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PHILL MORGAN
FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Many YMCA Alumni chapters have spring gatherings planned. Check the events list in the story below.
Following retirement, my wife Marti and I attended our first chapter gathering. We quickly discovered that many of the people we met were from other states, and we never crossed paths with them or their spouses during my Y career.
We were welcomed by our new friends and enjoyed seeing other friends. Attending our YMCA Alumni chapter gatherings is now automatic and something we look forward to every year.
If you hesitate to attend your chapter gathering, please reconsider. Any barriers you may think of (cost, how I would get there, or I do not know anyone attending), may change after talking with chapter leadership.
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We're busy with family, community involvement, and fun activities (playing tennis and pickleball - me). Marti has a book club, Mahjong, and takes classes at the Y. We both have church activities.
However, the relationships we experience among YMCA Alumni members are strong and bind us together as long-lasting friends. Consider coming to a gathering or a nearby luncheon. Re-connect with friends and make new friends.
Try it…you’ll like it!
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HERE'S WHAT'S COMING UP
IN 'ALUMNILAND' THIS SPRINGTIME
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APRIL
7: Upper Midwest Chapter World Service Call Day, St. Paul, MN
11: Lyon Chapter Connections with Pilgrim Place Neighbors, Claremont, CA
14-15: Schreiner Chapter Spring Gathering, College Station, TX
23: Messer-Brandenburg Chapter, Tour Cultural Center, Chicago, IL
23-24: Mott Chapter Spring Meeting, Fairfield, IA
| Visit our website for our full, up-to-date. Chapter and National Events Calendar. | |  | |
MAY
1-3: Greater Ozark Chapter Spring Retreat, Branson, MO
6-9: Allen-Stone Chapter Shakespeare Festival, Ashland, OR
14: New England Chapter, Tour American Heritage Museum, Hudson, MA
20-21: Chambers Chapter Spring Reunion, Youngstown, OH
JUNE
8: New England Chapter, Sharing The Harvest Farm, Dartmouth, MA
23: Upper Midwest Chapter Summer Picnic, Lone Lake Park, Minnetonka, MN
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'MAKING THE RIGHT TRAVEL CHOICES'
PERSPECTIVE SPRING ISSUE ARRIVES APRIL 15; 'OH, THE PLACES YOU'LL GO'
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Watch your email inbox for the informative and fun Spring 2026 issue of PERSPECTIVE, E-Zine of YMCA Alumni.
“Making the Right Travel Choices” is the theme, and it arrives just in time for you to plan your summer, fall, and future travel to lands close by and far away.
“The most memorable travel stories rarely happen by accident," writes Julia Reviczky, Go Travel Vice President, in our cover story. "They come from thoughtful decisions: choosing the right pace, the right companions, and, sometimes, the right moment.”
From there, Phil Wortman reflects on “32 years, four motor homes, and more than 300,000 RVing miles” logged with his wife, Gail. Thinking about that RV travelstyle? Here’s how they did it.
We asked six well-traveled YMCA Alumni couples to tell us about their favorite trips since retiring. You might want to duplicate one or two of them yourselves.
A very special story by Don Anderson asks us to “Open Up Our Comfort Zone: Paris or Palawan?” You may get fired up to head to “faraway places with strange sounding names” after you read his story of service and adventure, with plenty of suggestions to stay safe, healthy, and fulfilled along the way.
There’s much more, too: A story about the origins and growth of the YMCA Alumni Travel Club by Editor Craig Altschul; where to combine a really fun event with a vacation by Managing Editor Peggi Simmons; and, a whole bunch of tips to make travel fun, safe, and memorable by Bob Cook, YMCA Alumni’s favorite travel guru and Go Travel’s National Sales Director..
The issue will arrive in your email box on April 15 (a relief from Tax Day) in both fun-to-read e-zine (flipbook) and PDF formats. You will also find it on our “Newsletters and More” page of our YMCA Alumni website, residing there until our summer edition in August, themed “Service – So Many Ways.”
'Til then, as the venerable Dr. Seuss puts it: “Oh, the places you'll go!”
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YMCA ALUMNI REUNION '27
WE'VE GOT A DATE IN KANSAS CITY
JUNE 16-19, 2027
| | This month, we take a look at some of KC's "Iconic Eats" waiting for us. Hint: It's not only BBQ. Just click the small black arrow in the center of the image above. Watch this space, Facebook, your chapter newsletters, and the front page of our website for details as they are developed by the Planning Committee. | | |
MEMORY LANE
WITH BILL MOSS
A BIRTHDAY TO REMEMBER
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It was my 55th birthday, and I was sitting across the desk from Betsy Dean in her office. Betsy was the Executive Director of our Norwich Branch.
This was Betsy's last day in the office before going on maternity leave. I was taking notes on things I would cover for her while she was gone.
In the middle of our session, Betsy suddenly got a surprised look on her face. I asked, "What's the matter?" She said, "My water just broke, I've got to get to the hospital!"
At that moment, we dropped everything to address Betsy's emergency. On the way out the door, we instructed her secretary to call Betsy's husband and tell him I was driving her to the hospital in New London.
We got to the hospital in record time, checked her in, and I waited for her husband to arrive. I don't remember how long it took him to drive to New London (he was Assistant Athletic Director at Yale University in New Haven), but I'm surprised he didn't get a ticket.
All I remember is that his daughter got there before he did.
That baby would be 33 years old today.
| | Bill Moss is a member of the Grand Canyon Chapter, serves on the National Service Project Standing Committee and was editor of this newsletter when it was known as "The Old Guard News." Bill was a nominee for the 2025 F. William Stahl Award. | | |
HERE'S HOW:
SHARE 'THE CONNECTION' AND MORE
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Some members have asked why we only send The Connection and chapter newsletters to primary members, not spouses and significant others, who may or may not want to receive them.
There are several good reasons. The first is financial. Bulk email marketing is not free by any means. If we were to send emails to primary members and spouses, our costs would double. While we periodically look at the options, there are other, far less costly ways to share.
Here’s the easiest way: Simply forward your newsletter to another family member when it arrives.
Or, by clicking the button below to the “Newsletters and More” page on our website, you and/or your spouse or other family member will be able to click to The Connection, Perspective E-zine in both flip book and PDF formats, and all chapter newsletters.
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CLASSIC CANADA AND NEW ENGLAND
SEPTEMBER 13 - 23, 2026 -- GREAT PRICE!
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A colorful 10-day YMCA Alumni fall cruise along Eastern Canada and New England's Atlantic Coast for some unforgettable leaf-peeping and ocean scenery. Our cruise aboard the Sapphire Princess begins in Quebec City -- Le Bijou Boréal (The Boréal Jewel), and ends in historic Boston, MA. Your YMCA Alumni hosts are Patrick and Jan Murphy of the Schreiner Chapter.
Check out the pricing: Princess is charging $3,899 pp for a balcony stateroom. Our Go Travel/YMCA Alumni price is $2,359 pp, more than a $1,500 pp savings! Limited space remains available.
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More than 25 volunteers plan to head back to the Dominican Republic on YMCA Alumni’s longest-running service project, May 20-27 for the 15th year, sponsored by the New England Chapter.
They’ll replace run-down shacks (above photo) and build the project’s 23rd and 24th homes made of concrete block with concrete floors for two more deserving families. This year’s volunteers, who pay their own airfare, hotel, and most expenses, include New England and other chapter members, volunteers from the Hartford YMCA ‘s Camp Woodstock, the Hartford Y CEO and his son, and others.
A few volunteer slots remain. Interested? Contact Lou Falk.
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What’s in a (chapter) name? Do you know who the Chambers Chapter namesake is? OK, we’ll tell you.
It’s William S. Chambers. Bill began his Y career in Chicago, headed to Minneapolis, and then on to the Ohio State Y staff. He retired in 1953, but “YMCA Alumni-like,” became executive of the Employed Officers Alliance (forerunner of EAF) and taught at George Williams College.
Said those who knew him, “his enthusiasm was contagious.” Bill died in 1973.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
YMCA ALUMNI
| | THE CONNECTION is written, edited and produced by craig altschul + associates (ca+a). It is published 12 times yearly. Next issue: May 2, 2026. | | OUR MISSION: To provide opportunities for members to Connect, Travel, and Serve while nurturing worldwide Christian fellowship. | | IMPORTANT NOTE: Please think twice when unsubscribing to any unsolicited email. If it has been sent to you by Constant Contact, they are not allowed, by law, to send any more emails to you, 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 you have accidentally unsubscribed and we will try to reinstate you. --editor | | | |
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