September 2026 * View as Webpage

LOWELL NEES

FROM OUR PRESIDENT

I am pleased to report actions taken at the most recent meeting of the Executive Committee of the YMCA Alumni William S. Chambers Chapter in support of the “Service” component of our mission.

The Committee elected to contribute $1,000 to the YMCA Alumni Annual Campaign. Our organization relies heavily on this campaign to supplement membership dues to support its activities. Contributions by individual members are also encouraged. You can add a contribution easily when you reconenct your membership later this year.

Another action of the Executive Committee was to donate $1,000 to the final phase of the National Service Project. This phase provides a program facility – a “Twig” or small Y branch – in the outlying community of La Plant, South Dakota. The first phase, completed in 2025, provided four tiny homes in Dupree, adjacent to the headquarters of the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires. The tiny homes are now occupied by four deserving single-parent families.

Earlier in the year, the Executive Committee approved $1,000 contributions to the YMCA World Service, Emergency Assistance Fund, and International Service Corps (ISC) as in past years. We hope that you take pride in being a member of the William S. Chambers Chapter for the role it plays in meeting the “Service” component of our mission.

If you have suggestions for how we can continue to meet our mission, please contact me or any member of the Executive Committee.

Lowell Nees, President, YMCA Alumni Chambers Chapter

RECOGNITION, CELEBRATION, APPRECIATION

Compiled by Mary Moomaw 

Milestone Birthdays*

Celebrating our members with “0 and 5” birthdays f

rom Jan. 1-Aug. 31, 2026

Berniece Bohren, 70 (July)

Kathy Kohl, 75 (April)

Ed Bohren, 70 (June)

Ginger O'Connor, 75 (April)

Phyllis Carney, 75 (March)

Michael O'Connor, 75 (June)

Dianne Clark, 70 (April)

David Patterson, 75 (February)

Ria D'Avria, 75 (May)

Bob Phipps, 75 (February)

Linda Day-Mackessy, 65 (August)

Wayne Uhrig, 70 (August)

Norma Fortune, 90 (May)

* The 7/10/2026 membership roster was used to compile this information. If someone is missing or you see an error, please contact Mary Moomaw.

A Legacy of Leadership in Central Ohio

Chambers Chapter members, Art Helldorfer and Steve Gunn, made a lasting impact on the YMCA of Central Ohio's highly acclaimed Housing Services Program.

Together, the team of Helldorfer (30 years) and Gunn (20 years) provided more than 50 years of leadership experience to the Y's signature Housing Services Program.

In 2023, as YMCA Alumni, Art and Steve served as "Boots on the Ground" volunteers in Dupree, SD, helping to build Tiny Homes for our National Service Project. Thank you, Art and Steve.

Connie and John Clark Celebrate 55 Years Wed

“It wasn’t love at first sight,” said Connie Clark about her husband, John, of 55 years. Those closest to Connie knew they were made for each other, but it took her a little longer to figure it out.

They met in college and became friends. Then over time Connie felt her feelings changing. After graduation as John was heading off for the military, he stopped by to see Connie and asked, “Wanna come?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Connie happily agreed, yet wanted to make sure they were on the same page by asking, “We’re getting married?” Five days later, 13 family members and close friends joined them for their wedding. And the rest is history.

Steve Toth Is beating Leukemia

Steve Toth worked for YMCAs in Ohio and Michigan for 17 years between 1976 and 1993. When he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in April 2024, he was told there was a 50 percent chance of living five years.

Steve underwent two stem cell transplants. The first one was only 85 percent successful, and his leukemia quickly came back. On Day 50 after his second transplant, a bone marrow biopsy showed 100 percent transformation. On May 15, 2031, five years after his successful transplant, Steve will be considered cured, and his medical team fully expects him to reach that goal.

On that day, Steve will ring the bell signifying his cancer-free status. 

In Memory of Elaine Bernard: Oct. 31, 1964-July 31, 2026

Elaine Barnard, 61, has passed away leaving a tremendous void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the many community organizations she served.

Her lifelong passion for community service began as a member of the Lake County YMCA Leaders Club, and she went on to serve as a SIT staff member, School Director, and in many other roles at the Great Lakes Leaders Training School. It was through Leaders that she learned the greatest gifts we can offer are our time, talent, and treasure. Elaine lived her life deeply rooted in the value of volunteerism and supported the YMCA throughout her life. You will be greatly missed, Elaine. To view Elaine’s obituary, click HERE.

INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT

MIKE LIEBER, SPIRITUAL LEAD

The recent rain in southeast Ohio brought monsoon rains followed by some of the worst flooding in a long time. In fact, the Buckeye Lake area had to be evacuated due to severe storms and subsequent flooding. (Photo: Buckeye Lake flooding, TV6)

And yet today, I sit on my patio, and the warmth of the sun has washed away all those raindrops. I feel the warmth of the sun and a sense of enrichment as the new day arrives.

Our God has a way of turning darkness into light, especially when we need to see a “new” day and feel uplifted by his grace. I was so uplifted today that I did some yard work; weeds will wait for no one. Okay, the nap followed quickly after that labor of love.

Isn’t that the way life is for all of us? We have our good days, but there are difficult ones. If we stay faithful and focused, God leads us to greener pastures and happier times. We realize that we are called to be the light for someone who is in the valley so that we can share our mountaintop experience.

In a few days, our Chambers Chapter will be having our fall reunion in Amish country. This is one of those times to renew old acquaintances and begin new friendships. Sharing with those we have missed all that has occurred since our last meeting and also listening to the opportunities our friends have had as retired YMCA employees. Our encouragement to you on this beautiful day: share your light with someone who is waiting for that warmth of a glowing sun.

“Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing

it is for the eyes to behold the sun." Ecclesiastes 11-7

MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS

BILLMcALLISTER, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR

We welcome the following new members to the Chambers Chapter.

Donna Angus – Washington, PA

Susan Boger – Troy, OH

Brent and Julie Finlay – Cincinnati, OH

Stephen Grill and Donna Villareal – Columbus, OH

Chris and Beth King – Ford City, PA

Paul Weber – see bio below

BY THE NUMBERS:

Membership Units and Retention Rates:

July 2024*: 107 units, 71 percent retention.

July 2025: 77 units, 70 percent retention.

July 2026: 76 units, 90 percent retention.

National Retention Rate: 81 percent.

(*Note: The July 2024 membership units of 107 are skewed by membership applications being widely distributed to current Y staff.)                                                               

MEMBER PROFILE IN THEIR WORDS

PAUL WEBER

I suppose my YMCA story is like many of yours; it's similar but with unique twists. I grew up with some unusual connections to the Y. He worked for Youngstown State University, and with the president's blessing, my father worked closely with the YMCA, assisting with facility issues. 

Occasionally, he would go down and help with building and grounds issues that the YMCA staff had encountered. He was also enrolled in the YMCA Retirement Fund, which was common at the time. Because of this relationship, my father and mother were both very supportive of our connections with the Y, as it kept us out of the house and off the streets and allowed us to experience activities like open swim, gym games, and swim and gymnastics lessons.

My oldest brother, Ben, became a YMCA director and began his career when I was 10. This encouraged me, and I became very active in Leaders Club, and then a lifeguard and swim instructor. The YMCA was there for me even when I was rebellious, was kicked out of my house, and needed a place to live. I lived for over a year at the YMCA and became an early-morning lifeguard.

Thankfully, I was surrounded by great role models like Dick Bennett Sr. I was also fortunate to have future CEO/YMCA leaders like Dick Bennett Jr., Rob O'Hara, and Tim Hilk, who were all going through high school or college as we grew up learning together, encountering and impacting each other along our career paths. 

I began my career in Youngstown and am so grateful that I had a cause-driven Y to build my foundation. From there, I went on to a position as an aquatic director in Wooster, Ohio, with Dave Patterson as a great supervisor and a committed YMCA leader. Having two wonderful experiences in my career was a great start. Next, I was off to the Greater Des Moines YMCA in Iowa as an Executive Director and then on to Austin, Texas. Austin is a long way from Youngstown, and like many of us, I needed to return home and assist my family. The same one I had rebelled against as a youth. 

Columbus was my chance to move closer to home, and thanks to John Bickley, Jan Fetters, and Jean Tom, I had more great experiences with YMCA leaders. In Columbus, I continued to grow, and between Columbus and Austin, I spent 25 years with the two Ys. From there, I moved to the CEO position in Springfield, OH, which reminded me quite a bit of Youngstown, with its blue-collar attitude and challenges.

That was a great, rewarding experience because of the changes we were able to make to position it as an attractive merger for Dayton upon my departure. In my final stop, I was fortunate enough to return to Northeast Ohio to work with Tim Hilk and Tiffany Fox, two colleagues I respect. Due to health issues, I had to cut that assignment short and decided to retire, thanks to our amazing Y Retirement.

Once I retired, I was able to lean into my recovery from hip surgeries and regain the mobility I needed. With that challenge behind me, I get to work out every day, volunteer, spend time with friends and family, and travel. I love engaging people as a Red Coat at Ohio State University, working in special events and stadium ushering, helping folks have a wonderful experience. I can also serve as an advocate for children as a Guardian ad Litem for CASA. 

I just want to thank the folks I mentioned above and all the YMCA directors I have worked with. Our relationships made me succeed and helped me raise dollars, impact lives, and hopefully helped folks have a relationship with a YMCA somewhere. 

Photo (circa 1950s) from Kautz Family YMCA Archives.

A BIT OF YMCA HISTORY:

Y-INDIAN GUIDES -- 'FRIENDS ALWAYS'

BILL McALLISTER, HISTORIAN

With the slogan, “Friends Always”, the first Y-Indian Guide Program was established at the St. Louis YMCA in 1926 to support parents’ vital role as teachers, counselors, and friends to their children.

Harold S Keltner, St. Louis Y Director, with the help of his good friend, Joe Friday, an Ojibway Indian, and William H. Hefelinger, chief of the first Y-Indian Guide tribe, designed the original Indian Guide program for fathers and sons.

In 1951, the Y-Indian Maiden program for mothers and daughters began in South Bend, Indiana. The father-daughter program of Y-Indian Princesses emerged in Fresno, California. Then in 1980, the Y-Indian Braves program for mothers and sons was recognized by the National Longhouse, the governing body for the national program.

The American Indian theme was adopted to highlight the significant contributions Native American people have made to our nation’s history and heritage. The teaching of values, attitudes, fitness and health, knowledge, and ethics is an integral part of the Indian way of life. American Indian culture provides the non-Indian parent with a common interest and a learning experience when working with his or her child. 

The genuine concern among Indian people for parental responsibility in teaching and guiding children to adulthood is a fine standard for all parents and children to live by.

(The above information is from “Friends Always-The NEW Y-Indian Guide Program Manual”, copyright 1988)

At its peak, the program engaged over half a million participants across the United States over a 77-year period.

The name of the program was changed to Adventure Guides in 2003 due to mounting criticism of the way indigenous Native Americans were being mischaracterized and marginalized.

In checking with YUSA on the program's national status, their latest record is from 2018, pre-pandemic, and they had 234 Ys reporting they were offering the program. Further online searching found that Adventure Guides programs are offered at Ys in Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Detroit, and Pittsburgh.

A couple of these Ys are still using the name Y-Guides and Y- Princesses. There is no mention of any link to Indians or Native Americans in any of the online information.

In 2024, the book “Inappropriation: The Contested Legacy of YMCA Indian Guides”, written by Paul Hillmer, history professor at Concordia University, and Ryan Bean of the Kautz Family YMCA Archives, was published. The authors claim that programs like Y Indian Guides “have been harmful by advancing narratives of Native Americans as a people of the past; they perpetuate colonialism, presenting no resistance to the appropriation of cultural heritage, and, importantly, denying Native people’s agency and identity in the present.” 

YMCA WORLD SERVICE

BY TONY DELISIO

“We must sow the seed, not hoard it.” -St. Dominic de Guzman

Thank you for “sowing the seed.” Your generous gifts to World Service help to extend the reach of the YMCA by supporting its life-changing work in communities across the globe. A large focus is on the needs of the next generation: what do youth need to reach their God-given potential? To that end, World Service engages young people today not so they can become the leaders of tomorrow, but so they can be the leaders of today. Think about this: George Williams was 22 years old when he founded the YMCA in 1844!

The YMCA is the YMCA, no matter where it operates around the world. And it is a family, a family that we all belong to. THANK YOU AGAIN for your support of YMCA World Service. To date, 16 Chambers Chapter members have contributed $3,380 to World Service in 2026. Total YMCA Alumni Giving from our 17 local chapters stands at $172,705. Overall, $1,537,911 has been raised for World Service so far this year.

One YMCA partner that I would like to highlight today is YMCA Lebanon. Even amid conflict, YMCA Lebanon is demonstrating how local relationships help communities stay connected and advance wellbeing. It has reached more than 1,200 people with safe places to heal, connect and rebuild trust. More than 700 young people participated in sports, hiking and wellbeing activities through their camps. Peace education also helped Lebanese, Syrian and migrant children build empathy and respect.

Once again, thank you for your support of World Service. It truly transforms lives. It’s also humbling to know that we are part of something much larger than ourselves. For those of you who have not yet given this year, we hope you will join your friends in supporting World Service in 2026. Be sure to check out the YMCA World Service Appeal Letter when it’s delivered to your home this September.



Thank you for Changing the World for Good!

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE CORPS (ISC)

FUND DRIVE AND MORE

BY WAYNE UHRIG

The annual funding drive to support YMCA Alumni members serving in YMCAs around the world is underway. Click HERE to donate.

ISC sent a second group of volunteers to the Czech Republic in August to work on camping and program development. We'll have their full report soon.

Lou Falk and I recently returned from the Salto, Uruguay, YMCA and concluded that they have a tremendous amount of work to do. We recommended that they start with community awareness. They also need funds for their facility and equipment, which are both seriously outdated and in poor condition. Both improvements will allow them to add more members and programs. A job description has been drafted for "next steps", and will be distributed to the full membership.

Bob Martin will continue to lead the fundraising efforts in Mexico City, and Debbi Zvanut and I will continue our work in Tijuana at their Sports Center. We are also developing a plan to continue our work with youth in Siberia that will include youth and leaders from the Dominican Republic.  

Lindy Lindeman reported on her trip to the World Council meeting in July, and we have some new leads for future volunteer opportunities.

SUE SMITH

AN EDITOR'S NOTE

Is it just me or do the seasons just keep flying by? I can’t believe Fall is upon us already, but I can feel it in the cool nighttime air and see it as the summer flowers begin to fade. 

I hope you all had a wonderful summer full of the things you love: time with family, time in nature, and time doing the activities you enjoy. I love the summer weather and was able to enjoy some of the beautiful lakes in our area, pool parties with family and friends, and even some Detroit Tigers baseball games – and although those didn’t go so well, there’s always next year! 

Later in the summer, I unfortunately lost a very dear friend and YMCA colleague who left us suddenly and way too soon. Mary wrote a wonderful tribute to Elaine Barnard earlier in this newsletter; we were all good friends through our involvement with the Great Lakes Leaders School. I was able to attend her celebration of life, and what a beautiful and joyful tribute it was! 

As I looked around the room, I saw many familiar faces from our YMCA path; some of them were only teens when we first met, and it was wonderful to see the adults they have become. I know Elaine was smiling to see them there. We heard many stories about how Elaine lived a life that truly epitomized the spirit of the YMCA mission, and I know I feel blessed to have known her and to have called her a friend for the better part of forty years. I will miss my friend, and I know she will be deeply missed by the community and many organizations she served. May we all learn to serve our world as unselfishly as she did.

CHAMBERS LEADERS

President: Lowell Nees

1st VP: Tony Delisio

2nd VP: Bill McAllister

Secretary: Julie Kaufman

Treasurer: Mike Lieber

Immediate Past President: Connie Clark

Editor: Sue Smith

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