Top photo: Members of the Schreiner Chapter were in the lineup at the baseball game between the Oklahoma City Baseball Club and the Sacramento Rivercats at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, just a short walk from the hotel. Lower left photo: A pre-game photo op in Mickey Mantle Plaza. Lower right photo: Both Carm Gallo and Craig Schaffer caught foul balls. Sadly, neither was offered a contract.

Founded 1972

Sam Schreiner Chapter

Serving Texas; Oklahoma; SE New Mexico; S. Arkansas;

W. Louisiana

May 2024

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Hello Craig,

Those who came to Oklahoma City, thanks for making the trip. Those who were unable to make it, you missed a really great time.

Thanks to all those who helped put all the pieces together for the gathering, including Craig Schaefer, Patrick Murphy, Jim Heiman, and Carm Gallo. They helped plan some cool events for our group.

The dinner with the OKC YMCA staff was terrific and the guided tour of the Memorial Museum was awe-inspiring. The presentation from James Kirschner from the YMCA Retirement Fund was enlightening and informative about the fund.

Our next gathering will be held in Wichita Falls in early October. Watch for more details on this.

Now a little reflection: During my YMCA career, I was always inspired by the YMCA triangle, and its three equal side representing “Spirit, Mind and Body”, to make a person complete. As a YMCA alumnus, we have a motto of “Connect, Travel, Serve.”

Although not quite as lofty as the YMCA triangle, this is our triangle. In our retired associations with other YMCA alumni, we attempt to “connect” with one another at gatherings, through newsletters, birthday cards, and some personal emails and visits. This helps us stay in touch with others who have had similar experiences in the YMCA movement.

We “serve” not only at the chapter level as officers and others that take part in leadership, but on a national level with our National Service Project on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota at the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires building, funding, and supporting the worthwhile project to help alleviate the housing insecurities there. I am so proud to tell others of what we are doing as a group together.

We also “travel.” Many members of the Sam Schreiner Chapter have been a part of the Travel Committee and have hosted and taken trips that enhance our retirement years visiting unique places around the world.

Plan to be part of our Reunion at Sea in January 2025, with the Sam Schreiner Chapter helping as a host chapter. Our triangle of “Connect, Serve, Travel” helps us all make the most of our retirement years.

I am looking forward to our leadership training, “48 Hours in May” in St Louis, as officers from all the chapters revisit the YMCA’s Alumni Strategic Plan and gain new insight into the next three years.

God bless you all

Pam

Pam Power, Sam Schreiner Chapter President

Treasurer's Report: Jim Heiman reports the Schreiner Chapter had a balance of $7,879.43 as of March 31, 2024.

Top: We cruised in Oklahoma City on a water taxi. Bottom: Johnie Dandridge and Elizabeth Seth catch-up at dinnertime. Debra and Kim Phillips were welcomed as new members.

Our Oklahoma City Spring Gathering was a great success with 22 people attending. We met on Tuesday and kicked off with an Oklahoma Trivia game put together by Chuck Dandridge. 

Next, we walked over to the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark for a game between the Oklahoma City Baseball Club and the Sacramento River Cats. Carm Gallo and Craig Schaefer both caught baseballs during the game. The game got really exciting in the last two innings resulting in a loss for the Oklahoma City Baseball Club but the weather was great, the food was good and the fellowship better. It was a "winner" of an evening for us.

Wednesday kicked off with a ride on the OKC Water Taxi. Cassidy, our guide, was very knowledgeable about the canal and city. Everyone was on their own for lunch with some people visiting the art museum, some the botanical garden and others headed back to the hotel. The afternoon was spent at the Memorial Museum which was a very moving experience.

Our guide spoke about the importance of hope for the city.  After the Museum, we met at a building owned by a supporter of the OKC YMCA who uses the building for his incredible collection of vintage automobiles. We toured the cars before a fabulous barbecue dinner provided by the OKC YMCA. After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for conversation and a game of Mexican Train Dominos.

We held our Business Meeting Thursday. Following the opening devotional by Karen Anderson, James Kirschner, Chief Strategy Officer for the YMCA Retirement Fund, was invited by Carm Gallo to explain the many aspects of our YMCA Retirement Fund and showed us several videos that included the original Village People with the McBurney YMCA in the background.

Carm Gallo was the lucky winner of our fundraising auction. The $1,252 raised from the auction will be divided equally between the YMCA International Service Corps (ISC), the National Service Project and YMCA World Service.

(Top photo: President Pam Power welcomes us to our spring gathering; Bottom photo: Members try to figure out trivia as Chuck Dandrige explains ice breaker game.

The Sam Schreiner Chapter welcomed three new members to our chapter: Betty Auth of Arlington, Marion Martin of Austin, and Linda Turner of Dallas, Texas. We also welcome Kim and Debra Phillips of Russellville, Ark. who have a dual membership with the Greater Ozark Chapter and Sam Schreiner Chapter.

We currently have 51 units and 72 members. Member Bruce Anderson has passed since our last meeting. 

Photo: A March visit to Reeder and Bonnie Huddleston found them doing well at their assisted living center.

Our Fall Gathering is scheduled for October 2024 in Wichita Falls, Texas. A decision has not yet been reached on the date, but it will be either October 8 to 10 or October 15 to 17. Watch for details in our next issue.

Our YMCA Alumni National Service Project continues. There are five waves of volunteers heading to Dupree, S.D. this spring and early fall to help with the continuing build out. Some $885,000 has been raised to date and there are incidentals that were not included for items such as the pavilion and landscaping. To follow the National Service Project, visit the website (click the button below) and also visit the YMCA Alumni Facebook page.

Our chapter last year pledged $1,500 and contributed $2,000. Our chapter contributions to date are $4,668.

Upcoming Trips

Aug. 2-8, 2024: Scottish Dream & Tattoo (SOLD OUT)

Sept. 27-Oct. 4, 2024: America's Music Cities

Jan. 26-Feb. 2: 2025: YMCA Alumni Reunion at Sea Cruise

June 17-July 3, 2025: Land of the Midnight Sun Cruise

Sept. 14-24, 2025: Majestic Canadian Rockies

Don't delay. Our trips often sell out quickly.