BOB McDOWELL

FROM THE PRESIDENT

Hello Again, Central Atlantic YMCA Retirees: I am writing to you on this chilly day here in Doylestown. I am sure that you all want the warmer weather we have experienced a few times this spring to stick around. My winter has been filled with my PA announcing duties for YMCA, High School, College, and National Swimming and Diving Meets. 

Karen and I just returned from Greensboro, NC, where 1,280 YMCA Youth Athletes from 181 YMCA Teams coached by 315 caring adults participated in the 104th edition of the YMCA Swimming Championships March 30 - April 3. It was my 20th year participating as a volunteer meet announcer for the event. Over 2,000 spectators filled the Greensboro Aquatic Center on each of the 5 days of competition. More than 145 other volunteers planned prior to and participated during the event as officials, timers, and other support workers. 

Prior to each session starting, an athlete shared a reflection, the National Anthem was either played or sung by an athlete, and other recognitions took place throughout the week that recognized scholar athletes, voluntarism, and coaches. The event has been and continues to celebrate our Movement, focusing on thousands of youths. Competitive Swimming and Diving truly exemplifies our organization’s Youth Development emphasis. My heart is always warmed by the youth who are involved with our Y programs. As a retiree, I encourage you to volunteer and be active with your local Y or any other youth or senior serving organization that you find meaningful for others.

Our chapter remains engaged and will continue to offer opportunities for members to connect, network, and interact. Our first event will take place at the beautiful Morris Arboretum in Chestnut Hill, PA. After a guided tour, we will join for lunch at a local restaurant. The event is scheduled for May 7 (see details on how to register in this newsletter). 

On June 17th, Joyce and Len Wilson will again open their beautiful Jersey Shore home in Strathmere for a time of fellowship and activity. Other chapter activities are being planned, so stay tuned. In the Fall, our chapter will again co-sponsor, with the New England and the McBurney-Morse Chapters, a time to get away for learning, socializing, and relaxing on Cape Cod Oct. 6 – 8. Details will follow.

Finally, please join me in welcoming our newest members: Phillip and Susan Tipton from Myerstown, PA; Hector Barragen from Annapolis, MD; and Carol Ann Jordan from Frederick, MD.  

I am looking forward to seeing you all at one of our upcoming events, and please feel free to reach out to me directly via cell 203-943-2305 or rcmcdowellsr@gmail.com with questions/suggestions!

Bob

Bob McDowell, President,

Central Atlantic YMCA Alumni

COMING SOON:

MORRIS ARBORETUM; DAY AT THE BEACH

MORRIS ARBORETUM: Join us Thursday, May 7 at Morris Arboretum, 100 Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. Plan to arrive by 10 a.m. We will be taking the Garden Highlights Tour at 10:15 a.m. sharp. The tour is 60 minutes and includes plants, trees, art and garden features with some of the history of the arboretum. The cost, which includes admission and the tour, is just $23 per person. Electric scooters and wheelchairs are available on a first come basis.

After the tour, you will have time to further explore the arboretum. We have a reservation at The Fort Kitchen and Bar for lunch at 1 p.m., ordering off the large group menu. The restaurant is located at 325 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington. PA and is 10 minutes from the Arboretum. 

RSVP to Cathy Fromm by April 20, 2026.

A DAY AT THE BEACH: Join us in kicking off summer at Len and Joyce’s summer home in Strathmere, New Jersey June 17 with a rain date of June 18.  

Plan to be in Strathmere, NJ (you pass it on the way to Cape May) and enjoy lunch at the shore with your chapter friends. Come early, for they have great, beautiful sunrises and/or stay late and enjoy the sunsets. But make certain you are there for the seafood, salads and homemade desserts. We're sure it won't rain, but try to keep the next day open on your calendar, just in case. More details to follow.

In 2024, EAF provided 589 grants totaling $638,000. This was the most that was ever granted, due to the great needs following several devastating hurricanes. 2025 wasn’t a picnic either; there were 23 separate weather and climate disasters, each causing over $1 billion in damages, marking the third-highest year on record for such events. Unfortunately, many YMCA staff and Alumni were affected, especially in the LA wildfires (photo). That $638,000 from 2024 came from us for us.  So, do your bit and click the button below to make your donation. The life you save could be your own.

CATCHING UP WITH OUR MEMBERS

The Wilsons head to Boston and the "Amazing Clothes Drive:" Len and Joyce recently traveled on Amtrak to Boston to view a special Winslow Homer exhibition. They also recommend the Glass Flower exhibit at Harvard and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, with its wonderful garden and many rooms filled with art treasures. To them, it was worth the trip. 

The response to the Wilson's request for clothing donations at our Christmas Luncheon was a huge success. Their church in the center city, which houses a homeless center, is undergoing a massive restoration of the roof, spire, and siding, necessitating scaffolding around the building. They recently climbed up the many stairs and ladders to reach and touch the cross at the top of the spire. Towering over the center city, the cross, which also needs repair, stands as a blessing for the services provided. Read about their church and what it does for the homeless by clicking HERE.

Wendy Fox, Gardener Extraordinaire: If it’s March, you can always find Wendy Fox at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Wendy is not only a Master Gardner, Show Judge, garden club mentor, she is also a participant. This year she took first place for her entry in the Quadrant Category using only dried plant material. Wendy also received a Special Achievement Award from the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania. Congratulations Wendy!

David and Maura Stevenson are so busy they don’t know how they fit work in: David and Maura have really settled into retirement, where they spend lots of time with their children and grandchildren. (They are wicked cute!) Maura is a volunteer docent at the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring, MD and keeps busy with art projects, workouts, and pickleball. David also plays pickleball, swims regularly, coaches a girls’ 7th-grade basketball team, and makes time to raise money for YMCA World Service, which is so desperately needed these days. 

WHERE IN THE WORLD ARE OUR MEMBERS?

Cruisin’ Around: We have the Golf Guys, and now we have the Cruisin’ Guys and Gals. Ken and Chris White, along with Bill Cameron and Bob Hastedt  took a trip to the Bahamas on Norwegian Cruise Lines Breakaway in March. Bill’s son Matthew and friends of the Whites, John and Sandy DeMuth, joined them. John was Ken’s roommate in college.

The ship is based at Port Canaveral, FL, and before the cruise, the gang had a St Paddy’s Day lunch on the pier at Grills with Mary and Chuck East, who live in Stuart, along with Susie Williams, who worked for Ken in the '70s in Alexandria, VA. 

Debbi and Carl Zvanut escape to sunny Florida: In February, the Zvanuts headed to Sanibel island for a week in the sun, birding at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge, eating seafood, walking the beach, cycling from one end of the island to the other, and most importantly, to shell. (In this context, it's a verb meaning to bend at the waist and search the sand for interesting seashells.)

Deb came back with about a pound of shells: Scallops, Augers and Cocinas. They attended the world's largest Shell Show. There were all sorts of shell creations: shell photos, shell weavings, and shell-stained glass. Debbi's favorite was the stunning Sailors Valentines. These are shell creations under glass, allegedly made by sailors to the Caribbean to bring home to their wives and girlfriends. Both recommend the beauty of Sanibel beaches to any beachcomber who comes to enjoy a warm winter's day.

MEET THE TIPTONS; OUR NEW MEMBERS

Since retiring at the beginning of January, new chapter members Phil and Susan Tipton have embraced a life of movement and discovery. Phil served as the CEO of the Lebanon Valley YMCA and wasted no time in continuing the YMCA Mission with their travels. Most recently, they returned from a five-week stay in Costa Rica, where they had the opportunity to work on an organic farm near Grecia —an experience that proved both rewarding and unforgettable.

They learned a great deal about sustainable farming. Days were filled with hands-on work, from clipping coffee bushes and tending citrus trees to preparing avocado trees for the upcoming season. One of the highlights was harvesting crops like sweet potatoes and mangoes, giving us a deeper appreciation for the effort that goes into the food we enjoy.

Now, the Tipton’s are preparing for their next adventure: a two-month journey to Alaska, where they will be helping at a small bed and breakfast. Phil and Susan are looking forward to continuing this chapter of exploration—learning new skills, meeting people from around the world, and growing through each new experience.

GO SEE, GO DO, GO TRAVEL

EXPERIENCE THE BEST OF SPAIN

OCT. 4 - 13, 2026

Embark on an unforgettable guided luxury motor coach tour through the marvelous cities of Madrid, Seville, Granada, Valencia, and Barcelona, all while enjoying the benefit of the “All-In-Inclusive” advantage of C.I.E. tours. 

Our YMCA Alumni trip covers 9 days, 8 nights, and includes 13 meals. Your luggage is taken care of from the coach to your hotel and back each day. Cost: $3,395 pp.

CHAPTER LEADERS

President: Bob McDowell

Co-Chair: Vacant

Vice President/Membership: Cathy Fromm

Vice President/Programs: Vacant

Secretary: Veronica Elias

Treasurer: Betteann Kramer

Clippings Editor: Jude Gallaher

EAF: Hank Van Zanten

ISC/World Service: Debbi Zvanut

Member-at-Large: Rich Curl

Member-at-Large: Alane McCahey

Past President: Len Wilson 

Click on name in red to send email

Clippings is produced for the Central Atlantic Chapter

by craig altschul + associates.

The mission of YMCA Alumni is "to enable members to promote a nurturing worldwide Christian Fellowship that provides educational, social, service and charitable opportunities."

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