25 years is a long time

I was asked recently how long I had been involved with the YMCA. I thought about it for a minute and realized I walked through the doors of Westside YMCA 25 years ago this October. I don't remember the exact date, but I do remember meeting Eunice, Eleanor, Marian and June. They welcomed me with open arms and through the years taught me so much about organization, making the best of difficult situations, compassion, understanding, love and the Y. 

I arrived at the branch after Lew had left and Wayne Hart had not arrived. I remember one of my first task at the front desk was to send out the announcements of the new Executive Director. I didn't realize at the time the transition that would take place over the next months and years. I can say from Wayne I learned budgeting in a not for profit world. It was complex and simple at the same time. I learned also about attention to detail. Wayne could not spell at all. His office wall was covered in post-it notes all of them with important information, all of it misspelled. HOWEVER, he refused to let that be an excuse for any materials to go out with typos. You must remember this was a time when word processing was new an limited. Utako was our word processor and editor extraordinaire.  Wayne also made a big deal about knowing our members and their were no better ambassadors than June and Gary. They greeted each member and trained the part time staff as well. 

I was so blessed to work with people like Miguel Cardiel, his brother who we lost too soon, Mike Soto, Tom Stayer, Kris McCambridge, Eugene Lee, Clint, Mike F, Lisa Randall,  and the list goes on an on. We had fun. When rollerblades were new we had a traveling exhibition and would spend our break time and free time putting roller hockey games together in the gym. 

I was also so lucky to be in a place where I could volunteer as well. Through amazing people like Todd Katz and Geoff Rinehart I was able to become involved with camping and youth groups. What an amazing time. Caravans, pot lucks, mystery nights, haunted houses and more. 

I quickly moved into working day camp as well and met Staci, Christy, Amy, Jocie, Rick, Steve, Maribel and the list is too long to list here.  From Matt Storey I learned the planning wheel for focused and value based planning. All the things that separate the Y from other organizations. 

Through the years I have made life long friends. I have been able to work with the most wonderful kids who have grown up to be exemplary adults. In more recent years I have worked on Leadership Camp, Youth and Government and Campaign. I am a board member. I have my White Rag. So many accomplishments in my life are linked to my Y story. I became a teacher, much later than most, but I was so inspired by Kris, Maren, Paula, Ariella, Robyn, Nicole and on and on and on. 

At the Y I have known great joy, but also, in times of pain and sorrow I have turned to those who have been a family for me and they have sustained me. I have left out so many names in this blog. But I would like to add a few names who have touched me and made me go on when I didn't know if I had anything else to give. Thabiti, Ann, Fieron, Heather, Mike, Michael, Erik, Terri, Erin, Phil, Dann, Tom, Kathryn, Dave. To the staff throughout the years: Ed Viramontes, Dawn Flacks, Bhavani, Luanice, Erik, Deirdra, Anne, Jamie, Linda, Ernie. To board members who have been mentors and friends: Cathy, Dana, Arteria, Don, Dick and the rest. And a special thank you to Ann Samson who has pushed me to do more and more and to guide me and who has also provided support and wisdom through all these years. To Lew who came back and changed all of our lives.

This post is incomplete. I feel so grateful for the past 25 years and I know my life is better for having walked through those doors so many years ago. Just know, even if your name is not listed, you have all meant so much to me. I look forward to the next 25.