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LOWELL NEES
FROM OUR PRESIDENT
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Welcome to the 2025-2026 term of the YMCA Alumni Chambers Chapter. I am pleased to be serving as your President and hope that you are looking forward to a fulfilling experience as well. As we journey together, please feel free to share your thoughts on how to improve the chapter and the experience.
Experience tells me that a fulfilling experience depends on INVOLVEMENT. I challenge you to become more INVOLVED in the experiences available to you through your YMCA Alumni membership, whether it be service opportunities, travel, or fellowship. It provides great opportunities to renew old friendships and to start new.
There are always opportunities for SERVICE. Host a reunion, serve on a committee, raise money for worthy causes, become an officer. Do you see something that is not getting done, but needs to? Volunteer to get it done.
Need a ride? Someone in your area will be happy to SHARE a ride. Get INVOLVED, SHARE the experience. You will be better for it and so will the chapter.
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SPRING REUNION MAY 7-8
HOCKING HILLS STATE PARK
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Our Spring Reunion is set for May 7-8 at beautiful Hocking Hills State Park. Activities will begin with lunch and a naturalist presentation on Wednesday, May 7, at the Hocking Hills Lodge, followed by hiking and/or relaxing at the park. There are plenty of things to explore and enjoy in this internationally acclaimed state park, and some trails are handicapped accessible.
We’ll have an optional wine tasting and tour at 4 p.m. at the Hocking Hills Winery, then dinner at 6 p.m. at the Millstone BBQ in Logan. Thursday options include a tour of the Pencil Sharpener Museum & Butterfly House or time to explore the park more independently. We’ll wrap things up with lunch (on your own) at the Hungary Buffalo in Logan. Overnight accommodations are at the Sleep Inn in Logan. Be sure to contact them for your room reservation by April 7 to receive the group rate.
Photos: Hocking Hills State Park, Pencil Sharpener Museum, Millstone BBQ
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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: CHUCK ZECH
BY MIKE FRITH
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I feel honored to write this article about Chuck Zech. He has been a true friend since 1973, when I moved to Cincinnati, and he has influenced my career in many ways throughout the years.
Chuck grew up in Puerto Rico until he was 18 years old. Then, he attended Otterbein College, where he enrolled in ROTC. After graduating in 1964, Chuck entered the Air Force and became an intelligence officer. To perform his job, he flew back and forth from Vietnam to the CIA.
After 4 years of active duty, he started his career in the YMCA at Mt Vernon, Ohio. After three and a half years, he moved to Cincinnati to serve as the Northeastern (Norwood) YMCA Executive. This was one of the last combined YMCA/YWCA buildings.
That was a unique experience for Chuck and me since I also worked there for a year. One of his most memorable experiences was having the ladies getting out of a swimming class a little late, and on the diving board was the Superintendent of the Norwood Schools stark naked. We can all relate to that story!
Chuck served the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati in many roles throughout his career, including serving as Executive Director at the Blue Ash YMCA, the Powel Crosley YMCA, and the M.E. Lyons YMCA. Due to his many accomplishments over the years, Chuck was promoted to the vice president position.
After a short recovery from an illness, he came back to the Metro office in a role overseeing construction and facilities. After three years in that role, he was asked to go back to what is now the Norwood YMCA as the executive to solve some of their problems. Chuck retired in 2002 after an accomplished career of 34 years in the YMCA.
As many of you know, Chuck was engaged in the YMCA's World Service throughout his career and after retirement. Living in Puerto Rico with his missionary parents and speaking fluent Spanish helped him start in that endeavor. In retirement, he served in many capacities in the YMCA Alumni, his church, serving his community, and spending more time with his wife, Ginny. He is still working on Annual Support for the M.E. Lyons YMCA.
As a true friend and devout Christian, Chuck has never met someone he did not like or could not work with. I know he has meant a lot to me over the years. Thank you, Chuck, for your service to the YMCA.
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DAVE PATTERSON
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
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Welcome to these new members who have joined the Chambers Chapter since our last newsletter:
Tobias and Kimberly Boedeker: Bellbrook, OH, Coffman YMCA
Jan Davison:Tipp City, OH, YMCA of Greater Dayton
Bambi Puckett and Karen Sheldon: Dayton, OH, YMCA of Greater Dayton
Monica and Mike Turner: West Jefferson, OH, YMCA of Central Ohio
Our national organization has 17 chapters, including all 50 states. At the end of 2024, we total 1,038 membership units, equaling 1,578 members.
· 133 LIFETIME units
· 383 INDIVIDUAL units
· 522 HOUSEHOLD units
COMING SOON: One of the Action Steps of the YMCA Alumni Strategic Plan 2025-2028 is to conduct a Member Satisfaction Survey. The survey will be completed online and will be safe and secure. More information will come to you soon. Watch for the survey and give us your feedback.
TOP 3 REASONS to BELONG to YMCA ALUMNI
#1 Connect: Members say the best part of membership is staying connected with former YMCA colleagues and friends from our working days. We do this via local or regional get togethers, reunions, short trips, and video calls.
# 2 Travel: Join with members, family, and friends on domestic and international travel adventures through the YMCA Alumni Travel Club, powered by Go Travel. You are automatically a member of the club when you join YMCA Alumni. Visit the Travel Club Information Center by clicking HERE.
#3 Serve: Our National YMCA Alumni Service Project, in partnership with the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires and chapter service projects, let us continue our YMCA style of service to others. Learn more by clicking HERE.
TIME FOR CHANGE
I am pleased to report that Bill McAllister will be the NEW Membership Leader for the Chambers Chapter. It has been my pleasure to serve in that capacity for the past eight years, but my growing responsibilities as the Membership Director for the National YMCA Alumni have required me to step back and hand the Chambers membership duties over to Bill. Stay connected!
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MIKE LIEBER
SPIRITUAL MOMENT: 'BEST DAY EVER'
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Marla and I went to the movies the other day and saw "The Unbreakable Boy." In this true story of Austin, a child with brittle bone disease who is autistic, he proclaims more than once, "This is the best day ever!"
I thought, why don't I approach life with that same attitude? No, I worry about the cold temperatures, the snow and ice, and many other things I can't control.
In the Bible, Philippians 4: 6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Furthermore, "and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
So, as we move forward (don't forget to move your clocks up one hour) and come upon the Easter season, make every day the best day ever, the best time with your spouse, the best time with your kids/grandkids! Our hearts and minds will be refreshed in goodness and for each other and each day!
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WAYNE UHRIG
ISC: FROM TIRANA TO TIJUANA
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Jonathan Vance continues working with Egla Lula from Tirana, Albania, on projects she would like to move forward with next year.
They have property donated to the Y up in the Albanian mountain range for camping, but progress is slow. Jonathan will keep us informed.
We also have work progressing in Prague, Czech Republic, Salto, Uruguay, and the Dominican Republic. We hope to send two volunteers to each YMCA this year. The Dominican Republic opportunity has been slow going, and I will meet with Andres Fortenado, CEO, when I travel to the DR in May with the New England Chapter for their annual homebuilding project.
This past year, we reported the experience six YMCA Alumni had in Tijuana, Mexico, and we plan to go back later this year. It will be a combination work project and professional development opportunity. From what we learned last October, their YMCA (three locations) needs a lot of painting, repairs, and general construction projects to enhance their facilities. We will also be talking with Valeria Vasquez on March 17 to review her specific needs so we can plan for the Fall.
In addition to our work in Tijuana, we are working with the YMCA of Mexico and Todd Tibbits, CEO of the YMCA of San Diego County, on a coalition. Todd and the General Secretary for Mexico, Oscar Valasco, are moving this project forward. A third project in Mexico is to work with Oscar and help train his volunteers on fundraising. This will probably be later this Fall.
Anyone interested in volunteering for any current or future opportunities can complete a Volunteer Application on the YMCA Alumni website. This does not mean you are committed; it means you are interested if something interests you.
Contact me by email or call (740) 398-2830 for more information.
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TONY DELISIO
YMCA WORLD SERVICE SPECIAL REPORT
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Thank you, thank you, thank you. Last year, 20 Chambers Chapter members contributed $4,900 to World Service. Total YMCA Alumni Giving was $215,215; overall, $2,178,604 was raised for World Service.
Did you know that 100% of your contribution creates opportunities for young people worldwide to become leaders who can help transform their local communities for a better future? If that’s not a reason for hope, I don’t know what is. To learn more about the impact of your World Service gift, click on the link below: 2024 YMCA Movement Strengthening and World Service Report.
Check out the World Service Appeal Letter and Case Statement Brochure when they are delivered to your home this March. Thanks again for your generous support of YMCA World Service last year. We hope you will join us in giving this year.
To contribute by mail: Make a gift payable to YMCA World Service and mail to:
Y-USA World Service
P.O. Box 7411037
Chicago, IL 60674-11037
Or click on the DONATE button below to contribute online.
“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar as with eagle’s wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Thank you for Changing the World for Good!
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STEVE GUNN
NATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT
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The National Service Project is NOT OVER! We are progressing very well, but the four homes won't be completed until fall. The next step is the Twigs, which will be completed in 2026. Here is where we are:
1. Four work waves will begin the first two weeks of May and conclude in September. We particularly need volunteers for the September third wave beginning September 9.
2. The dedication ceremony for the Tiny Homes will be September 19-21. You will receive an invitation to attend the ceremony in April.
3. We have a great group of college students who will follow Wave 4 to finish any work not completed through Waves 1-4 for the Tiny Homes. Follow news in The Connection for the latest updates.
Specifically on the Homes and Twigs;
1. Interior cabinets, appliance installation and stairs will be installed along with
exterior landscaping starting in May.
2. Minor drywall work and final painting will be done on the interiors and any exterior staining left.
3. The final number of Twigs will be based on the need of the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires but the first will be located in La Plant, a nearby community in desperate need of a Y presence and built on land the Y owns.
4. Grants for the Twigs have been submitted on behalf of the YMCA Alumni and the Y to outfit Twigs for year-round use.
If you would like to go to South Dakota this year along with the 5-6 Chambers members already committed, please let Tony Delisio or me know so we can assist you with planning. Visit the Service Project website to register for work weeks.
Thank you for staying involved, supporting and being an integral part of this wonderful project of YMCA Alumni. We have raised nearly $1 million. WE ARE UNDER BUDGET and have sent 12 individuals to SD. Many of which have been there multiple times. Questions can be emailed to ME or call me at 740.412.7934.
Photo: This image was taken at the conclusion of our 2024 work season.
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BILL MCALLISTER
HISTORY: HAS Y IMAGE CHANGED?
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I recently came across a photocopied article titled: “YMCA: A New Look” written by L. G. Miller, from the April 1964 issue of The Liguorian Magazine. The photocopy was “hidden” in my C. Howard Hopkins “The History of the YMCA in North America” book.
The Ligurians’ mission is to: “communicate timely pastoral messages to Catholics on matters of the faith, practices, Christian living, and social justice in order to enhance their conversion to Christ.”
The 1964 article proposed that the Catholic church might want to reconsider a 1920 decree of the Holy Office that stated specifically the YMCA “boasts indeed of a sincere love for youth, as though it had nothing more at heart than their bodily and mental welfare; but at the same time it attacks their faith under the pretense of purifying it and giving them a better knowledge of the true way of life above all churches and apart from any religious creed.” This 1920 decree was repeated by the Holy Office in 1954.
The author asks the question: “Does the YMCA have the same image now (1964) as it did in 1920? Is there a possibility in our time of the Church and the Y joining their energies to provide youth recreational and social opportunities? Does the traditional answer still hold true for a Catholic today, namely, that he disobeys authority and endangers his faith if he becomes an active member of the Y?"
Miller continues by writing that “Y’s now seek to bring together lay people from all the different Christian confessions – Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant – in a fellowship in which they can express their Christian faith in action for the benefit of their communities.
“We can certainly hope and pray that by accommodation of the Y constitution, and the general carrying out of that accommodation on the branch level, we can eventually arrive at a basis for collaboration between the Y and the Catholic Church, which will be of tremendous significance and impact for the young and rising generation.”
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KEITH LANDS
SUPPORTING OUR COLLEAGUES
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The Emergency Assistance Fund is making a difference in the lives of our colleagues in times of need. By supporting EAF, you can be a part of helping in challenging times. With the recent wildfires in California and hurricane damage in North Carolina, requests are up substantially for EAF grants from our colleagues in both areas. EAF needs our support now more than ever.
Here are the donations to EAF by Chapters in 2024:
Central Atlantic ($3,815) * Chambers ($4,460) * Grand Canyon ($1,070)
Greater Ozark ($1,550) * Hoosier-Buell ($6,440) * Lyon ($425)
Marston ($650) * McBurney-Morse ($720) * Allen-Stone ($2,175)
McCoy ($2,288) * Messer-Brandenburg ($2,375) * Mott ($825)
New England ($1,360) * Schreiner ($1,400) * Upper Midwest ($3,075)
Weatherford ($8,625) * Willis ($1,950)
Total Alumni Giving 2024 -- $43,203
Total Gifts to EAF for 2024 -- $423,762
So far this year, EAF raised $58,518, of which Alumni giving donated $18,949. The fund has awarded $41,084 to 22 qualified persons and is reviewing several more applications.
Our Chambers Chapter raised $2,910 through 14 gifts. Thanks to Steve Gunn’s birthday donations, we have raised an additional $360, which went into the general EAF fund. Thus, our total is $3,270, which is closer to our goal of $4,000.
Your support with end-of-year gifts makes a difference to our colleagues in need. Click the button below to donate online. Or, send your check to Emergency Assistance Fund, c/o YMCA of the USA – Financial Development,101 N. Upper Wacker Dr., 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606
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2025-2026 AVAILABLE ADVENTURES
YMCA ALUMNI TRAVEL CLUB
June 17-July 3, 2025:
Norway: Land of the Midnight Sun and Summer Solstice ocean cruise on Emerald Princess. Hosts: Schreiner Chapter's Jan and Patrick Murphy.
Oct. 14-22, 2025:
South America Getaway motor coach and air with Globus Tours. Host: Go Travel's Bob Cook.
Oct. 20-Nov. 3, 2025:
Ancient Adriatic Treasures cruise on Viking Ocean's newest ship. Hosts: YMCA Alumni Communications Team Peggi Simmons and Craig Altschul.
June 5-12, 2026:
Alaska: The Last Frontier ocean cruise on Celebrity Edge. Hosts: Weatherford Chapter's Jean and Bert Bock.
Visit our YMCA Alumni Facebook regularly for Travel Tuesdays.
YMCA Alumni members, family and referred friends are always welcome on our Travel Club Adventures. Call our Go Travel partners at (407-774-2229) for all your individual and family travel planning and booking, Be sure to ID yourself as a YMCA Alumni member.
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SUE SMITH
AN EDITOR'S NOTE
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What a great way it was to start 2025 by joining my fellow YMCA Alumni on the Reunion at Sea cruise this past January! We cruised the Caribbean, enjoyed excellent accommodations on board Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas, dined on outstanding cuisine and reconnected with long time friends.
It was also exciting to hear about the impact the YMCA is having worldwide at the informative workshops on the schedule.
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One of the highlights of the cruise for me personally was the chance to swim with the dolphins in Cozumel, something I’ve always wanted to do. Although there won’t be any dolphins or Caribbean beaches at the upcoming Chambers Reunion, there will be plenty of fellowship and opportunities to learn together as we explore Hocking Hills this May. I hope you will join us!
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YMCA Alumni Mission:
"...to enable members to promote a nurturing worldwide Christian Fellowship that provides educational, social, service and charitable opportunities."
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