A cool time in New Hampshire. Pictured (left) Nancy Bonell was joined by Jeanine Achin (recently retired from YMCA of Pawtucket, RI) and Mike Norklun (twice Y retired) Greater Providence and Pawtucket) for a great day on the slopes at Mt. Sunappee, N.H. in February. Others that had planned to attend but were injured were both Hal Jordan and Laurie Garbacz who had recent knee injuries that kept them off their skis. (Middle) Earlier in the season they were able to capture the 75th Anniversary Chair. (Right): Harry Rock has been enjoying the winter snow by Nordic Skiing in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts and in Southern Vermont.

Greetings!

Please join us for a New England YMCA Alumni Chapter Zoom meeting Wednesday, March 20 at 3:30 p.m.

We will be joined by James Kirschner, Chief Strategy Officer for the Retirement Fund. In his role, James works with Management and Trustees to formulate strategic priorities and current goals. His presentation will focus on issues important to retirees and will be able to take your questions.

We also will have some important updates from our members including an update on our chapter’s work in the Dominican Republic. We hope our Zoom calls help us to stay connected between in person gatherings and support those who prefer not to travel. Look for a link to our meeting from Nancy Bonell as we get closer to the date but please, put the date on your calendar today!

You also will find an update from several of our members in this newsletter. I think this is perhaps the most important part of our newsletter. I have heard time and time again how great it is to get these updates. I would love to hear from you- let me know what is happening in your life- the good and the challenges- so we can highlight that in our Spring newsletter. 

Be well.

Karen Leslie, President

New England YMCA Alumni

We miss seeing you, so...

Mark your calendars for a Zoom call coming up in March on Wednesday, March 20 from 3 - 4:30 p.m. with the Retirement Fund's James Kirschner as our guest speaker. Watch for your Zoom invitation.

Spring Lunch Meet-ups:

We are planning two lunch groups for April in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Details to follow.

Hikers Wanted! And we’d like to know your thoughts…….

Two ideas:

1. Miller State Park (photo left) is located at 13 Miller Park Road, Peterborough, N.H. and offers a 1.3 mile winding moderate hike to the summit or there is an Auto Road to the summit. So the best of both worlds and we would meet at the summit for lunch at 12 noon. Bring your own bag lunch and on a clear day you can see the Boston skyline.

2. Monadnock State Park - a more challenging hike for adventure seekers! 

Are you interested in joining a hike this Spring? If so, which one? Please let Nancy Bonell know. Let’s put on those hiking boots.

Third annual 3-chapter Silver Bay trip Sept. 16 - 19, 2024. Details to follow.

Deborah and Joseph Bishop

Larry and Joan Cedrone  

Beth and Ralph Covino

Deborah Nordin

Laura Prisco

Wendy and Doug Williams

We have been conducting our membership renewal campaign which just concluded. Special thanks to Dave Patterson, National Membership Chair, for the on-going communication to chapter members encouraging renewals!

As of February 1, our membership numbers are:

Lifetime: 6 units, 6 members

Household: 32 units, 64 members

Individual: 46 units, 46 members

TOTAL: 84 UNITS, 116 MEMBERS

Membership Type

We currently have a retention rate of 86 percent and would like to see it get in the mid 90s. If you have not renewed, will you please do so today by visiting our YMCA Alumni Membership Renewal page on our website.

--Lisa Drouin, Membership Director

Having built its first new home in 2012, the New England YMCA Alumni’s Dominican Republic Homebuilding Service Project has become recognized as the “Gold Standard” of Y Alumni chapter-based service projects among the 17 chapters in the U.S. This year we will build homes for our 20^th and 21^st families in the humble YMCA International Village located in Don Gregorio. We are truly changing the landscape in this town!

This project, developed 12 years ago by our chapter, has raised a total of nearly $168,900 over this period from members of our chapter and friends of the project. Volunteers have given over 200 weeks of their time, at their own expense, to travel to the Dominican Republic to build the new homes.

This year two new homes will be built by folks arriving in the D.R on May 15^th and staying until May 22^nd. Included in this group will be 12 students and two staff members from the YMCA Club at Springfield College. With a maximum of 30 volunteers participating, we now are more than 2/3 full. But we still have openings for YOU.

We are currently about halfway to our fundraising goal to cover the costs of the two new homes. More donations are needed if we are to be successful again.

Information on volunteering or contributing: e-mail Lou Falk or call him at (860) 559-8059. 

New England YMCA Alumni Chapter President Karen Leslie announced that the chapter has made a financial gift to our YMCA Alumni National Service Project of $13,500 to help purchase inside furnishings and appliances.

"I hope this gift will help inspire other chapters to contribute as well as keeping the project moving forward," Karen said.

Registration is currently underway for volunteers to fill the five waves scheduled to work beginning on May 7. Waves 4 and 5 are full with only 18 spots remaining for the other three waves. Interested?

You can register and find information on fees, travel logistics, lodging and other related details by clicking to our National Service Project website. Questions can be sent via email.

--Harry Rock, chapter liaison to National Service Project standing committee.

Lisa Drouin completed her 4th Half-Marathon Jan. 14 in Phoenix, Arizona -- a nice place to hang out in winter.. Her last one was in 2010 – so her old bones are still working. She's pictured with her friend Marianne Dorigo

Karen Leslie welcomed her fifth grandchild on Halloween. Nicholas is joined by brother Daniel.

Lou and Mary Falk took a ride on the Orient Express of Agatha Christie fame from Venice to Paris. Says Mary: 'We loved it!"

Marsha and Jim Bowman enjoyed a trip to Paris as well as traveling to the Azores and India in 2023.

Register now for your best choice of staterooms on our YMCA Alumni Reunion on Royal Caribbean's famed Harmony of the Seas. We depart and return to Galveston, Texas after seven days in WARM and beautiful waters of the Western Caribbean. Click the button below for details and to register. P.S. it doesn't snow in the Caribbean.

New England Chapter Leaders

Chapter President: Karen Leslie

Program Chair: Nancy Bonell

Membership Chair: Lisa Drouin

Treasurer: Alan Hurst

Secretary: Laurie Garbacz

Past President: Lou Falk

Members-At-Large

Harry Rock * Gary Schuyler * Martha Machnik

Duffy Brent * Shayna Ellovich