don't want -- but please don't "unsubscribe." We can get you re-subscribed only once. Send us an email if you are not receiving our newsletters or if you have accidentally unsubscribed; we will try to reinstate you. --editor | | | | |
