MICHIANA NEWS

Hoosier-Buell Chapter

Michigan/Indiana

Hello Craig,

Hoosier-Buell Fall Gathering is all set for Wednesday, September 4 and 5 at Pokagon State Park in Angola, Indiana. The park is 45-60 minutes north of Fort Wayne, IN, or 60 minutes south of Battle Creek, MI. The event starts at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Please make your own reservation for one night at The Potawatomi Inn by calling 260-833-1077. Room rates range from $89.99 to $139.99. Remember to mention you are with YMCA Alumni to receive a complimentary breakfast.

Our Guest Speaker is Norris D. Lineweaver, (left photo), Director General (Retired), Jerusalem International YMCA, member of Weatherford Chapter, YMCA Alumni recently relocated to Asheville, NC from Indianapolis, IN. Norris is a former member of our chapter.

Norris will present “A Fusion of Friends—Possibilities for Peace," which will examine the current role of the Jerusalem International YMCA at the intersection of conflict in the Middle East.

Norris will be joined in his presentation by Jerusalem YMCA CEO Fadi Suidan.(right photo).

The presentation will be virtual via Zoom, with an opportunity for open discussion during Q&A.

Click to join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82183814985?pwd=dMLV6yhZ5TaUOReqGeBydkG51t05iW.1

Meeting ID: 821 8381 4985

Passcode: 302623

Here's the schedule:

Wednesday

1 p.m. Registration and welcome.

1:30 p.m. Lounge area: Opening prayer, introductions, schedule review, ice breakers.

2 p.m. Aimee Wentworth, Park Naturalist, will present a special program about insights on the impact of glaciers in Michigan and Indiana.

3:30 p.m. Norris Lineweaver: “A Fusion of Friends—Possibilities for Peace." This is a Zoom presentation in the Potawatomi Inn Conference Room. 

5 p.m. Clay’s Restaurant—Homestyle Cooking at its very best. Outstanding pie desserts. Purchase your own meal.

8 p.m. Fun and Games—play your card games, table games, fellowship, and bring your own drinks.

Thursday

9 a.m. Breakfast in the Inn, free for every member who pre-registers for the gathering by August 21.

10 a.m. Annual meeting and reports of membership, budget, by-laws, EAF, ISC, World Service and plans for 2024-25. Plus, our National Service Project in Dupree, SD, and the YMCA Alumni Reunion at Sea.

11 a.m. Alumni Member Sharing My Most Memorable Vacation. 3-5 minutes of sharing highlights of your favorite trip/event.

12 p.m. Closing for a safe trip home. Or, extend your stay at Shipshewana—only 45 minutes west of the park. Take in an entertaining show at the Blue Gate Theater and the Performing Arts Center.

We have two dates scheduled for informal luncheons to allow you to meet or get reacquainted with Y Retirees in your area. There is no agenda other than a good meal and good fellowship.

The first luncheon is Friday, August 2, at 11:30 a.m. at the Speedway MCL Restaurant on the west side of Indianapolis, at 6002 Crawfordsville Rd., near I-465 and Crawfordsville Road.

The second is Friday, August 9 at 11:30 a.m. at Denny’s, 4785 Buckley Rd., just off I-95 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

Reservations are NOT required, but knowing who will be attending would be extremely helpful. If you plan to attend, let Terry Jones know via email or text to 765-610-5521.

If these locations are too far away and you would like to attend a closer one, let Terry know.

Jean Allen in memory of Neil Allen * Keith and Rosemary Askam in memory of Gary Unruh * Rose Berberian in memory of Gary Unruh * Mary Lou Bergman in memory of Dave Bergman * Barbara Burton * Kevin Bush in memory of Gary Unruh * Fritz Cheek * Diane Comfort in memory of David Comfort * George Cummings * Ralph and Barbara Drake * Lou and Sandra Drexler * Richard and Barb DuRei * Elaine Fortune in memory of Don Fortune * Donald Frank * Don and Mary Franklin * Roy and Mary Gilliom * Dennis and Susan Gray * Carol Hemdal in memory of Larry Hemdal * Dave and Peggy Himes * Kenneth and Joan Isherwood * Terry and Lynette Jones * Valarie Keys in memory of Don Keys * Danny Maier and Winnie Ip * Pam McConey * Larry and Betty Owens in memory of John McFall * Dale and Joy Packer * Alberta Petrine * Carol Powell in memory of Richard Powell * Shirley Ritter * Dan and Marilyn Sager * Glenna Sheets in memory of Eugene Sheets * Daryl and Marie Sieplinga * Sue Smith * Barry and Diana Stephens in memory of Herb and Marge Pifer * Don and Ramona Stetson in memory of Larry Hemdal and Wayne Fieldhouse * George and Terri Stewart * Reid and Cathi Thebault in memory of Gary Unruh * Barbara Usimal in memory of Larry Hemdal * Daniel Wheeler * Robert Williams in memory of Chet Hall.

Dan Wheeler and Susan Wakefield have long lived in Indianapolis. They raised two children there, but they have since moved to other Midwest cities to pursue careers in nursing and finance.

Dan had a computer consulting career that ended at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, where he retired in 2019. Susan was a social worker who provided case management to foster families and worked as a school social worker with Decatur Township and Indianapolis Public Schools. Susan heads to the OrthoIndy Foundation YMCA pool weekly to do water aerobics. She also enjoys cooking and reading.

Dan volunteers at the Versiti Blood Center, WFYI, and Footlite Musicals. He also enjoys playing golf and working in the yard.

Together, they often travel to Chicago and St. Louis to visit with their children and granddaughter. You also can find them in New Palestine, watching their three foster grandchildren play soccer, baseball, and football.

They learned about the YMCA Alumni National Service Project in Dupree, SD, and decided to support it. They traveled twice to the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires to join a wave of volunteers helping build tiny homes. This has been a very rewarding volunteer opportunity. Participating in the construction of the homes and learning about the Lakota Nation has been a valuable experience. Dan and Susan plan to return next year to help complete the tiny home village.

Mary Beth Carmichael, Avon, IN

Jodi and Steve Jackson, Valparaiso, IN

Brian Merrill, Logansport, IN

Nancy Short, Indianapolis, IN

Have you ever wondered who produces our Michiana News and newsletters for many other chapters, The Connection, Going Places, and the National Service Project websites and manages the YMCA Alumni Facebook page?

Meet Craig Altschul and Peggi Simmons, the principals of Craig Altschul and Associates (ca+a), a communications firm celebrating its 50^th year working with YMCAs, affiliated organizations and other nonprofits.

Craig grew up as a kid in the Los Angeles YMCA. He is a journalism graduate of California State University at Northridge (CSUN) where he was president of the California Intercollegiate Press Association. Craig was editor of a daily newspaper in Ventura County. He returned to his YMCA roots after the newspaper merged with its rival and the staff declined to stay. Craig served first as a branch executive, then as Director of Public Relations for the LA Y.

CEO Bob Harlan brought Craig to New York to be Director of Communications for the National Council of YMCAs. Some of you may remember the “Test Drive a Datsun; Send A Kid to Camp” campaign during his tenure. It appeared in virtually all major national magazines for months, resulting in thousands of camperships for local Y kids. Craig plays alto saxophone in two jazz bands and a concert band.

Peggi joined Craig’s team at the National YMCA from J. Walter Thompson, the world’s largest advertising agency, where she was an account executive on numerous national brands. She managed the day-to-day operations of the Office of Communications.

Together, they formed Craig Altschul + Associates (ca+a) in 1974, Their first client was AYP, who asked them to create a new national magazine. Perspective, the journal of YMCA professionals, was born and was published for the next 28 years. Peggi and Craig have created PR and marketing programs for more than 250 YMCAs, researched and wrote capital campaign “case for support” documents for more than 500 Jerold Panas & Partners clients, and served numerous other non-profit clients, including Disabled Sports USA. Additionally, they created PR and marketing programs for some 25 ski resorts nationwide.

ca+a has been the communications management firm for YMCA Alumni for 15 years. Craig and Peggi are members of the Grand Canyon Chapter. Their “staff” includes Reesie and Taffy, two officially retired greyhounds. They live in Tucson, Arizona.

Photo: Craig and Peggi on YMCA Alumni Travel Club's Alaska Adventure

There is currently space available on YMCA Alumni adventures for 2025. Consider joining us on a memorable cruise to Norway's Land of the Midnight Sun June 17-July 3, 2025 and celebrate the summer solstice aboard the Emerald Princess. Or, tour the majestic Canadian Rockies via luxury motor coach Sept. 14-25.

The final Port Stop on our YMCA Alumni Reunion-at-Sea is in Cozumel, Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the most visited and exciting cruise ports in the world. Click the arrow on the video link above for a preview. This incredible port area includes beautiful beaches, terrific shopping and dining, and, if you're up for a full-day adventure, an excursion to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, recently named one of the world's seven wonders.

We'll cruise on Royal Caribbean's iconic Harmony of the Seas, departing and returning to Galveston, TX. Note that stateroom pricing for the reunion is at least $100 less for the cruise than if purchased directly on the Royal Caribbean website.