Top photo: Beautiful Dayton, Ohio. Bottom L-R: Beavercreek Golf Club; National Museum of the U.S. Air Force; Carillon Historical Park.

Plan to join our Chambers Chapter Fall Reunion in beautiful Dayton, Ohio, Sept. 25-27. There are plenty of choices and great attractions, plus the most important one of all: connecting.

We’ll start with lunch Wednesday (Sept. 25) at the Black Rock Bar and Grill (on your own). You can follow the little white ball with some golf at the Beavercreek Golf Club (on your own). You can also go walking at River Scape Metro Park, visit the 2nd Street Market, Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park, or just explore this vibrant city.

After dinner (on your own), enjoy games and fellowship at the Hope Hotel and Richard C. Holbrook Conference Center, 10823 Childlaw Rd, Building 823, Area A, Gate 12A WPAFB, Ohio, 45433. Please register by calling the hotel at (937) 879-2696 or fax to (937) 879-3467 before Sept. 16. Let them know you are with the YMCA group to receive our special room rate of $129 per night.

Thursday’s activities begin with a hot buffet breakfast (included if staying at the hotel). Next, we’ll head to Carillon Park for a tour at 9:30 a.m. We all need to be there together to enter as a group. Enjoy lunch at the Carillon Brewing Company (on your own). After lunch, we’ll carpool to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. No cost.

Our evening includes a chapter business meeting and dinner at the hotel. Dale Brunner, CEO of the Dayton YMCA (left photo), will be our special guest speaker.

Friday’s events include another hot buffet breakfast (if you are staying at the hotel) and lots of choices for fun things to do before heading home: Bellbrook Canoe Rental (27 min.); Airstream Museum (57 min.); Armstrong Air and Space Museum (58 min.); Dayton Art Museum (11 min.); Shuster & Victoria Live Theaters (check schedules) (4:30 min.); Dayton YMCA’s 11 branches); Bicycle Museum of America (58 min.).

We’ve got a date. Click the button below for the full flyer and registration form to download.

As I write this message on a slightly overcast morning, I realize that is how I am feeling. A little tired, a little overwhelmed by commitments and things happening, yet so very grateful to have another day to spend seeing and listening to the hum of those around me as I go about my day.

I am also hopeful and have a sense of peace in knowing there will be opportunities for conversation and some laughter. So, I am feeling just slightly overcast. This has brought memories rushing back of the many times I asked a teen or a coworker at the Y, “What’s your weather for today? Are you feeling sunny, partly cloudy, slightly overcast, rainy, or do you feel a storm coming?”

Way back in my Y journey, I began asking for a personal weather report as a safe way for teens in all the Leaders’ Clubs and in the many squads at Great Lakes Leaders’ Schools to share how they were feeling at the beginning of meetings.

It was a non-threatening and insightful means to gauge how to move forward and it enabled everyone in the room to have a quick understanding of how that person felt at that given moment. The most interesting thing about it was when I asked a slightly different question at the end of the meeting. “What’s your weather like now?” It always changed for the better. Or, if they felt sunny coming in, they were full sun and no rain in sight. It still applies now.

When we sincerely ask a person how they are doing or what is going on in their life at a given moment, in a safe, non-threatening way, it can dramatically change their perspective and ours. It can move the needle on both of our weather reports. It gives an opportunity to offer our help if they indicate it’s needed, to offer to give a hug in case that is what they want, or it allows us to just listen and let them talk. It worked with teens, and it still works with us. The atmosphere changes.

We have a wonderful YMCA Alumni weekend coming up in the Dayton area, Sept. 25, 26 and 27. The real weather outside won’t affect that gathering because all the activities can be enjoyed regardless of what’s happening outside. To me, the most important part of our gathering is the climate inside when we all gather and what it’s like when we leave.

I know, no matter how I feel in my personal weather before I get there, I will feel improvement once I am among all the former Y folks. The atmosphere of my world will change. The buzz as we see old friends and make new ones and most importantly, the conversations.

People will be asking in their own ways, ‘How are you? What’s your weather?” and really want an answer. People will be listening and sharing old war stories and tales about who we all knew. Folks in big and small groups will be enjoying the banter of others. Listen for the hum of the many conversations and, most assuredly, you will hear laughter. And, most likely, some of it will be your own. Come join us. We’re a sunny bunch.

Connie Clark

Chambers YMCA Alumni Chapter President

Photo L-R: Past President Mike Frith, Dave and Bonnie Saunders

In this edition of Chambers Chatter, we turn our spotlight on Dave Saunders. Dave’s Y connection began in the third grade when Lou Cox taught to him to swim at the Dayton YMCA, this was the start of a lifelong commitment to the YMCA. Dave graduated from Muskingum College in 1962 where he was mentored by Dick Youngen, General Director of the Zanesville YMCA. 

In 1964, after two years of active duty in the Naval Air, the Toledo Central YMCA began Dave’s 33 years of YMCA service. Dave served as Assistant Physical Director, and it was here where Dave met his lovely wife, Bonnie, who was working in the Youth Department. On August 19, 1967, the Physical Department and Youth Department merged with my marriage to Bonnie. Bonnie and Dave have three sons, Doug (retired CEO of the Fayette County YMCA) Brent and Troy.

Dave then moved on to the Dayton YMCA as Executive Director of the Dayton Northwest YMCA from 1969 to 1982.  Dave attributes the “Chief” Franklin T. Hoernemann, Harry Bradbury, Jim Swormstedt and Bill Foster as his mentors during his tenure there. The next stop was the Greater Cincinnati YMCA where Dave served as Executive Director from 1982-1990 and 1991-1997 with the Gamble Nippert, Blue Ash and Clippard Branches, with a brief stop from 1990-1991 as Vice-President of the Greater Greenville, South Carolina YMCA.

During retirement, Dave has given much of his time and service to the Chambers Chapter including serving as EAF Chair from 1997-2004, Chapter board member from 1997-2008, Chapter VP from 2002-2004, Chapter President from 2004-2006, In 2023, the Chambers Chapter honored Dave Saunders for his leadership and tireless service to the chapter. For the past 30 years, Dave served as the lead volunteer and chair of the selection committee for our Alumni Director of the Year. As a previous recipient of the award, Dave’s service goes way beyond this; he has always been a dedicated YMCA leader and a leader within our chapter. 

The Saunders retired to Murrells Inlet, South Carolina (Myrtle Beach area) in 2006. Well, not really retired, as Dave has had several part-time jobs since his YMCA retirement including roles at Dave and Busters, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, Cincinnati Reds Ball Park, Ocean Lakes security in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and as an usher with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball team.

We send a sincere thank you to Dave from the entire chapter for your dedication and service.

The International Service Corps (ISC) continues to move forward with some exciting opportunities. I recently met with Jon Vance from our committee, and Eglantina Lula from Albania.

We spent several hours reviewing the opportunities in the West Balkans, and how we can collectively move forward.

The West Balkans include Albania, Serbia, North Macedonia, and Kosovo. The leadership in Kosovo has offered to help provide leadership, along with us, to help the other three countries.

We are also working with the leadership from Georgia, the Czech Republic, Uruguay, Dominican Republic, leadership for YMCA Europe, and more.

We also want you to complete the survey you received this month (September). This survey is critical for us to move forward, so we can find out from you, what you know about ISC, do you want to learn more, would you like to be involved, are you willing to travel with a lot of your expenses covered, and more.

We are providing opportunities that you may not have had during your career. All we need is your feedback, and an application if you want to move forward

The YMCA National Service Project is moving toward completion. The Chambers Chapter is well represented, with Art Helldoerfer and me going out for the first wave early in May. More than 12 members of our chapter will hit South Dakota this year. Better yet, there are 6 people who have been out multiple years.

Here's what's been accomplished since the beginning of May.

1. All tiny home walls and ceilings have been brought out of our storage containers and are ready for installation.

2. Tiny Home #3 - walls, roofs, windows, and doors have been installed.

3. Tiny Homes #1 and #2 have all been dry-walled and flooring installed. Electric and water lines for the interior are next.

Here's what’s next with waves 3-5 in September.

1. Tiny Home #4 - walls and roof panels are scheduled to be erected.

2. Work on #4 includes installing windows and doors and flooring for #3 and 4 will be completed.

The project has received over 600 gifts from YMCA Alumni, active Y employees, YMCAs, friends and Y's Men International and the Harold C. Smith Dinner. The gifts to date total more than $956K, and we feel we will raise over a million dollars by year-end. Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to go, given a gift, or supported the work in Dupree in some other way!

Please watch for weekly Wednesday updates on our YMCA Alumni Facebook page with up-to-date pictures and information on the progress.

Thank you, Chambers Chapter, for your generous support year after year for youth worldwide. To date, 13 Chambers Chapter members have contributed $2,850 towards our $6,000 goal. We are most grateful for your gifts of support. In total, YMCA Alumni have given $140,000 so far this year. Overall, the 2024 World Service Campaign has raised $1.7 million.

We are reminded daily that there are so many hurting people today. The “hot spots” remain in Ukraine and the Middle East. War may be ravaging both places, but the good work of the YMCA and its global partners is keeping hope alive through your support of YMCA World Service. To learn more about the YMCA’s Response to the Crisis’s in Ukraine and the Middle East, click HERE.

YMCA Ukraine and YMCA Europe: Since February 2022, individuals, foundations, corporations, YMCA Alumni, and local YMCAs, along with World Service, have raised more than $3.2 million in support and partnered closely with YMCA Ukraine and YMCA Europe to bring hope, humanitarian aid, and long-term support for 360,000 refugees, internally displaced people, veterans, and all affected by this ongoing crisis. 

YMCAs in the Middle East: Since October 2023, YMCA of the USA and World YMCA leaders have remained in regular contact with our friends and colleagues at the Jerusalem International YMCA (JIY), the East Jerusalem YMCA (EJY), and YMCA Lebanon. Contributions to assist YMCAs in the region since October 2023 have exceeded $260,000 as of July 2024. Funds will be utilized to provide humanitarian needs and ensure that the salaries, operations, programs, and services of the Jerusalem International YMCA, East Jerusalem YMCA, and YMCA of Lebanon remain strong. Please click HERE to learn more. 

Good news! There is still time to give to World Service this year. YMCA of the USA - World Service will send a global update and a letter this month. Please be sure to check it out. And please continue to keep our neighbors worldwide in your thoughts and prayers.

"Thank you for Changing the World for Good"

The Archives of the YMCA of the USA was started in 1877 by Jacob T. Bowne, General Secretary of the YMCA in Hudson, New York, after he discovered that there were no official archives of basic YMCA records. He used the material he collected to train other young men for the secretaryship.

In 1890, the first YMCA Training School was incorporated in Springfield, Massachusetts. The archival collection moved to Springfield College under the direction of Bowne and was then cataloged using the Dewey Decimal System.

The collection arrived at the YMCA headquarters in its new building in New York City in 1908. By 1919, the library contained over 40,000 books, pamphlets, and documents, including publications of YMCAs in all lands in scores of languages and dialects.

The library celebrated its centennial in 1976. Reports written for the occasion highlight its dual roles as a historical collection serving researchers looking for historical information and a modern corporate library serving YMCA staff needing current information.

The YMCA of the USA moved its headquarters to Chicago in 1980, and the archives were placed in temporary storage, pending a decision on their disposition. After working with consultant/archivist Gerald Ham to determine the best home for the material, the YMCA of the USA agreed to send the archives to the University of Minnesota in 1985. 

The YMCA Archives were set up in university facilities near its St. Paul campus under the direction of curator Andrea Hinding.

Richard C. Kautz (1916-2003), a businessman and prominent YMCA lay leader from Muscatine, Iowa, and his family donated $800,000 to fund a major preservation project in 1996. In honor of their gift, the Archives is named the Kautz Family YMCA Archives. In 2002, the Kautz family and the YMCA of the USA completed a 3-year mass deacidification project to ensure the long-term preservation of 9,500 books and more than four million sheets of manuscript material.

The Archives Today. The focus is on collecting material that documents the YMCA movement at the national level. They also focus on collecting information-rich material that documents the what and the why of the YMCA's work—so most of the material is text-heavy and only has a small collection of artifacts.

The collection spans from the First Report of the London YMCA in 1844 to a copy of the Y-USA website from June 2024. An extensive collection of lantern slides, postcards, and photographs dating back to the Civil War includes images of a wide spectrum of YMCA individuals, programs, and activities. There is an extensive series depicting YMCA buildings across the country.  

It also includes films and recordings created by the YMCA for various programs and activities or documenting certain events, including promotional, outreach, and training material. A highlight of the audio collection is an 1894 wax cylinder recording of the voice of YMCA founder George Williams.

The collection includes over 400 posters and broadsides. Many relate to YMCA conferences, events, training programs, and publicity campaigns. Highlights of the collection include World War I and II posters and posters from a 1920s public health campaign in China, and prisoner of war artwork from WW I.

Photo: The Elmer L. Anderson Library at the University of Minnesota where the Kautz Family YMCA Archives are located today.

(Thank you to Alex Bentley, Archivist, Kautz Family YMCA Archives, for providing this information.)

For the past several days, I have been wrestling with the topic for this month. Strangely enough, while at Ohio State University for a convocation for the 2024 physician class, called the white coat ceremony (photo right), I heard over and over again about physicians and how they should treat their patients and family members with kindness and respect.

It reminded me of the YMCA’s philosophy of treating our members with care, honesty, respect, and responsibility. In today's environment, all of us should remember that along with the Golden Rule, which we all learned as children, as leaders in our community, and in our families, it is more important than ever to be diligent about treating each other with kindness. I know my grandchildren respond quickly as we offer encouragement and kindness. How about our co-workers or fellow alumni members? Do we use words that reflect a caring attitude as we approach each other?

I will leave you with a Maya Angelou comment. "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will remember how you made them feel!”