Families Count at the Providence YMCA

The Greater Providence YMCA was selected to receive an Annie E. Casey Foundation FAMILIES COUNT Family Strengthening Award. Only 5 applicants received awards nationally.

The Rhode Island Association received the award in recognition of its LIVESTRONG Cancer Survivor Program. Each award winner will receive $15,000.

The Greater Providence YMCA programs will be highlighted on the www.ymcaexchange.org Family Strengthening programs page as well as in Hotfacts, and other YMCA publications. Each YMCA also will be contacted by the Hatcher Group, which will develop profiles of our award-winning programs for the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the YMCA Movement.

Farewell Tribute To Andrew Roberts

Greater Waterbury YMCA member Norm Feitelson offered a touching tribute to Greater Waterbury YMCA Executive Director Andrew Roberts at a farewell luncheon conducted at the Country Club of Waterbury today. Feitelson, who joined the Gra-Y program at age 7 in 1931, saluted Roberts, who will serve as Y-USA Senior Resource Director commencing August 3rd.

YMCA Resource Director Richard Foot offered an ODE TO ANDREW ROBERTS on this special occasion. . . . .

With pride, it falls to the local Resource Director from Y-USA
To offer a tribute to the departing CEO of the Greater Waterbury YMCA.

However, this day of joy and delight
Is tinged with tears, albeit slight.

For the CEO of this premiere YMCA he has nurtured
Is embarking on an exciting new aspect of his career featured.

Just as the YMCA builds strong kids, strong families and strong communities. [Hey! A commercial is allowed!)
The Greater Waterbury YMCA community can be proud.

For Andrew Roberts has strengthened this Association so bold
And most notably in this YMCA Sesquicentennial year, we are told.

Beyond the Brass City and environs so fair,
Andrew has given leadership in the Connecticut YMCA Alliance so rare.

A learned man – Brandeis and Harvard – for sure.
Now the real education begins on the Y-USA Service Delivery tour.

Now raise a song for Andrew, let hearts and voices blend
To celebrate his praises, whose fame shall have no end.

A YMCA Golfing Foursome

Retired YMCA professional Skip Raymond, Central Connecticut Coast YMCA President Phil Dwyer, Greater Waterbury YMCA Childcare Director Jaime Wilcox, and Regi0nal YMCA of Western Connecticut member Mitch Mizewski competed as a foursome in the Greater Waterbury YMCA's golf tournament at the Country Club of Waterbury today.

Policy Is Powerful

Today the six Connecticut YMCA teams selected as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant recipients gathered with their Pioneering Healthier Communities collaborators for a statewide Next Steps meeting.

The Southington-Cheshire Community YMCA, one of the six grantees, hosted the Darien Community YMCA, the Greater Hartford YMCA, the Wallingford Family YMCA, the Greater Waterbury YMCA and the Wilton Family YMCA.

Roberta R. Friedman, ScM, Director of Public Policy for the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, keynoted the conference, with an illustrated presentation titled “Policy Is Powerful” in which she emphasized the shift from “programs” to developing and implementing “policy” related to youth obesity.

Pictured are: [L-R} Roberta R. Friedman, Sam Bechnel, Morag Vance, Mario Garcia, Judy Jameson, Phil Dwyer, Barbara Moore, and Jay Cohen

Red Cube Inspiration

The Red Cube by Isamu Noguchi (1968, red painted steel, Marine Midland Bank - now Brown Brothers Harriman, 140 Broadway, New York) is the backdrop for a gathering of YMCA leaders, engaged in a focus group at the YMCA Retirement Fund offices in Manhattan.
L-R - Vanessa Boulous, YMCA Retirement Fund Senior Vice President for YMCA Relations; Robert Hastedt, YMCA Retirement Fund Director of Education; Chuck Ainsworth, Greater New York YMCA Vice President, YMCA Partnerships; and Ricardo Torres, YMCA Resource Director.
Web research reveals: Aside from its striking color, Red Cube stands out from the surrounding architecture in that all of its lines are diagonals, whereas the buildings are made up of horizontal and vertical lines. Additionally, the sculpture is balanced somewhat precariously on one corner, while the buildings, by contrast, and solidly placed.

Eagle Scout Builds Bridge At YMCA Camp Hazen

YMCA Camp Hazen Executive Director Denise Learned admires the handiwork of a local Eagle Scout, who led a group project to construct a bridge at the independent YMCA camp in Chester, Connecticut.

Archery At YMCA Camp Hazen

Campers at YMCA Camp Hazen in Chester, Connecticut are enjoying the new archery range, constructed on a portion of the 5.5 acres recently acquired by the independent YMCA camp adjacent to its current property. YMCA Camp Hazen has plans for a new bathhouse and an 800 sf addition to its main office building - part of a master plan and capital development program.

YMCA Camp Hazen New England-Style Barn

YMCA Camp Hazen in Chester, Connecticut boasts a handsome new 3,000 sf maintenance facility, of post-and-beam construction, modeled in the New England barn architectural style. The two-story structure, features heated office and maintenance workspace, as well as bays for storage of tractors, lawn maintenance equipment, and heavy equipment. A second story affords ample storage space for supplies and equipment. The design, site preparation and construction, totalling $300,000, was funded with YMCA Camp Hazen's operating reserves.

Chester Cedar Swamp - YMCA Treasure

Walk with me on the boardwalk leading to Chester Cedar Swamp, which is one of the finest remaining examples of an Atlantic White Cedar forest. This breathtaking natural setting at YMCA Camp Hazen in Chester, Connecticut was declared a National Natural Landmark. This type of forest is at risk and being succeeded by hemlock. The Chester Cedar Swamp is adjacent to a 5.5 acre parcel of land recently acquired by YMCA Camp Hazen, as part of the independent camp's master plan of conservation and development.

Greater New York YMCA YouTube Video

YMCA Global Teens is a dynamic youth program which offers teens the opportunity to engage in the powerful journey of global discovery. Since 1996, Global Teens has sent over 700 teenagers to over 26 countries. The impact of the program is profound, and best described in the words of its participants. Check out the latest YouTube video produced by the Greater New York YMCA -

New Canaan YMCA YouTube Video

The New Canaan Community YMCA (New Canaan, Connecticut) has posted a video on YouTube -

YMCA Camp Greenknoll

Day campers at YMCA Camp Greenknoll in Brookfield, Connecticut reveled in the sunshine and warmth of a July day in the Association's spectacular fifty-meter outdoor swimming pool. The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut's aquatic facility is marking its third season of operation.

The Biggest Dam Movie & Beavers

The award-winning IMAX film - Beavers - The Biggest Dam Movie - came to life for this YMCA Resource Director, when he visited YMCA Camp Mohawk today!

The entrance road to the all-girls YMCA camp in Litchfield, Connecticut was flooded, thanks to the "busy-ness" of a family of beavers.

Camp Mohawk Camp Director Patrick Marchand reports that each morning the Camp management must break up a beaver dam, re-constructed overnight by the industrious swimmers.

"P" Day At YMCA Camp Mohawk

Camp Mohawk YMCA Assistant Director Nadine Thompson modeled one of the many and varied forms of dress during "P" Day at the all-girls YMCA camp in Litchfield, Connecticut.

What is "P-Day", you ask? On this summer camp theme day, everyone wears something which begins with "P" - pink, plaid, purple, pajamas, you get the idea!

New Air Rifle Range at YMCA Camp Sloane

For less than five thousand dollars, YMCA Camp Sloane has a brand new eight-station air rifle range!

The sturdy structure, along with the backstop, were the creation of staff and volunteers at YMCA Camp Sloane, which marks its 81st camping season in 2009.

Camp Sloane YMCA Dining Hall Paddles

Don't try to practice the J-stroke with the paddles mounted on the entrance doors to Camp Sloane YMCA's Barclay Acheson Dining Hall!

These canoe paddles serve as handsome (and handy) door handles, thanks to the creativity of Camp Sloane YMCA Executive Director Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Michael Matson Appointed To Y-USA Task Force

Michael Matson, Immediate Past Chief Volunteer Officer of the Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut, has accepted an invitation from the YMCA of the USA to serve on the Y-USA’s Membership Standards and Governance Review Task Force.

The task force will review the YMCA of the USA’s current governance system, eight constitutional qualifications for membership, and constitutional method by which it protects the YMCA name, marks and brands. The task force will make recommendations to the National Board and ultimately to the movement.
A key operating objective of the YMCA of the USA’s 2007 Mission Impact Strategic Plan is to evaluate its governance processes and systems, and make necessary changes to ensure they are representative, efficient, in concert with all regulatory requirements and capable of attracting volunteer leaders commensurate with the movement’s stature as a major not-for-profit organization. A core function of YMCA of the USA is to protect the YMCA name, marks and brands.
This task force will be chaired by Ulice Payne, YMCA of the USA’s newly elected Chair-elect.
Michael is the founder and President of Matson Financial Advisors, a financial investment firm based in Brookfield, Connecticut.
Michael is an active member of The Financial Planning Association, National Association of Tax Professionals and International Association of Registered Financial Consultants. Michael is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Business with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in economics and finance. He gained a more global perspective studying economics and international marketing at Tilburg University in the Netherlands in 1983. He currently serves on various Congregational Church of Brookfield committees. He is also an Investment Advisor with the Congregational Church of Brookfield. His commitment to the community is reflected in the local organizations he and his family supports. These include his appointment to The Regional YMCA of Western Connecticut as a member of the Board of Directors where he served as Chairman of the Board from 2006-2009. For over eight years, Michael has also been successful in promoting good sportsmanship and teamwork as an active youth soccer coach.

Willett Earns Mott Scholarship

Nick Willett, Executive Director of the Fairfield Branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA, has been awarded a $2,500 John R. Mott Scholarship. The Mott Scholarship assists YMCA Senior Directors in continuing their education through graduate study. It was established in honor of John R. Mott, a major YMCA leader for more than 60 years, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946. Nick is pursuing his graduate studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut.