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June 2025 * View as Webpage

LOWELL NEES

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

We finally reached June 1. Thousands of kids around the world will be packing their bags to go to YMCA camps or to the beach, lakes, and pools to continue practicing the swimming skills they learned at the Y.

When I was a kid, I tried out everything I could at the Y, even resident camp at Camp Nelson Dodd. I don’t know why, but I only went for one week. It was an eventful week; I lost the cap on my front tooth which I had previously broken back home in the Y pool.

Instead of going on the canoe trip I had yearned for, I spent the next day in a strange dentist’s office somewhere in Southeast Ohio, maybe Logan, with my camp counselor. Despite that, it was a great week because I got a string necklace with a real bear claw as a Good Camper Award. They said it was real…but I never saw the bear.

If that wasn’t enough to remember camp forever, my mother’s frequent reminders were. It seems that when we arrived home and she opened my luggage, she was surprised to find all my clothes neatly folded just like she had packed them. “Didn’t you change your clothes while you were there?”

“I didn’t need to, Mom; I just wore the same ones every day.”

“Well didn’t you take a shower while you were there?”

“I didn’t need to, Mom; we went swimming every day.”

Life was easier then. You could go a whole week without doing laundry or taking showers as long as you went to Y camp and swam every day. I need to go now; I have laundry to do.

Before I go, I want to let you know that if you were not at the Spring Reunion you missed a great time at Hocking Hills State Park. Thanks for a great job putting that reunion together, including Tony Delisio, Monica Turner, Mike Lieber, and Steve Gunn.

My thanks also to Tim Shetzer for agreeing to head up the next Fall Reunion in Columbus, Oct. 1-3, 2025. Put it on your calendar, Tim promises a great reunion. I know there will be plenty of time for more “camp" stories.

Lowell Nees,President, YMCA Alumni Chambers Chapter

FALL REUNION OCT. 1-3

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Save the dates Oct. 1-3 on your calendar for the Fall Reunion in Columbus, Ohio. Our two-night stay will be at the Hyatt Place Polaris, north of the city (It’s rated “9” on Bookings). We’ll have our chapter meeting and dinner on Wednesday night at the hotel.

A number of highly rated activities are planned for Thursday and Friday morning. A gathering for golf will also be arranged during the day on Wednesday. Dinner on your own will be Thursday evening at the Budd Dairy Food Hall. It's a vintage dairy that’s been transformed into a culinary destination with 10 different kitchens and a rooftop eating area.

More information will follow this summer. Registration should open sometime in early August. If you have any questions, feel free to email our host, Tim Shetzer or call him at 330-704-5222.

SPRING REUNION RECAP:

HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK

Top row L-R: Cinda Orr and Karol Jones, Biathy McAllister, park ranger and Owl Capone. Below: Lunchtime. In story... Owl Capone.

Thirty-three members attended the Reunion held at Hocking Hills this past May. We began our event with lunch at the Hocking Hills Lodge and Conference Center followed by our Chambers Chapter business meeting. A State Ranger treated us to a talk about barn owls. The highlight of his presentation happened when he took ‘Owl Capone’, a rescued barn owl, from his cage and placed him on his arm. He was fascinating.

The next adventure took place at the Hocking Hills Winery. We tried a few local wines and enjoyed slushies as well.

We had a lovely dinner at the Millstone BBQ where we all ate too much food and enjoyed each other’s company. We headed back to our hotel and for an evening of games and socializing. For future reference, Tony Delisio cheats at Spinner.

After breakfast at the hotel, we ventured to the Pencil Sharpener Museum and Butterfly Garden. Lunch was enjoyed at the Hungry Buffalo.

Special thanks goes out to Monica Turner for all her help in planning

this reunion!

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: LOU COX

BY DALE PACKER

Do you remember or did you know Lou Cox? Lou was my first supervisor when I began working as a professional YMCA Secretary (Director) in 1961 at the Dayton Central YMCA.

Lou was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and came to the United States during World War II. He was drafted into the army but was not allowed to serve in a combat role as an active soldier, so he became a Fitness Instructor training recruits.

After moving to Dayton Central YMCA, Lou for many years was the editor of the Physical Education Journal. One time, Lou went on vacation and asked me to approve the printing of the Journal so it could be mailed. I did, but one of the articles was about Saunas and I let it go as saunas. Certainly not my first mistake or my last.

Upon hiring a new supervisor, Harry Bradbury, Lou was asked to move his office to a new location which he resisted for some reason, so one evening Paul Atkinson and I moved Lou to his new office without his knowing it. He was not very receptive but worked from there.

Speaking of Paul, for some reason, Lou could not go home without writing a note to Paul, either about something he did wrong or something he did right. I never got a note from Lou and did not feel left out.

Lou made a great Old Fashioned when we visited him at home.

Photo: Lou Cox

DAVE PATTERSON

MEMBERSHIP REPORT; SURVEY RESULTS

Thank you to the 306 YMCA Alumni members who completed the 2025 Member Satisfaction Survey. Those respondents represent a 37 percent return of our primary members. The survey results have been shared with the National Board and will provide our Membership Development Team with valuable feedback to improve our programs and services.

Most respondents have been retired for a decade-plus (59 percent); members 6-9 years were next at 18 percent; 3-5 years at 14 percent, and 9 percent were relatively new retirees at less than 2 years. The time logged as membership in YMCA followed those numbers, though 13 percent were members for two years or less.

The top three reasons members joined were to stay connected with the YMCA (78 percent), fellowship with YMCA colleagues (77 percent), and to have fun (45 percent).

Members identified the top three benefits and programs they were aware of as the Emergency Assistance Fund/EAF (95 percent), YMCA Alumni Travel Club (95 percent), and the YMCA Alumni website (85 percent).

New members heard about us through a friend or current member (48 percent), through Y Retirement (34 percent), or were contacted by a YMCA Alumni chapter (28 percent).

How well does the organization meet needs and expectations? "Very satisfied" members checked in at 32 percent, "satisfied" members at 42 percent, and “Just OK” members at 22 percent.

The opportunity to serve others brought a 36 percent rate of “very satisfied", 35 percent “satisfied,” “Just OK,” 25 percent." Some 53 percent would likely recommend YMCA Alumni to others, 35 percent are likely to do so, while only 8 percent were unsure.

MIKE LIEBER

SPIRITUAL MOMENT: 'SUMMER AT THE Y

I loved the start of summer at the Y. It meant new energetic counselors in the building, new equally energetic kids for summer camp and new adults who worked but had the summer free. All would be generating excitement and new adventures for the YMCA.

It also required a different patience as we experienced new people in our building as we adjusted to this new norm. I ran across something the other day that would have been beneficial had I used it then. So, I share it with you now, hoping you and I can still benefit.

God is saying to you today,

Remember these 4 things:

I will make a way for you!

I'm fighting your battles!

I will provide for you!

Trust my timing!

WAYNE UHRIG

ISC: UPDATES AND TRAVELING

Here are a few updates from the YMCA Alumni International Service Corps (ISC). We have a signed agreement for Alena Welker, Laura Kamperman, and Kim Decker who will be traveling to Stary Plzenec, outside of Prague, Czech Republic, the home of Alena Welker, to work at their camp for 9 to 14-year-olds for five days. The theme is Sherlock Holmes! We will provide an update after they return.

I also have plans to recruit volunteers to go back to Tijuana, Mexico, to work on one of their buildings (full facility Sports Center), as well as provide marketing and program development training for their staff. As part of the Border Coalition between the YMCA of San Diego County, YMCA of Los Angeles, and the YMCA of Tijuana, we will work together to move this Y forward. They have a lot of needs, and we want to work with them over the next few years. We also are working with Oscar Velazquez, General Secretary for YMCA Mexico.

Our last project is with the YMCA in the Dominican Republic. While traveling in May with the New England Chapter, I met with Andres Fortunato, director of the YMCA, about their needs. In short, I am searching for unused computers and laptops to send to them for their children to use. They have a technician who can make it happen. My goal is to get 30 laptops and I will send them once I reach our goal. They also need someone who can teach ESL, and professional support to help move their aquatic department forward.

Contact me by email or call (740) 398-2830 if you'd like to participate.

TONY DELISIO

YMCA WORLD SERVICE SPECIAL REPORT

“The measure of love is to love without measure.”

--St. Frances de Sales

Thank you for your generous support of YMCA World Service and for “loving without measure." Thanks to you and others like you, YMCAs in more than 100 countries help people reach their full potential and create a better future for themselves and their communities. As YMCA Alumni, no one understands the YMCA’s impact better than you do.

It is with heartfelt appreciation that we thank you for your continued support of the Global YMCA Movement. To date, eight Chambers Chapter members contributed $2,050 to World Service in 2025. Total YMCA Alumni Giving stands at $82,445 and overall, $1,263,918 has been raised in cash and pledges for World Service so far this year.

In our effort to keep you better informed of all things World Service, I would like to share this World Service linktree with you.

This page has access to many useful links, including the World Service Annual Report, the donate and pledge links, the World Service video, and much more!

Once again, thank you for your support of World Service. It truly transforms lives. For those of you who have not given yet this year, we hope you will join your friends in supporting World Service in 2025.

Thank you for Changing the World for Good!

STEVE GUNN

NATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT

I am so happy to report about our National Service Project in Dupree, SD.

Here is where we are to date:

- Sheet rock and prime painting is nearly complete

- Windows and doors are installed and trimmed out

- Fixtures including lights, and some appliances moving well

- All flooring has been installed and the kitchen cabinets are installed in the West home

- The loft ladders are complete and being installed

- Exterior features include all siding installed, grass seed and mulch is down

Here is where we are going:

- Plumbing and electrical features need to be completed

- Finish interior final finishes including finish paint and stain

- Finish installation of all appliances and Turn-on of HVAC equipment (already installed)

We still need help in Wave three – Sept. 9-16. See our National Service Project website to get involved.

Lastly, you soon will be seeing the final plans for the Twig (small YMCA Branch) that will be located in La Plant, SD. As you know, this is a much needed "Branch" operation that will be used for programs, Arts and Crafts, and other community needs. Thank you, Chambers Chapter, for allowing me to serve on this project.

You are invited to the celebration weekend for completion of the first phase of the project – four tiny homes in Morning Star Village. You should have received your invitation in snail mail.

BILL MCALLISTER

HISTORY: THE YMCA TRIANGLE

Luther Halsey Gulick was born in Honolulu in 1865 of a missionary family who travelled the world.

He attended Oberlin College. Upon reading a chapter titled “What a Gymnasium Might Be and Do’ in a book titled “How to Get Strong and How to Stay So” he left Oberlin to attend the Sargent School of Physical Training at Cambridge, MA. After being in Cambridge only six months, he became gymnasium superintendent of the Jackson, Michigan YMCA in April 1886. Later that year, he enrolled in the medical school at New York University where he received his MD degree in March of 1889.

He spent 16 years as the first secretary for physical work for the YMCA International Committee and 13 concurrent years at Springfield College. It was during this time that he developed his principles of “man’s essential unity, body, mind, and spirit, each being a necessary and eternal part of man, he being neither one alone, but the three”, which he presented in an address before the Convention of YMCAs in 1891. He believed in the “unity, symmetry, and development of the perfect man” that “involves an equally intimate relation between all of the several departments of YMCA work.”

To symbolize these ideas Gulick devised the inverted triangle. He said, “The triangle stands not for body or mind or spirit, but for the man as a whole. It does not aim to express these distinct divisions, but to indicate that the individual, while he may have different aspects, is a unit.”

While at Springfield College, Gulick worked with an instructor named James Naismith. Gulick assigned Naismith to “invent” an indoor game as a substitute for football. Basketball was invented in 1891.

Gulick and his wife Emily founded Camp Fire Girls, now known as Camp Fire.

Luther Gulick died in 1918 at age 52.

KEITH LANDS

SUPPORTING OUR COLLEAGUES

The Emergency Assistance Fund is making a difference in the lives of our colleagues in times of need. By supporting EAF, you can be a part of helping in challenging times. The need for assistance for YMCA colleagues never ends because of natural disasters or personal calamities.

In 2024 the Chambers Chapter was generous enough to donate $4,460 to the EAF. Our goal for 2025 is to donate $4,800 to help those in need.

You can make a safe, secure donation online by clicking the blue button below.

Or, send a check to:

Emergency Assistance Fund

c/o YMCA of the USA – Financial Development

101 N. Upper Wacker Dr., 16th Floor

Chicago, IL 60606

Be sure to indicate that your gift is from the Chambers Chapter so we get the proper recognition.

DONATE ONLINE

(Photo: See the incredible "Christ The Redeemer" -- a "Wonder of the Modern World" in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on our So. America Getaway.)

2025-2026 AVAILABLE ADVENTURES

YMCA ALUMNI TRAVEL CLUB

YMCA Alumni members may now access all trips and other opportunities through YMCA Alumni's new expanded partnership with Go Travel. Our YMCA Alumni/Go Travel agents can also advise and book chapter events, your personal travel, help plan and book family reunions and much more. Visit the Travel Club webpage by clicking the button below.

COMING UP:

Oct. 14-22, 2025

South America Getaway to Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires air and motor coach with Globus Tours.

Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2025:

Ancient Adriatic Treasures cruise on the brand new Viking Vesta ocean ship.

June 5-12 2026:

Alaska: The Last Frontier cruise on Celebrity Edge.

NEW:

Sept. 9-19, 2026

Classic Canada and New England cruise aboard the Majestic Princess.

Visit our YMCA Alumni Facebook page every Travel Tuesday.

YMCA Alumni members, family and referred friends are always welcome on our Travel Club Adventures. Be sure to call our Go Travel partners at (407) 774-2229) for all your individual and family travel planning and booking. Be sure to ID yourself as a YMCA Alumni member.

SUE SMITH

AN EDITOR'S NOTE

The sun is shining and it finally feels like summer is here. I was just thinking the other day about how the start of summer at the Y always had a special feel.

Then I read Lowell and Mike’s articles and realized that I’m not the only one! I hope it brought back some of those memories for you too.

Day Camp was always a ton of work, but seeing those smiling faces made it all worthwhile. Even though we breathed a collective sigh of relief at the end of the season, I was always a little sad to see camp end. The outdoor pool was the same way, tons of work, lots of scrapes and bruises but it was worth it. No matter what program it was, I remember spending weeks getting ready and then it felt like it was over in a flash.

Most of all I remember the energy of all the extra staff, the laughter of the kids, the chaos in the building and just knowing that we were changing the world for the better. Take a minute and just close your eyes and remember those days. I know it makes me smile. Have a great summer!