|
JUDY WURTZBACHER
FROM THE PRESIDENT
| | |
Greetings!
Happy fall…even though it still feels like summer.
This Fall our Marston YMCA Alumni Board is taking intentional steps to enhance our chapter’s impact and connection, and we need your thoughts to help guide us.
As we look ahead to the rest of the year and into 2026, we are asking for your input on how we can strengthen our chapter and better serve our members.
Your feedback and ideas matter…whether it’s about future events, communication, volunteer opportunities, or something new.
How you can help:
Email me at jwurtzbacher@gmail.com with your ideas, suggestions, and feedback. Let me know how you'd like to get involved, big or small. Encourage fellow alumni to reconnect and participate.
Let’s work together to make our chapter even stronger!
With gratitude
| | |
OCTOBER 16:
IT'S A FUN FALL EVENT
| | |
Get ready to reconnect and enjoy some autumn magic at our upcoming Pumpkin Patch Gathering!
Join fellow alumni for an afternoon picking a pumpkin, enjoying lunch from various food trucks, and browse local vendor booths. This is a fun way to catch up with your Y friends.
Plan to meet at 11 a.m. at the Carlsbad Pumpkin Patch main gate at
1050 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad. Entrance fee is $15 to be paid at the gate.
RSVP to Judy Wurtzbacher to let us know you’re coming. We would love to see you there.
We needed to change to this event location as Camp Marston had three other groups at camp.
| | |
STEVE ROWE
WATCH SERVICE PROJECT CELEBRATION LIVE SEPTEMBER 21
| | |
After several years of involvement with YMCA Alumni's first National Service Project, I am enthusiastically looking forward to traveling to Dupree, South Dakota in a few days.
I'm excited to join the celebration and witness the transfer of the completed four tiny homes in our Morning Star Village to the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires and the first of the Lakota families that will occupy them.
The new homes will help address the severe housing shortage on the reservation and will have a meaningful lasting impact, providing a model for future housing development.
Our chapter has been supporting the YMCA of Seven Council Fires annually for several years and our members, family and friends have also supported the National Service Project along with more than 700 total donors and 350 construction volunteers representing 17 chapters. Thank you all for being part of this historical project to help the YMCA improve the lives of tribal members on the reservation.
We hope you will tune in for a livestream YouTube telecast of the ribbon-cutting and dedication at 12 noon. (PDT). All you need to do is to click the button below at that time.
| | |
SAM WURTZBACHER and STEVE ROWE attended the re-opening of the Tijuana YMCA Pool and historic signing of the Binational Agreement between the YMCA of San Diego County and YMCA Mexico on May 12, 2025. Following the signature ceremony by Todd Tibbetts, CEO YMCA San Diego, and Oscar Velasco, CEO YMCA Mexico, both leaders shared their vision of the new partnership.
| | |
RICK RIEHMAN's summer was filled with fun, friends, family and faithful works. Rick says, "I had the opportunity to serve the Lord on two short-term Mission trips to Paraguay and Argentina. Our focus was on serving the youth and sharing the Good News of Jesus! Many received God’s invitation and there was much joy in the hearts of the young and their families."
In July Rick and his wife traveled to Michigan, Canada, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine visiting friends and family. They celebrated a family reunion on the shores of Lake Bomoseen, VT where over 30 family members gathered sharing treasured moments and lasting memories.
| | BEA HALK’S summer was filled with mini-trips and time with family and friends. Bea and Esther enjoyed a few days in San Francisco, touring the town and visiting our favorite spots, such as Buena Vista, followed by a wine-tasting trip to Valle de Guadalupe, organized by her son, Rick. A trip to Solvang came next, and last but not least, was my 81st birthday celebration at Rick's home. Members of my family each brought a bottle of wine and a pairing. They presented their wine and explained all about it, and how it was paired with their appetizer. An Italian-themed dinner and desserts followed. Says Bea: “It was a hoot!” | | JUDY AND SAM WURTZBACHER had a wonderful summer visiting friends on their private island in Canada, where they enjoyed hiking, fishing, biking, and boating every day. Says Judy, "Best time ever!" | GERRY MARTIN says, "Roger continues to bless me! In August, I spent six days enjoying the company of his delightful and incredible nieces and nephews at a family-staged outdoor wedding on niece Laurie's 200-acre Mule and Dog Training Ranch in a beautiful remote picturesque setting near Council, Idaho. The exciting and tranquil getaway was just what I needed. A reunion next year is under discussion." | | STEVE MOTT AND KAREN KOHL spent much of the summer at home in Carlsbad. In May, they returned to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, to volunteer for their 10th annual visit. They spent the Fourth of July at Smith Mountain Lake in southern Virginia with Karen’s younger nephew and his family at their wonderful lake condo. There were fireworks both weekend nights and the weather was beautiful. August saw visits from Karen’s older nephew and his wife from Amarillo,TX. They are looking forward to their annual trip to Kauai and will get to spend a week with two of Karen’s nieces while at our timeshare this year. Due to Hawaii trip we’ll miss the October event. Looking forward to being home for the holidays. "Hi to all our Marston friends!" | | TOM AND DOBBIE MADEYSKI had fun on plenty of planes, trains and riverboats on their first-ever trip to Europe with a flight to Rome, a 15-day Travalgar Motor Coach tour throughout Italy, multiple trains to Lucerne, Switzerland, then a Viking River Cruise on the Rhine through Germany, France and the Netherlands. Tom says, "Amsterdam was amazing, and how cool is it that KLM Airlines offers a direct flight from Amsterdam to San Diego? T’was a wonderful trip!" | | STEVE ROWE, SAM WURTZBACHER, NANCY DORTCH and TOM MADEYSKI walked 18 holes at Admiral Baker Golf Course a few weeks ago while also hitting a few trees, bushes and lakes, Tom says, "A great time was had by all, birdies and pars abounded, uh, OK, maybe bogeys and double-bogeys, but the fellowship and exercise were great!" | | BILL DAVIS tells us he's still traveling while he can. Their last cruise was to Ireland with some extra time in Amsterdam and London. They're going to Antarctica in November with National Geographic and "hoping my body holds up for this amazing experience." | | |
Be sure to book official YMCA Alumni Travel Club adventures and your own individual, family and referred friends travel through Go Travel's expert agents. YMCA Alumni's national budget receives a percentage of all sales and you get the best prices, advice and a smooth booking experience.
Watch for your issue of GOING PLACES in your e-mail box Sept. 15 with news of 2026 spring cruises in the Caribbean with one crossing the pond; an upscale train adventure on the Rocky Mountaineer; a CIE luxury motor coach visit to Spain's amazing cities; cruise Classic Canada from Quebec City to Boston in the fall color season and sail into Alaska before the crowds, and more.
Don't delay in booking. Our Scenic Switzerland by Rail trip and our celebration cruise on America's 250th Birthday from NY Harbor on the stately Queen Mary 2, both sold out within days of being announced.
Visit us on Facebook each Travel Tuesday.
Contact YMCA Alumni Travel Club:
(407) 774-2229
ymcaalumni@gotravel.com
| | |
MARSTON CHAPTER LEADERS
President: Judy Wurtzbacher
Vice President: Steve Rowe
Secretary: Piper Haynes
Treasurer: Sam Wurtzbacher
Membership: Lisa Betterton
World Service Chair: Rick Riehman
National Programs: Steve Rowe
Program: Vacant
Newsletter Editor: Tom Madeyski
Reunions: Bea Halk
The Grapevine is produced for the Marston Chapter by craig altschul + associates
Click on name in blue to send email.
The mission of YMCA Alumni is "to enable members to promote a nurturing worldwide Christian Fellowship that provides educational, social, service and charitable opportunities."
| | | | |
