A CLOUD 9 EXPERIENCE Y staff member selected to fly on Air Force plane

Y TimesYMCA of Greater Houston Employee Newsletter

It’s not every day you get to witness a real Air Force mission.

That’s what happened to Kimberly Weaver, business office specialist at the Association Office.

Weaver, who handles Y member applications for military members, was nominated by a staff sergeant at Ellington Field to ride a military plane and witness a practice refueling mission.

The invitation was extended as a thank you to the Y for providing memberships to more

than 700 qualifying

military members in the Houston area.

“I was completely shocked and excited when I got the call,” Weaver said. “I am a huge supporter of our military members. I’m very grateful that I was assigned to

the task of military memberships.”

During the refueling mission, Weaver watched an F16C Viper hook up to the

tanker plane she was on to be refueled.

The Viper positioned itself perfectly below the tanker plane as a long,

As a way of saying thanking the Y for its support of the military, the Air Force invited Kimberly Weaver, business office specialist, to be a special guest on an Air Force practice refueling mission.

June 2014

I am often asked, “What sets our Y apart from other associations?” The answer: We are large, we have leading indicators in many areas like financial development, membership sales/retention and net

promoter scores in program quality.

But the real question should be, “What sets us FAR apart and what makes us “best of show?” That answer is: Our staff. It is those of you who come in each day, give it your very best, go home, come back, and do it again, and again, and again.

I was so touched at our Staff Appreciation Day when we presented awards to people who have been with us for 35 and 40 years. That says a lot about them and about our YMCA. Thank you for all that you do, for what you stand for, your strong faith, and your desire to serve.

As we move into summer and open our pools, camps and summer activities, I want to thank you for what you will bring to the program.

Thanks for not just showing up, but for doing something powerful in serving others. We have been around since1886 and there is still much more to be done.

Blessings to you,

Clark Baker, CEO

Clark’s Corner

FUN GAMES, GOOD TIMES TOGETHER

“It was amazing. I loved every second of it.” - Kimberly Weaver

See CLOUD 9 on the back

Here are some highlights of what went down at Staff Appreciation Day in April at the Kemah Boardwalk.

Mary Huggins chats with Creighton Williams prior to the beginning of the activities.

Otis Sowell hums to a song and tries to get his team to name it.

Adrienne Dishon won an iPad in a staff drawing.

Staff compete to move the red cup back to the bottom of the stack.

Jennifer Guerrero claims her prize in a staff drawing. Staff react with laughter during a team competition.

telescope-like tube called a boom extended and connected to the Viper, pumping thousands of gallons of fuel into it. Aerial refueling allows the smaller planes to remain airborne and fly longer distances instead of having to land to refuel.

“It was amazing,” she said of the trip. “I loved every second of it.”

PROMOTIONS, NEW HIRES AND SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTSPromotionsKimberly Hagan, Youth Development Coordinator, WD Ley

Nick Kosicki, Youth Development Director - Swim & Play, Perry

Tempest Smith, Youth Development Director - Swim & Play, Vic Coppinger

Melanie Thompson, Youth Development Senior Director, Camp Cullen

Corey Calcote, Associate Executive Director, Katy

Colleen Herman, Healthy Living Director, Katy

Connie Stirgus, Outreach Coordinator, Katy

Stevie Jones, Membership Director, Tellepsen

Irris Thompson, Youth Development Director, Tellepsen

Chase Dowell, Regional Youth Development Director

Curtis Lemieux, Regional Youth Development Director

Claudia Sanchez, Associate Executive Director, Aldine/North Harris

Jackie Nagle, Regional Teen Director

Leonard Nelson, Senior Director of Leadership Development/Training

Rosemarie Philip, Director of Leadership Development

Daniel Rangel, Youth Development Director, Swim & Play, Lake Houston

Janis Etzler, Youth Development Coordinator - Swim & Play, South County

Trent Coots, Membership/Healthy Living Coordinator, Baytown

Austin Gary, Youth Development Coordinator - Swim & Play, McWilliams

Ashley Bradford, Youth Development Director - Swim & Play, Langham Creek

Kalon Collins, Youth Development Director - Sports & Play, Vic Coppinger

Edna Kennedy, Associate Executive Director, Conroe

Nora Witbrodt, Regional Youth Development Director

Karen Sawyer, Vice President & Controller, Association Office

Jon Kidwell, Healthy Living Director, Weekley

Transfers

Len Masengale, Group Maintenance Director

New HiresBrandon Bell, Youth Development Director - Sports & Play, Fort Bend

Kelly Lovell, Equestrian Director, Camp Cullen

Cody Meredith, Youth Development Director, Huntsville

Sheila McGill, Healthy Living Director, Katy

Matt Thompson, Community Executive Director, Langham Creek

Kevin Granderson, Youth Development Director, Northeast

Kionta Carter, Healthy Living Director, Duncan

Zach Stuckwisch, Healthy Living Coordinator, EA Smith

Jennifer Boyd, Assistant Controller, Association Office

Along with the refueling mission, Weaver learned about the history of the military unit and squadron.

Besides witnessing this practice mission firsthand, the trip reminded her of her father, who served in the

Navy for four years.

“I can think of so many stories my dad told me when he was in the military and going to Germany and Spain,” she said. “He was so excited when I told him I

was going on this trip. He loved looking at the pictures I took of the mission.”

Weaver said the trip made her even more grateful for her job at the Y.

“I’ve always appreciated what our military service men and women do and the sacrifices they make for us,” she said. “Experiencing this firsthand gave me a much greater appreciation for everything they do and the danger they put themselves in for all of us.”

STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES IN VIETNAM

Melanie Rouser blows bubbles in the classroom with the kids. Y staff spent time in class teaching them English.

Nora Witbrodt with several students at school. Jess Stuart playing with a student. The kids loved playing games with staff during their breaks from class.

Nora Witbrodt jumping rope with students. The kids were so excited when staff joined in with their games and activities.

Lee Brillhart hanging out with students, who loved spending time with Y staff.

Jeff Watkins with a YMCA of Vietnam volunteer holding a plaque that now hangs outside the three renovated classrooms.

All photos courtesy of Robert Totaro of the Capital District YMCA.

Staff from YMCA of Greater Houston recently visited Vietnam and renovated classrooms, taught children English and learned about the culture. Members from the trip included Jeff Watkins, Lee Brillhart, Melanie Rouser, Nora Witbrodt and Jess Stuart.

CLOUD 9 continued

35 YEARS Mary Norton Gretchen Berly

30 YEARS Jaro Fritz Linda Lykos

25 YEARS Jami Huygens

20 YEARS Shalondra Anderson Teresa Batema Terry Cobden Ami Collins Adrienne Dishon Keitha Pierson Jamie Scaffidi Jess Stuart

SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTSEach year at Staff Appreciation Day, the Y recognizes staff who have been employed at the association for 20 years or more.

From left, Robert McFadden, Linda Lykos and Clark Baker.

From left, Robert McFadden, Jamie Scaffidi and Clark Baker.