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INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CORPS
BEGINS FUND DRIVE FOR PROGRAMS
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Our YMCA Alumni International Service Corps (ISC) current support campaign begins today and runs through Nov. 30, 2026.
Your financial support helps us develop and expand international service opportunities; provide resources and training for volunteers and YMCA partners; foster global friendships and cultural understanding; respond to requests from YMCAs seeking expertise and guidance; and create meaningful service experiences for our members.
The funds raised cover many of the travel costs for our members serving YMCAs across the globe. We like to refer to ISC as a “WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY,” as it offers our YMCA Alumni members opportunities to share their talent, experience, and passion with YMCA communities around the world.
Please take just a moment to view our short video and allow me to explain why it’s so important for our members to support this key YMCA Alumni program. Click the small arrow in the image above this story.
It is quick, safe, and easy to donate online. Just click the button below. (https://www.ymcaalumni.org/donate), Then scroll down to the donor forms and click the International Service Corps tab. Complete the form and make the online payment, then be sure to hit “submit.” Or, if you’d prefer to donate by check, watch for our “snail mail” packet to arrive in your mailbox. Then, just use the remittance envelope, add a postage stamp, and send us your check payable to YMCA Alumni (include ISC on the memo line).
Thank you for considering your gift to ISC. It is indeed a program offering "A WORLD OF OPPORTUNITY."
| | YMCA Alumni Hall of Fame inductees Don Anderson, Dave Thornton, Lynne Vaughan, and Bill Stahl. | | |
PHILL MORGAN
FROM THE PRESIDENT
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Six contemporary and five historic inductees will enter the National YMCA Hall of Fame of Springfield College Class of 2026. Included in this esteemed group of inductees are three members of YMCA Alumni and a fourth with a close historic connection.
Here are some tidbits about our YMCA Alumni colleagues when they first started with the Y as professional staff.
Don Anderson (Allen-Stone Chapter) began his Y career as a Program Director at the East Valley Family Branch of the Los Angeles YMCA in 1968. He felt really great to finally get started with a Y career. His work colleague with an office down the hall was Craig Altschul.
Lynne Vaughan (Grand Canyon Chapter) began her professional Y career as a Physical Director with the Y Center of Battle Creek, MI in 1980. Lynne was glad to have a job, and being at a director’s level meant something. Then came the learning. Little did she know what the future would bring.
David Thornton (McCoy Chapter) began his Y career as a Program Director in the Clubs/Camp Dept. at the Palo Alto YMCA in California in 1975. Happy to get the job. He found the Y. He says, “It was a miracle.”
And Bill Stahl began his Y career as the Metro Director of Public Relations for the Pittsburgh YMCA in 1929. The F. William Stahl Award for excellence in writing is awarded by YMCA Alumni every 2-3 years.
Until next time,
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'BRIDGES' NOW JUST A CLICK AWAY
WORLD RETIREES NEWS IS NOW HERE
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I’m excited to announce that beginning in this issue of The Connection, all YMCA Alumni members can now access BRIDGES, the newsletter of the World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (WFYR).
Just click on the link below to enjoy the jam-packed Summer issue, with news of the organization’s just-developed strategic priorities for 2026-2030, as well as lots of stories and photos from the WFYR World Conference held in Toronto in July in conjunction with the World Council.
We thank YMCA Alumni for helping to expand BRIDGES' reach to all members. BRIDGES has been a much-anticipated newsletter for Y retiree groups and individuals worldwide. It has been developed, nurtured, and edited for more than two decades by YMCA Alumni’s Len and Joyce Wilson. They stepped down from the role earlier this summer to many, many well-deserved “Thank You’s.” The new editors – Craig Altschul and Peggi Simmons – are well-known to all of you. This is their first issue.
BRIDGES will appear here in The CONNECTION quarterly, with future issues in November, January, April, and July. Versions in six languages (English, Spanish, German, Japanese, French, and Chinese) are easily accessible with link buttons at the top.
If you would still like to receive BRIDGES directly in your email inbox, please send us an email request by clicking HERE.
Our worldwide colleagues and friends are now just a click away. Enjoy.
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Helene Weir, Chair,
World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (WFYR)
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JUNE 16-19, 2027. REGISTRATION IS OPEN
Click the arrow in the above image to preview a visit to Kansas City's famed World War I Museum and Monument. The fascinating history museum is one of our special reunion tour options.
We're staying at the Embassy Suites Hotel by Hilton, just 4 miles from the airport, with a free 24-hour shuttle. Registration is now open.
CLICK THE BUTTON BELOW TO REGISTER AND SEE ALL REUNION COSTS AND INCLUSIONS AND TO REGISTER.
Yes, you've got a date in Kansas City.
| | STAHL AWARD NOMINEES OPENS TO BE PRESENTED AT 2027 REUNION | | |
YMCA Alumni presents an award approximately every three years to recognize one of our members who has made an outstanding contribution to our membership through the written word.
The award honors the late F. William Stahl of the Baltimore YMCA, who edited several publications for YMCA professionals, including FORUM, the predecessor to PERSPECTIVE Journal. Stahl will be inducted posthumously into the YMCA Hall of Fame later this month.
The Selection Committee is now inviting YMCA Alumni members (chapters or individuals) to nominate a candidate for the 2027 Stahl Award, which will be presented at the YMCA Alumni Reunion in Kansas City in June 2027. Both living and deceased former YMCA staff are eligible to be nominated. If living, they must be a current YMCA Alumni member.
The selection criteria stipulate that the award recipient must have made a significant contribution to inspiring YMCA retirees through written expression, which was Bill’s greatest area of contribution.
Examples of such written expression are communications, articles in YMCA Alumni publications such as PERSPECTIVE e-zine, other media, books, or historical papers.
The entry (a single publication, article, or body of work) must be produced exclusively while an active member of YMCA Alumni or its predecessor retiree organizations.
Nominators (chapter presidents or individuals) are expected to demonstrate how the work(s) fulfill those criteria and provide sample(s) of the work. The deadline for submissions is Jan. 1, 2027.
Email either co-chair Len Wilson or Nancy Reece for a nomination form and instructions.
Click the button below for a listing of all 28 Stahl Award recipients since the award was established in 1975.
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MEMORY LANE
with Bill Moss
Just another 'Downtown Y day'
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Chuck Swineford and I used to run after lunch three days a week. On one particular day, I had something to do and only ran partway before returning to the office. Chuck continued on his own.
When he returned, he came directly to my office and said, "Have you heard about the sniper?" My answer was, "Sniper? No." He went on to tell me how, on his way back to the Y, he kept passing police cars with officers crouched behind open car doors, yelling to him to get off the street.
As it turned out, there was some nut with a .22 rifle at the top of First National Bank's Parking Garage (which was adjacent to the Y parking lot) shooting at anything that moved down below.
When we looked out our windows, we saw that the police had set up barricades on First and Second Avenues, north and south of our building. The officers were reluctant to go into the parking garage as they were likely waiting for the sniper to run out of ammunition.
One of our staffers, Cliff Rupp, was a retired gentleman who worked part-time (11 a.m. to 4 p.m) behind our Health Club desk. His wife drove him to and from work every day, dropping him off and picking him up at our Y entrance.
This day was no exception. Sharply at 4 p.m., she came driving north on First Avenue, swerving around the police barricades, past our building, pulled a U-turn, and parked at the curb at our front door. Cliff trotted down the sidewalk to her car and got in just like he did every other day.
Mrs. Rupp pulled away from the curb, swerved through the barricades once again, and drove Cliff home, same as always. The cadre of cops stood there scratching their heads with looks of amazement on their faces. They couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.
The sniper finally ran out of ammo around 5 p.m., and the cops went up and arrested him.
Just another typical day at a Downtown YMCA.
| | 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. | | |
CHAPTER CHECK-IN:
A So. California Picnic for the Lyons
| | It was backyard picnic time for the Lyon Chapter in So. California, but the extra-hot day meant heading into the air conditioning at hosts Phyllis and Jim Murphy's home in Upland. Photos: Top row-- Chapter members enjoying the get-together; Jim and Phyllis; Bob and Monica Warnock. Bottom row: L-R: Paul Andresen and Vivian Brown; John and Susan Green. | | THE UPPER MIDWEST ZOOM ROOMS | | |
That program innovation, called “Zoom Rooms,” has become a feature for members of the Upper Midwest Chapter.
Coming up on Wednesday, Sept. 23, from 1-3 p.m. is a program presented by former Jerusalem International YMCA CEO Mike Bussey titled “The Holy Land Today: Understanding and Respecting Both Sides of the Israeli/ Palestinian Conflict.”
Next up on Oct. 6 from 10-11 a.m. is a presentation by St. Croix Hospital’s Brandi Campbell titled “Aging Resources: Preparing Well for the Days Ahead.”
Want to head into the Upper Midwest Zoom Rooms? Contact Yvonne Anderson for a link.
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"Peter Dinsdale, President and CEO of YMCA Canada, is stepping down after 10 years of stellar leadership,” says Barbara Grantham, YMCA Canada National Board Chair, in a letter to Canada YMCA Alumni members.
“Over the past decade, Peter and the team have advanced the YMCA in ways that will have a lasting impact.
“He often reminded us that
finding new ways of working with Indigenous communities ultimately makes the greatest difference,” she said.
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The YMCA is celebrating its 175th Anniversary at the Y-USA General Assembly this month.
Since the first U.S. YMCA in Boston in 1851, the Y has grown into one of the nation's most influential and enduring nonprofit organizations serving in more than 10,000 communities.
Throughout 2026, YMCAs
nationwide are hosting events and initiatives that spotlight the critical work happening today, from early learning and childcare to chronic disease prevention, mental health support, water safety, youth development programs, and more.
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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: October 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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