YMC Alumni Fall Festival 2024. And other information.

THE

LOOKOUT

Weatherford Chapter

International Service Corps Update September, 2024

With appreciation to Wayne Uhrig for his report, here’s the latest update on The International Service Corps, indicating a number of opportunities for volunteers to be involved in International Service:

The ISC is in contact with YMCAs in the Czech Republic, N. Macedonia, Serbia, Panama, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, Georgia, and more.
Communication continues with Juan Iglesias, General Secretary for YMCA Europe, and Renata Ferrari from the YMCA of the USA on the Latin American contacts. Both Juan and Renata keep the ISC up to date on their YMCAs and their progress.
As completion of the application process nears, ISC will need volunteers who are willing to travel to these countries and work with their Ys in different areas of expertise.
One of the most exciting opportunities is this Oct. 23- 28, 2024. There are eight volunteers, including our own , who will be traveling to the YMCA Youth Migrant Center in Tijuana, Mexico. In collaboration with the YMCA of San Diego County, they are preparing 150 gift bags for "Teens at the Border." Once the gift bags are ready, they will travel from San Diego to Tijuana, and deliver the gifts to the teens at the center. The YMCA Youth Migrant Center has three locations along the Mexico/U.S. border, and the hope is to make 150 teens' day a little brighter.
For an application or questions, feel free to contact our Representative, Laura Kamperman. Or you can go directly to the website at: https://ymcaalumni.org/serve-international

Travel Club News September, 2024

The perfect time to promote Y Alumni travel is after having a successful trip to Scotland. Twenty-eight Y Alumni, friends, and family plus nine non-Y Alumni travelers enjoyed the C.I.E. Scottish Dream tour August 2-9. Some came early, some stayed late, others went on to other places like the Cotswolds, Iceland, and Spain. The rest of us came home. Although Covid dampened our spirits, we managed to see and experience beautiful sights in Scotland. The bonus of motor coach trips is that you make new friends and bring back memories never to be forgotten. While Scotland is famous for rain, the lush landscape was undeniably beautiful. We had raincoats and ponchos available on a moment’s notice. However, we were most fortunate in that only in St. Andrew’s did we experience any significant rainfall while we were off the motor coach. And the dilemma of whether to go sit in rain on bleachers on the Castle Esplanade to see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo was settled when we realized that we go sit at football games in the rain. So away we all went except for those under the weather (no pun intended). It was the treat of a lifetime! No words can adequately describe the experience. And luck was with us as the rain held off.

The Travel Club has many upcoming events scheduled with the first being the YMCA Alumni Reunion at Sea January 26–February 2, 2025 aboard Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas. Destinations include Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya, Mexico; and Cozumel, Mexico. Sign up now to enjoy time with your YMCA Alumni family and friends. Remember that friends and family members are welcome.

For additional information about these and other trips, feel free to contact our Representative, Jean Bock, or you can go directly to the website: https://www.ymcaalumnitravelclub.org

Weatherford Alumni Chapter

"Wild West"

Fall Festival 2024

For the ease and efficiency for all, we will be registering and paying through YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly. It's easy! Simply go to YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly website https://blueridgeassembly.org/

On the main page, click on the blue box “Now Registering”. Find the box advertising our event and click “attend”. Follow the instructions to complete registration. If you have any questions, need help navigating, or to simply register by phone, call Blue Ridge Assembly 828-669-8422.

Lead by Tania & Kevin Griffin

tgriffindovecote@gmail.com

Silent Auction at the

Weatherford Chapter YMCA Alumni

Fall Festival October 28-30, 2024

at YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly, Black Mountain, NC

Silent Auctions are lots of fun and a great way to help a needy cause – see below to see who our auction is helping with funds raised at the 2024 auction!

You can help in 2 ways:

First – attend the auction at Blue Ridge Center – and open up your check books (if you still write paper checks). If you are a bargain shopper, you will find a few items that catch your eye! Last year’s auction raised more than $ 5,000. Some items sold for $ 25 and others sold for more than $ 1,000

Last year’s auction included:

Craft items, custom made bird houses, week stay at a Florida vacation home,

Art Work, weekend at Blue Ridge Center, custom made quilt,

River Boat ride with catered dinner, Wine/liquor/flowers

Second – you can help us find more gifts for this year’s auction. Who do you know that can provide more auction items??

Perhaps a gift from Y Retirement ? - or a painting or craft item from your home ?

or a week at a Y summer camp for your grand kids ? gift cards to anywhere ?

Would your local hardware store donate some garden tools ? Maybe Exercise items ?

Golf Green Fees or a new clubs/balls ? NFL/college football/basketball tickets ?

Clothing or anything from your last “old Y”

Proceeds from the Silent Auction will be used to support YMCA World Service (WS), YMCA Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF), and YMCA Alumni International Service Corps. For additional information about these important programs please visit:

World Service:

www.ymcas.org/world-service

Emergency Assistance Fund:

www.ymcaeaf.org

International Services Corps:

www.ymcaalumni.org/serve-international