From your president...

Hope everyone’s new year is off to a good start! It was great seeing many of you at our Holiday Party back in December. We are in the process of planning events for 2023. More information below.

YMCA Alumni launched a National Service Project last year to build a tiny home village and several small "twigs" (remote branches) in partnership with the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires. Dates and details are all set for eight “waves” of YMCA Alumni members, friends, and families to head to Dupree, S.D. to continue building the homes and start on the "twigs." in outlying communities on the vast Cheyenne River Sioux reservation. Wave dates are: #1-May 9-16; #2-May 16-23; #3- May 23-30; #4-May 30-June 6; #5-Sept. 12-19; #6 – Sept. 19-26; #7-Sept. 26-Oct. 3; #8 – Oct. 3-10.

Details and online registration forms are available on the National Service Project Case for support website. Click on the button below. A number of us on the Lyon Chapter board are planning on attending one of the waves and hope others from our chapter will join us. 

My thanks to the Warnock’s who will be hosting our spring event – more on that in this newsletter.

Thanks again for your support of YMCA Alumni

Paul Andresen, Lyon Chapter President

Please visit the Case for Suppoprt website (button above) to keep track of our progress on our first-ever National Service Project.

YMCA Alumni raised nearly $600,000 last year and began construction of the first Tiny Homes Village. YMCA retiree volunteers and others began construction and completed the shell of the first of four tiny homes in the Village. This year’s goal is to raise an additional $250,000 to continue this work and begin constructing the first "twig."

Thank you to the following Lyon Chapter members who contributed to our inaugural campaign’s success in 2022:

John Green * Paul Andresen * Bob and Monica Warnock * Randy Bolsinger

Dale Ventres (in memoriam) * Patricia de Felice * Rizek and Alice Abusharr

Larry Rosen * Tom and Gwen Cram * Phyllis and Jim Murphy * Your Lyon Chapter board also made a gift.

our National Board has designated January through March for the service project f undraising among members to avoid as much as possible conflicting with other efforts. That means that we can do what I am about to do…ask you to consider a gift for 2023… only up until March 31^st. You can, of course, contribute and make pledge payments after that date.

To date Paul, Monica and me and our Lyon Chapter board have made 2023 pledges. So have Tisha de Felice and Randy Bolsinger by virtue of having made 3-year pledges last year. Here’s where we stand on our goal to date:

Current total for 2023 is $120,000.

We know that YMCA Alumni give generously to a variety of worthy charitable causes. That said, please give thoughtful consideration to renewing your 2022 support or making a brand-new pledge to our National Service Project. You can do so securely online at the Case for Support website. Or you can email me (click on my name below) or call me at (323) 313-3043 and I’ll send you a pledge form. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Bob Warnock

Lyon Chapter NSP Fundraising Chair

(Photo: Volunteers at a 2022 worker wave for the National Service Project in Dupree, SD. Photo by Randi Sidman Moore).

Here's your Lyon event calendar for 2023

Okay folks it’s time to mark our calendars for this year’s four Lyon Chapter events. Now that the pandemic is fading, we hope to see as many of you as possible face-to-face this year. No Zoom events are planned.

Spring

Backyard Barbecue at the Warnock’s’

Saturday April 29, 1 p.m. until whenever y’all want to leave.

This is not a pot luck! We will barbecue our favorite chicken recipe, provide side dishes and dessert and nonalcoholic beverages. If you want beer, wine or a cocktail, THAT you need to bring yourself, and take home any that’s left. Come and enjoy great food and fellowship with your fellow Lyon Chapter members.

Directions to the Warnock’s, 5149 Dahlia Drive, Los Angeles CA 90041

From the North/West

Get to the 134 Freeway East and exit Harvey Drive which is just past the transition road to the 2 Freeway. Turn right on Harvey and then an immediate left onto Wilson Ave. Continue East on Wilson; it will become Colorado Blvd. Continue east to Dahlia Drive. Turn left to 5149.

From the South/East

Get to the 210 Freeway and take it west to the 134 west. Continue west on the 134 to the Colorado/Figueroa off-ramp. Stay to your left on the off-ramp, curving back over the freeway and down onto Colorado. When you see Trader Joe’s, turn right up Dahlia to 5149.

Driving from a distance? If having to leave home real early and/or drive home in the dark, is a deterrent to coming to the BBQ, we invite you to spend either the night before or the night of or both as our guests. We can accommodate up to two couples in our spare room and our new backyard guest house. Give us a call at 323-313-3043 to take advantage of some Warnock hospitality first come, first served. It’ll be fun!

Summer

Visit the Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino

Saturday June 10

Time of day and pricing to be announced. Overnight housing invitation extended.

Fall

Annual Chapter Retreat at YMCA Camp Oakes

September 15-17, details to follow.

We had a great time three years ago at this retreat, but last year we were not able to pull it off, due to the pandemic and our own poor planning. This year here are the dates well in advance.

Winter

Annual Christmas Party

Luncheon at Mijares Restaurant in Pasadena, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023.

Details to follow. Overnight hospitality invitation will be extended.

Our Chapter Board Meeting(s)

Your Lyon Chapter board meets roughly monthly via Zoom. Our next meeting will be Tuesday March 21, 10-11 a.m. Chapter members are henceforth invited to attend if you like. Attending a board meeting does NOT mean you’ll necessarily be asked to serve on the board next time election time rolls around, but I wouldn’t rule it out! ?

Zoom Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85341511534?pwd=NXZyNVh3TlZjZnZNSlBWM0c5Tk1oQT09

Winter/spring birthday greetings belated and otherwise to the following Lyon Chapter members:

Betty Paieda, Jan. 1* -- Nancy Tillman, Feb. 5 -- Rizek Abusharr, Feb. 14

Sally Cardenas, Jan. 1* -- Gwen Cram, March 25 -- Jenny Fernando Jan. 6

Mary Ann Fitzpatrick, Feb. 28 -- Susan Green, March 12

Susan Grogan, March 11 --Tim Hardy, Jan. 6 -- Sharon Harvey, Jan. 18

Sue Marasco, March 6 --0 Joe Marasco, Jan. 1* -- Phyllis Murphy, March 13

Jim Murphy, Feb. 17 -- Janice Patrick, March 4 -- Pat Pinkerton, Jan. 1*

Cheryl Thomas, April 25 -- Paul Andresen, April 9 -- Tisha de Felice, March 14

Mary Johnson, Jan. 2 -- Lindy Lindeman, March 18 -- Jane Smith, Feb. 14

Jane Stanton, Feb. 6 -- Mike Blackmore, April 17

*It’s a bit suspicious that our national organization lists so many of our birthdays on New Year’s Day. Actually, Jan. 1 is a default for folks for whom they don’t have birth dates for. If you are *listed above and your birthday is NOT Jan. 1, or your birthday above is otherwise incorrect, please email your intrepid editor and i’ll get it right next yea. Happy Birthday one and all.