March 2013

YEA
CREATIVE
BO
NEWSLETTER
NAME
Des Moines Y Camp
1192- 166th Drive, Boone, IA 50036
March 2013- Winter/Spring Issue
http://www.y-camp.org/
DEDICATED TO KEEPING ALUMNI IN TOUCH WITH THEIR BELOVED Y CAMP!
WINTER AT Y CAMP!
IN THIS ISSUE
To see Y Camp in the winter after a snow fall is truly a beautiful sight!
Winter at Y Camp!
Become a Fan
Meet Laura Petersen
Directors Corner
Events At Y Camp
Bill Duro Award
Digital World
New Things
A Bid Farewell
Here is what is happening in our program departments:
Alumni Events
Summer Camp has been busy putting together schedules and staff for this
next summer and brainstorming just how to make it as incredible as possible.
Already we are on pace with last years numbers (in which we had waiting
lists) and over 35 Leaders are already signed on for the summer! This spring
begins many marketing opportunities and an exciting new partnership with
the Sioux YMCA.
Alumni Profile
Outdoor Education this past fall has been a busy time of year. Though we
didn’t have as many overnights as spring, we did have a lot of day groups.
The Math, History and Science of the Tipi are especially popular as many
schools have a Native American unit they studied in the fall. As one West Des
Moines teacher said, “There’s not a day that goes by that we don’t talk about
something we learned with the tipi.” Teachers also continue to bring students
to camp because the experiences help their students with retention.
The seasonal naturalists have arrived and training is underway. Soon we will
set out around Iowa visiting thousands of students with our free program EcoKid, a three act play about conservation.
Winter at Y Camp Continued from page 1
Alumni Updates
DIGITAL OR HARD COPY
NEWSLETTER?
Contact Alumni Coordinator Amy
Joanning by email at
[email protected] and
let her know if you’d prefer to
receive the newsletter in digital
or hard copy form.
KEEP US CURRENT!
Please visit http://www.ycamp.org/en/alumni/ and
complete the Alumni and Friends
Contact Form!
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Retreats and Conferences is gearing up for a very busy spring. Most of the weekends have been booked by
various churches, student organizations, and family campouts. Make sure you check out our events page on
Facebook to see the most recent campout planned. Recently, Y Camp has made some new partnerships. After a
wonderful quilting weekend, Y Camp is now partnering with Quilts of Valor, an organization that donates quilts to
wounded veterans. In addition, we are excited to serve 3 brand new groups this summer, Camp OK, Variety Amp
Camp and the University of Nebraska chapter of Camp Kesem. Camp OK is a Kiwanis based camp for kids from
around Iowa and Nebraska. The Variety Amp Camp is a camp that helps kids in foster care prepare for life on their
own after high school, and Camp Kesem is a camp that serves children whose parents have cancer. We are very
excited for a very busy and fun spring and summer!
BECOME A FAN
Where do you go to find information or settle a dispute? The internet!!! Even more specific most
people visit social media sights to find their information or ask a question.
Along with our website www.y-camp.org you can also find information about Camp on Facebook.
Even more, if you are a fan of our page you’ll never miss an update from camp.
If you haven’t already please visit our page at www.facebook.com/DesMoinesY Camp and click the
‘LIKE’ button. Tell your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Help us increase our ‘likes’ and bring more
people to the closest place to heaven on earth!
MEET LAURA PETERSEN
Laura hails from the Great Land of Texas where she was born and
raised. She is an only child and her family lives in Dallas, Texas. Her
golden retriever puppy Ms. Sadie keeps her company at home.
Laura attended Cornell University where she was a collegiate rower
and then attended the University of Missouri receiving her B.A.
Psychology and B.J. Photojournalism. Laura lived and studied in
Cordoba, Argentina for a semester as well.
Laura traveled to the Beijing Olympics where she worked for two
months in press operations and she has backpacked through Ecuador
and Peru.
After college Laura was a boys rowing coach at Jesuit College
Preparatory in Dallas. She came to Iowa in 2011 accepting the
position of Program Director at Camp Hantesa.
Dave Sherry is convinced he can switch Laura to be a Packers fan but
her blood runs true with silver and blue for the Dallas Cowboys!
She loves summer nights, being under the stars, watching kids chase
fireflies and having conversations around the campfire. Laura believes
camp is a safe and magical place where kids and staff grow to be the best versions of themselves.
She is incredibly excited to be a part of the Y Camp family and most excited for evening programs, an incredible
staff team and the opportunity to serve so many kids and families!
Welcome to the Y Camp Family Laura! We are estatic you are here and you are a great addition to our team!
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DIRECTORS CORNER
I have a love-hate relationship with mud. At times mud can
bring out the ugly side of me. Washing the car, watching
where I step and dirty floors constantly needing to be
mopped around camp. Urrg! But, we all learn lessons for
life at Y Camp, one of these is to look at the sunnyside of
life. It’s the sunnyside that melts our snow making mud this
time of year, and it’s the sunnyside that reminds me what all
of this mud means. Spring mud means progress and
transition. Thus the love part of our relationship.
This year the Spring mud brings lots of progress and
transition. Mud is bringing the grass and woods back to life
as we speak. Spring mud brings with it school groups and
the horizon of another summer camp season. This spring we
are introducing our new Summer Camp Program Director –
Laura Petersen. We are excited to have Laura with us and
look forward to seeing her surrounded by campers soon.
Laura is a great addition to our team and community – it’s
been a good transition. Mud this spring also is surrounding
our facility progress. The flood wall is nearing completion,
and looking great. The wall will help protect Y Camp’s
beloved Cownie Dining Hall from future floods, thus hopefully
keeping that building around for campers to enjoy a meal
and music for years to come. New sidewalks will soon be
here and the mud will be replaced with grass around the
construction site. But for now, the mud around the dining
hall equals progress towards securing camp’s heritage and
future. We also have mud around the new Iles drinking
fountain. Soon spring camper groups then summer campers
will be filling water bottles or sitting in the shade of the
newly reconstructed shelter, enjoying time with friends. The
Dahl House remodel is nearing completion thanks to the hard
work of a few volunteers and staff. As the mud is converted
to grass, we will see teens,
families and campers of all
ages enjoy this new retreat on
the north side of camp. All of
this is great Progress,
transition into another spring,
summer and era.
The second weekend in March
we got some Wisconsin mud
on our boots. The Summer
Staff in Leadership roles met
with Cole Bowermaster (Group
Camping Director), Laura
Petersen (Summer Camp Director) and myself for a weekend
of planning and teambuilding at a small cabin in Wisconsin.
It’s always one of my favorite weekends of the year. We
shared meals together, laughed a lot and spent most of the
weekend working on coming together as a team and
planning summer 2013. What a great group of leaders we
have returning to camp again this summer. It’s always fun
to see the excitement they bring to our annual retreat and
the creative ideas they share. I
usually leave physically tired (they
are slowly becoming much younger
than I am) but spiritually and
emotionally charged.
Mud washes off. We can clean the
cars, hose off our shoes and mopping
the floor is not a big deal. Progress
and transition towards our future is a
big deal. As your dealing with mud
this spring, remind yourself of the
good that comes with it. Camp,
warm summer days, time with friends
new and old. Progress.
Dave “Wooly Bear” Sherry
EVENTS AT Y CAMP
Check out these exciting events happening at Y Camp:
Father/Child Spring CampoutApril 13- 14, 2013
Fathers and their children ages 5- 12
$82 father/child pair; $30 additional
child
Mother/Child Spring CampoutApril 27- 28, 2013
Mothers and their children ages 5- 12
$82 mother/child pair; $30 additional
child
Memorial Day Family CampoutMay 25- 26, 2013
Enjoy a weekend of fun and let
Y Camp do the rest! Choose
from various activities such as
the climbing tower, archery,
pony rides, campfire cooking,
night hike, and an evening
campfire.
Spend your weekend in the beautiful surroundings at
Y Camp and enjoy your time reconnecting as a family.
$170/family of 4; $40/additional participant
For more information and to register
Online at http://www.ycamp.org/en/groups_and_retreats/events_for_fami
lies_children_and_adults/

By phone at 515.432.7558
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BILL DURO- VOLUNTEEER OF THE
YEAR AWARD
DIGITAL
WORLD
It is hard to put into words how much
Y Camp appreciates Bill Duro. A
former Camper, Leader, and Board
Chair, Bill can be found at Camp
almost weekly volunteering.
REGISTER NOW FOR 2013
SUMMER CAMP
If you have enjoyed time at Camp
sitting on a bench, taking shade under
a tree, visiting Chapel at night with
walking light (amongst a host of other
things) you have experienced the
volunteer work of Bill!
So humble a man, he insists we do
not award him the YMCA Volunteer of
the Year Award we award an adult
and child each year. We decided to
take matters into our own hands and
have created the Bill Duro Volunteer
of the Year Award!
The Bill Duro Volunteer of the Year Award will be awarded each year to a
volunteer who has shown their dedication to Y Camp through out the year.
We are pleased to announce the first recipient of this award is Amy
Skogerson, past leader and present Board Member and Building and Grounds
Task Force Chair.
We cannot say thank you enough to Bill for the work he does at Camp but
we hope by creating the Bill Duro Volunteer of the Year Award we can
continue to show our extreme appreciation!
Visit our website to register online
at http://y-camp.org/en/register/
or print the registration form at
http://ycamp.org/index.cfm?nodeID=461
65&audienceID=1
Please call 515.432.7558 or email
[email protected] to request a
bundle of brochures to share with
family, friends and co-workers!
FOLLOW Y CAMP ON
FACEBOOK!
Please go and ‘like’
our page!
Once you are our fan you’ll never
miss another update from us! You
will also enjoy photos that are
added weekly!
http://www.facebook.com/DesMoi
nesY Camp
VOLUNTEERING
Are you looking for a sense of accomplishment? Want to pay it forward?
Teach your family the importance of giving back?
CHECK OUT OUR
YOUTUBE SITE…
Volunteers often speak of the personal benefits that volunteering has on
their character and say that the experience makes them a better person.
Are you missing summer camp?
Check out all the great videos on
our YouTube site.
It is also an opportunity to learn new things, gain skills and experience,
network, create new friendships and volunteering is fun!
JOIN 365
This site is updated daily during
the summer.
http://www.youtube.com/dmY
Camp
365 is a new initiative of the Y that's designed to connect people to the
causes that they can best serve and encourages people to do something
good everyday. Big or small, it'll make a difference. It's really easy to join.
Just visit: http://www.join365.org/
Interested in volunteering at Y Camp? Contact the Y Camp office at
[email protected] or by phone at 515.432.7558.
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NEW THINGS
FLOOD WALL
HOWRY ACRES- DAHL HOUSE
We’ve come a long way baby! Construction on the
flood wall began in December. It was quite a scene as
workers dug a 12’ trench around the Cownie Dining
Hall and recently
filled it in with
concrete and rock.
Y Camp was blessed with the arrival of Bob Howry
(family camper) and contractor Leo Gonzalez who
traveled from Arizona to
work on the Dahl House
at Howry Acres located
just North of Camp.
Construction is
scheduled to be
complete in April.
Working day and night
for just under a week,
Bob and Leo made a
dramatic transformation,
kicking this remodel into
high gear!
We cannot thank you
enough for all your hard
work!
Pictured right are Bob
and Leo.
BALD EAGLE NEST
New cabinets are
complete in the kitchen:
Isn’t she beautiful?!
For the first time in Y
Camp’s history, we are
the proud home to a
bald eagle family!
Naturalist Mike Havlik
spotted the nest the
last week of February.
Eagles built the nest
last year but did not
use it. The female sits
on eggs around the
clock. The male
relieves her twice a
day by sitting on them
for a few minutes
while she bathes and stretches her wings. The
incubation period is 35 days which means we could
see chicks by the end of this month!
Car siding replaces the outdated paneling in the living
room and front door area:
New hard wood floors are installed in all rooms:
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A BID FAREWELL
The impact that Y Camp has had on my life and the life of my family over these past nine years is indescribable.
The lessons, both professional and personal, are those which I am eternally thankful.
As I went through Ray Pugh’s visitation and sat at his Celebration of Life
I was completely moved not just by his life but by the impact that camp
itself had on so many people. I have realized through this process of
leaving what “the Closest Place to Heaven on Earth” really means. I
have believed camp is all about building friendships and loving others.
That is why people come back, not shooting archery or going down the
pool slide but really because of the relationships they build. So if this
valley is all about loving others and building relationships and God is
love, then Y Camp is bringing us closer to God and truly just like
Heaven.
The relationships I have made here are that way. The mentors of Full
Time Y Camp staff, alumni, board and committee members has taught
me more then I could have ever asked for. The summer staff have
become as much a part of my family as any brother or sister. In
moving on to the next step at another camp I can only hope to create or
more likely take with me these lessons and spirit.
Thank you to all of you who have made Y Camp such a special place to
me, to my family and to the hundreds of thousands of children who
have attended and will continue to come. I pray that I will make you
proud and continue a legacy of impact on the lives of children in my
next adventure.
BJ Murray
Summer Camp Program Director 2003- 2012
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ALUMNI EVENTS
Do you stay in touch with Y Camp staff and friends of camp? We are looking for YOU to be an Alumni Liaison!
Alumni Liaisons will help coordinate, host, and spread the word about alumni and friends events!
Would you be interested in being an Alumni Liaison, have an idea for an event or would you like to host an alumni event? We’d
be delighted to hear from you! Email Amy at [email protected]!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
FUNNY BONE COMEDY CLUB
SPRING MIGRATION AT SAYLORVILLE LAKE
Let’s laugh together at the Funny Bone Comedy Club
in West Des Moines! An April weekday date to be
determined. Watch for an email and postcard!
Along with Mike Havlik, Y Camp Naturalist, we will
enjoy the spring migration at Saylorville Lake in April.
TWILIGHT GOLF OUTING
ALUMNI REUNION
Grab your clubs and enjoy an evening of golf
with fellow alumni and friends in May.
Mark your calendars today for the annual Alumni Reunion
on Sunday, August 4th.
For more information and to register- Email Amy at [email protected] or contact the Y Camp office at
515.432.7558
PAST EVENTS:
HIGH TRESTLE TRAIL WALK AND LUNCH
It was a brisk day on Sunday, October 14th when Y Camp Alumni and Friends
gathered at the High Trestle Bridge in Madrid! Guided by our very own Mike Havlik
we enjoyed a walk across the bridge as well as exploring the outdoors.
After our walk we
gathered in Woodward for an intimate lunch at Cayannes Café
and Gifts.
Thanks to everyone who made it to Madrid to enjoy the day
together!
Pictured left- Spyke Reed, Staub Family, Hartung Family,
Mellinger Family, Sherry Family, Mike Havlik, Kyle and Keaton
Joanning, Bill Keck, Eric Douglass, Murray Family, Keck Family, and Lisa Green-Douglass.
HOLIDAY LIGHTS TOUR
What a wonderful night we had for our holiday lights tour on December 13th!
After enjoying a chili dinner and Dodee bars we hopped aboard a couple
Keck Parking busses and headed out to enjoy Jolly Holiday Lights and Jingle
in the Junction.
Big thanks to Bill Keck and Bill Duro for driving the busses and Keck Parking
for supplying the busses!
Pictured right- Back row: Bill Duro, Barb Duro, Bill Keck, Stephanie Murray, BJ Murray, John Pugh, Erik Strege, Adrienne Strege,
Dave Strege, and Jen Strege. Front row: Wyatt Pugh, Jody Pugh, Justine Long, Sarah Jacobs, Barb Keck, Talia Monroe, Kyle
Joanning and Amy Joanning. Shadow of photographer: Keaton Joanning.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
ALUMNI UPDATES
David Biklen
Special Alumni Note: An audio version of Ray
Pugh’s eulogy can be found on our website. Here is a
direct link: http://www.ycamp.org/index.cfm?nodeID=64106&audienceID=1
Leader years and Positions held: Aquatics Director
1964; Junior Leader 1958, 1959, 1960
Occupation: Lawyer
Family: spouse Blanche Capilos, daughter Rebecca
Biklen
Favorite memories of Camp: Friendships with
other leaders who worked so well toward a common
goal of providing an excellent camping experience for
boys. Boyd’s malted milk shakes.
Skills developed: Camping, boating, canoeing,
sailing, and bus driving.
What are you doing now: For 22 years I was
Executive Director of the Connecticut Law Revision
Commission. Now I’m in private practice of law in
Hartford and I am chair of the CT delegation to the
Uniform Law Commission.
Has Camp had an influence in your life/success:
Yes… Troop 1, Denver Colorado Scoutmaster –
founded 1915 same as Rocky Mountain National Park.
Tell us more: My father Wayne Biklen, Uncle Donald
Biklen, and Brother W. Michael Biklen were all leaders
at Y Camp.
I discovered that
Immanuel
Congregational
Church, my
church in
Hartford, CT, had
its hand bells
refurbished about
5 years ago by
Marlow Cowan of
Ankeny who was
Y Camp director
in the 1950’s and
60’s.
Pictured: George Capilos, David Biklen, Rebecca
Biklen and Blanche Capilos holding Max.
Kaci Dannatt (staff 2001- 2009) will be graduating
in May with her Master of
Health Administration
degree from the University
of Missouri. Kaci will be
working at Barnes-Jewish
Hospital in St. Louis. She
was one of two people
chosen for the
administrative fellowship
position within the hospital.
We’re very proud of you
Kaci and know you’ll do
great work!
Meredith (Beasley) Boesen (staff 1993-1994)
daughter Grace recently turned 2 on December
22ndand Annabelle
turned 4 on March
6th.
Grace likes to
sing, dance, do
gymnastics, and
likes to do
anything her big
sister Annabelle is
doing.
AnnaBelle likes ballet,
gymnastics, pre-school and
loves her little sister. Her
favorite color changes every
other day. AnnaBelle hopes to
by a Y Camp leader as soon
as she gets a little bit older!
The girls will also be first time
Family Camper this summer
and they are really excited!
We can’t wait to see you this
summer for your first Family
Camp experience!
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ALUMNI UPDATES
John Pugh (staff 2007) and Justine Long were
married on December 29th, 2012. They had their
ceremony at
Westminster
Presbyterian
Church with
the reception
following at
Stoney Creek
Inn. They
celebrated
the New Year
and their
honeymoon in the Bahamas.
The Pugh’s currently live in Des Moines. John is an
Account Executive with Drake IMG Sports Marketing
while Justine is a Graphic Designer with Wells Fargo
Home Mortgage.
Note from John - The wedding was a great reason for
getting our family and friends together after the
passing of my Grandpa Ray. We ALL wish he could
have physically been there to crack jokes, tell stories
and take part in the big day. He was in all of our
thoughts and prayers during the celebration but we
all found comfort in knowing that he had the best
seat in the house. That’s right; don’t feel too bad, he
GOT to watch from Heaven. Love you Grandpa Ray.
Congratulations John and Justine!
Katie McGuire (Family Camper)
passed the transplant certification
exam in November.
It was a 175 question exam that
she had been studying for since
August.
She is now Katie McGuire, RN, BSN,
CCTN.
Way to go Katie!
Teresa Derby (staff 20072009) met up with the
Sherrys in Chicago over
spring break!
Pictured standing: Dakota
and Hunter; sitting: Teresa
with Sierra.
Holly Rexroat (Family Camper, staff 1989- 1990)
celebrated the end
of 2012 purchasing
her first home with
her son Sean
Rexroat. Despite all
of the home buyer
headaches and
stress, closing and
moving happened all
in the same day, the
day before
Thanksgiving. They
dined on Pizza Hut and pecan pie for their first
Thanksgiving dinner in their first home!
Congratulations on your first home purchase!
AJ Smit (staff 2011- 2012) and husband Jeremy
moved to Hawaii in September 2012 and have settled
into their new home in Honolulu.
As a dream came true, AJ
started mermaiding
professionally as Mermaid
Harmony, doing birthday
parties, story telling, and
beach surprise appearances!
AJ also landed a job as a
lead counselor at a Day
Camp, which is similar to
what the PC does at Y Camp.
They are loving Hawaii and
going on new adventures all
the time!
How many camps can say
they have an alumni
mermaid?!?
We are thrilled you are able
to fulfill your mermading
dream! Best of luck and we can’t wait to hear about
all your exciting adventures!
Ashley Wilson (staff 2007) joined the Army in
September 2008 and got commissioned as an Army
Officer in June 2009. She was recently
promoted CPT and stationed in Afghanistan. Ashley
will be there for one
year, returning in
February 2014. Previous
Duty assignments
include S. Korea and
Fort Lee, VA.
Pictured is Ashley in the
mountains of
Afghanistan.
Thank you for your
service Ashley!
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ALUMNI UPDATES
Paul Fitzgerald (staff 2011- 2012) taught in a 7th
grade Math classroom for the first half of his student
teaching requirement to graduate from UNI for eight
weeks at the American School of Bombay in Mumbai
from January- March. It was in a fantastic school
with students whose parents worked for companies
from all over the world.
Paul experienced a large culture shock moving from
Iowa to Mumbai, India which is the 4th largest city in
the world. The metro area is home to over 20 million
people. He loved the experience and learned a lot
about the culture. He was able to travel around the
city and see many different sites and enjoyed the
visits and
learning so
much about
their history
and culture
which is
largely
different than
anything he
has
experienced
before.
Paul was able to see the Taj Mahal (pictured above)
and also visited the city Jaipur in the same weekend.
This weekend was the highlight of his trip. Paul says
“It is a different experience than the world we live in.
I was able to do some fun bargaining on the streets
and took more than 500 pictures that weekend.”
What an amazing experience. We are very proud of
you Paul and look forward to having you back this
summer as our CIT Coordinator!
Dodee Pugh (Family Camper) recently travelled to
Arizona to visit Bill and Bark Keck (Family Campers)
and the Howry Family (Family Campers).
We love to see
friends of Y Camp
get together!
Pictured: Barb
Keck, Dodee Pugh,
Dena, Bob, KK and
Ty Howry
Cole Bowermaster
(staff 2005- current)
and wife Chelsey
celebrated their daughter
Caroline’s 1st birthday on
March 2nd with family and
friends at Chase Lodge.
Happy 1st birthday
Caroline!!
David Sherry (2001- current) and Kate’s daughter
Sierra attended a day long drill team retreat at the
Boone High School.
April Sauls (staff
2007- 2010) came
to support Sierra
during her end of
the day
performance.
Way to go Sierra!
Keep up the great
work!
The Beasley Family- Steve and Connie (Family
Campers) along with BJ and Allison (Beasley)
Stadtlander (staff 1991- 1994) and JR and
Meredith (Beasley) Boesen (staff 1993-1994)
enjoyed a week long trip
to Costa Rica to celebrate
Steve and Connie’s 40th
anniversary, Allison and
BJ’s 10th anniversay and
Meredith and JR’s 5th
anniversay.
They went white water
rafting, zipplining,
rappelling, canyoning
and visited the natural hot
springs before heading to
the pacific coast of Costa
Rica for relaxation
Connie and Steve’s
wedding photo from June
1973 is pictured above and
pictured right is the family
in Costa Rica.
Happy anniversay to all!
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ALUMNI UPDATES
David Strege (Family Camper) is part of the USA
Senior Men’s Volleyball Team. Blaine Labs (Bob
Blaine- Family Camper) has provided the USA Senior
Men’s volleyball
team with much
appreciated
support over the
last couple of
years. Covering
their tournament
entry fees makes
sure that all of
their top level
players can be on
the team. Blaine
Labs providing
Ortho-Nesic for
their players also
helps to keep the
more mature
players in the
game.
As a team they appreciate the ability to have top
national and international experiences. This has been
exhibited in taking second in the world at the Global
Cup, winning a US National Championships and
winning the Men’s 50 and over division at the
Huntsman Games. Each player is honored to wear a
Team USA uniform and compete at the highest level
of volleyball available in the world for Senior Men.
Pictured is David hitting out of the middle for the USA
Senior Men’s Team against a 6’11” Russian. Highlight
footage is available for viewing at
http://50plusvolleyball.com/videos/
David was also recently appointed to The National
Endowment for Financial Education® (NEFE®)
serving an initial three-year term with the 14member board. Please visit
http://www.nefe.org/press-room/news/nefe-boardappoints-new-member.aspx to read more about
David’s new role.
Both great accomplishments! We are proud to have
you as one of our own!
Amy Joanning (staff 2002current) is pictured assisting
Jonathan May (staff 19972000 and Board Member) at the
YPartners Celebration.
Jonathan is an amazing magician
and was delighted to be a part of
the annual YMCA campaign
YPartners as a campaigner and
entertainer at the celebration.
Check out Jonathan’s website at
http://www.JMayMagic.com for
your next event!
Amy (A.J.) Skogerson (staff 1992-1994, 1998 and
Board Member) and her husband Erik are proud to
announce the opening of Pondside Farm & Vineyards
near Adel, Iowa.
The vineyard was
originally founded
by Amy's parents,
Carl and Gloria
Jensen in 1998.
Carl passed away
five years ago after
several good grape
harvests, but
without ever having had the opportunity to realize his
dream of bottling wine for all to enjoy made from the
grapes in his beloved vineyard. Amy and Erik are now
sharing Carl’s legacy with their first line of wines from
the family vineyard.
With humorous wine labels and titles inspired by
Amy's law practice, Pondside’s “briefcase” of native
wines ranging from white to red and sweet to dry is
sure to provide a little something to satisfy
everyone's palate:
Volume I – Jurisprudence; Volume II – Alimony;
Volume III – Foreclosure; Volume IV - Alternative
Dispute Resolution;
Volume V – Guilty;
Volume VI - Breach of
Contract; Volume VII Contempt of Court
Pondside wines are
available for purchase
by contacting Amy and
Erik at 515.996.0003
or via email at [email protected]. You
can also "Like" them on Facebook and check out their
website at http://www.pondsidevineyards.com.
Cheers!
11
ALUMNI UPDATES
Tyler Weig (staff 2004) is a truly amazing alumnus!
The chain of organ transplants this week at Mercy
Medical Center in Des Moines started when 30-yearold Tyler Weig decided to donate his kidney to
whomever needed it. – USA Today, January 11, 2013
There are nearly 95,000 people in America, and more
than 500 in Iowa, that are currently waiting for a new
kidney and ultimately the new lease on life that a
healthy kidney would bring to them. The more Tyler
learned about organ donation, specifically living
kidney donation, the more he wanted to become
involved.
From Tyler: The world is full of wonderfully miraculous
opportunities to join together to create something
greater than ourselves. I'm so lucky to be just one
part of the tremendous team of doctors, nurses, social workers, hospital staff, family, friends, caregivers, media,
strangers, donors, recipients, supporters, etc. etc. etc. that made last week's kidney donation chain a reality. I'm
in awe of the amount of support that I have received and I'll do my best to show others the same love and
support as they pursue all of their dreams.
USA Today article: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/01/11/donor-starts-chain-of-5transplants/1566328/
Words cannot express how proud we are of you Tyler! Thank you for your selfless act and helping others. We hope
others will aspire to be as great a person as you are!
Pictured: Top right- Tyler giving a thumbs up!
Above Left- Tyler and the operating room nurses that took wonderful care of
him.
Above Middle- The five donors and five recipients are at the tables. Mercy staff
is standing in the back row. Tyler is very grateful for everyone's participation
and support.
Above Right- Tyler, his recipient Lance and wife Julie along with Tyler’s
parents enjoyed spending time getting to know each other.
Right- Tyler’s recipient Lance, their surgeon Dr. Cass Franklin, and Tyler. Tyler can't say enough good things
about the care he received under Dr. Franklin's watchful eye.
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