STAUNTON- AUGUSTA FAMILY YMCA
NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2020
FEATURES:
Our Rock St eady Boxing scarecrow st ands guard at Gypsy Hill Park.
P. 2 - WHAT IS OPEN? P. 3 - TURNING TO THE Y FOR HELP P. 4 - SAW TUTORING NETWORK P. 5 - SARAH MENDONÇA: TUTORING P. 6 - ROCK STEADY BOXING RETURNS P. 9 - ALAN STAMP P. 10 - DONATIONS P. 11 - KAREN LANDERS TALKS NUTRITION P. 12 - GROUP EXERCISE SCHEDULE
WHAT IS OPEN HERE AT THE STAUNTON- AUGUSTA FAMILY YMCA St art ing Oct . 1: Mon. - Fri. 5:30 a.m. - 8 :00 p.m., Sat . 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Sun. 1:00 pm - 7:00 p.m.
Wellness Cent er - no appointments needed. Equipment is spread out in the weight room and on half of the basketball court. We ask that members sanitize equipment before and after use. Pool: Lap Sw im m in g - by 45-minute appointments available on the hour Fam ily Sw im - by 45-minute appointments available on the hour
Gr ou p Fit n ess Classes - by appointment. Limited class size.
Raqu et ball Cou r t s an d Bask et ball Cou r t s can be reserved for 45 minutes on the hour. For Individual or Family play. No competitive play.
Ten n is Cou r t is available for use. The water cooler has been removed. Please make an appointment to play as times are limited. Please bring everything you will need. Fam ily Lock er Room s are available.
M ask s ar e r equ ir ed as you move around the building and in between pieces of equipment.
Social Dist an cin g is 6 feet around the building. 10 feet while you are exercising.
We ar e t ak in g t h e t em per at u r es of everyone entering the building. We are also ask in g scr een in g qu est ion s. Wat er Fou n t ain s are not available. Bottle Fillers are available. Please note that there are n ew t r af f ic pat t er n s around the building. Tow el ser vice is not available.
"I?m just thankful tohave YMCA offer programs likethistofamiliesin our community.? - Andrea Ryder
TURNING TO THE Y FOR HELP When local schools opened virtually, families began scrambling to make plans. For Andrea Ryder ? mother of second- grader Jackson ? she turned where she always turned for childcare help. The Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA. Jackson always came to the YMCA after school. Now he comes to the YMCA for school. ?I am a single parent, and I needed somewhere for Jackson to go,? Andrea said. ?I chose the YMCA. Jackson has been coming there since kindergarten with the afterschool program, and then with the summer program (Emergency Childcare). They?ve helped me out tremendously.? If there wasn?t a YMCA program, Andrea would have piecemealed together a plan with several different family members. ?My family works as well, so he would have been mixed with three different family members for that to be able to work out,? Andrea said. ?I was concerned as a parent for the consistency of getting homework done with three different family members doing it.? At the Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA, the students connect virtually with their teachers and follow their individual school schedules. YMCA staff members help with the school work. There?s a snack, a break, lunch, recess and outdoor play time.
?The program is going surprisingly smooth,? said Ashley Cole, director of youth and family at the YMCA. ?We are managing 30 kids?different schedules from two different school divisions. We?re very impressed with the teacher and school support we receive. Even though the kids miss school, they are having a positive experience overall and learning at the same time.? It?s been a success for Andrea and Jackson. ?It?s crucial to have as much of a routine as possible,? she said. ?I think it?s crucial that he has consistency, knowing where he?s going. And also, it gives him some time to socially interact and have some play time as well.? Because Jackson comes home with schoolwork completed, that leaves more time for mother- son bonding, which may involve swimming or coloring a PokĂŠmon coloring book. ?As a parent, you only have small increments of time by the time you get off,? Andrea said. ?And then you cook dinner and have some quality time with them before bedtime. Knowing that I don?t have to worry about that (unfinished school assignments) has been a big help.? Andrea is just grateful. ?I think the biggest thing I would stress,? she said, ?is I?m just thankful to have YMCA offer programs like this to families in our community.?
The Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA is pleased to announce the formation of the Staunton- Augusta- Waynesboro Tutoring Network. This will provide academic support for K- 12 students by harnessing the talents of volunteer tutors, with the support and collaboration of the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge and Mary Baldwin University. Tutors will apply through the Staunton- Augusta YMCA volunteer program, which will administer background checks and check references. Remote tutoring will be provided through small group sessions on the a video conferencing platform, with students grouped by grade level and subject area. In addition to community members, Mary Baldwin University students will also participate as tutors. Many of these students will come from the College of Education, although some will be volunteering through the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement. Initial funding will come from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge, although program continuation will likely depend on funding from additional sources. This financial support, coupled with the time volunteered by tutors, will enable these services to be offered free of charge. For more information, contact Sarah Mendonรงa at tutoring@saymca.org.
?When I wasa kid, I had a chalkboard that I would drag intothedriveway and try toget my neighbor friendstolet me play teacher.?- Sarah Mendonรงa
HELP IS ON THE WAY! Sarah Mendonรงa knew early that educational leadership was her calling. By the time she was 9- years- old, her neighborhood crew of friends knew it, too. ?It is hard wired in me,? Mendonรงa said. ?When I was a kid, I had a chalkboard that I would drag into the driveway and try to get my neighbor friends to let me play teacher.? Mendonca stayed the course, completing her PhD in educational leadership at the University of Florida. It?s her deep commitment to education that drove Mendonca to find educational solutions for families once schools switched to a virtual model. ?I had some experience with online education, and I was aware that there is a learning curve that goes with that,? Mendonca said. ?Even for families that have the benefits of technological savvy, adequate devices, reliable Wi- Fi, educated parents ? even when you have all of those things going for you ? it?s still challenging to adjust.? To help with the learning curve, Mendonca has been working with Mary Baldwin University, the Community Foundation of the Blue Ridge and the Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA on a virtual tutoring program. Josh Cole, executive director at the Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA, embraced Mendonca?s vision with open arms. ?This is a very difficult time, and we hope we can make it a little better for our community by offering this resource,? Cole said. ?We are obviously excited that we can provide support to area students during this very unique time. We are thrilled to be able to offer this program so that we can support these students.?
Volunteers will be the lifeblood of the tutoring program. Anyone wishing to tutor must complete a Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA volunteer form and a background check. Adults who are passionate about education with good Wi- Fi connections are encouraged to apply. ?My ideal tutor is a retired teacher trained in education,? Mendonca said. ?They have experience working with kids, and they will be familiar with grade- level expectations and curricular goals. When it comes to tutoring elementary school students, most people with college degrees can do that. I hear from educators that the highest need for tutoring is in math.? The tutoring program fits right in the YMCA?s commitment to youth development and social responsibility. Cole hopes that many community members will sign up to support students. ?Of course, this will take the effort of many,? Cole said, ?so we hope that people are interested in helping us with this new venture.?
BACK TO FIGHT BACK
like doing something with your group together ? seeing them face to face - being able to converse with them and work out with them as well.? Shutty paused, using a mental picture to get her point across. ?Hitting the bag physically,? Shutty continued, ?is way better than hitting the bag in your head.?
By Chris Lassit er
A MISSION PROGRAM IS BORN YMCA board member Judy Briggs is the type of person who picks up cupcakes for everyone and knows the value of a handwritten letter. She?s sweet and nurturing. Briggs is also tenacious. Diagnosed with Parkinson?s disease, she had a vision to see Rock Steady Boxing at the YMCA, and the determination to make sure that it happened. The program has changed the life of many of the program?s participants ? who lovingly refer to themselves as ?Parkies? ? and the close- knit group of boxers have been a source of great pride for the entire YMCA. No one was happier with the in- person return of Rock Steady Boxing than Briggs.
A soft right jab lands square in the abdomen of a mask- wearing boxing mannequin. The woman with the black Title boxing gloves is throwing blows at the mannequin, dressed in the exact same navy Parkinson?s T- shirt as the lady. She?s one of several boxers throwing a mixture of jabs and uppercuts. It?s been months since the mannequin has absorbed a punch. In mid- September, however, Rock Steady Boxing officially returned to the Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA. ?They will all tell you the same thing. It?s very good to be back,? said YMCA fitness director Wendy Shutty, also a certified Rock Steady Boxing instructor. ?Virtual is great, but it?s not
?It just filled my heart to see everybody back,? Briggs said. ?It was inspiring for me.? LIKE FAMILY Briggs hosts an annual pig roast for the Parkies every year. The boxers aren?t just program participants to her. They are family, bonded by a common fight. When the state entered into the Phase 1 guidelines ? shutting the doors of the YMCA ? the Rock Steady group found different ways to bond. ?Judy was making weekly calls to all the boxers, checking on them,? Shutty said. ?And we developed a way to do (Rock Steady) virtual classes with any of the boxers who were able to attend. We?ve been doing that before we re- opened the YMCA officially.? A NEW HOME FOR ROCK STEADY Fourteen happy elementary- age students are chatting away at 10 socially distanced plastic tables. In the front of the room, there is a brightly colored assortment of children?s books like 1,001 Bugs to Spot and The Salamander Room. The room housing the kids used to be the Rock Steady Boxing room. It?s now part of the YMCA?s student support center. ?I appreciate why we lost our spot,? Briggs said. ?I think it?s important for us to help the community out since Staunton?s schools are not meeting face to face. I understand why we?re doing that.? Rock Steady Boxing has relocated to the top floor of the main building. ?We made a decision to move the Rock Steady equipment based on the kids and them needing extra space,? Shutty said. ?Since we were not utilizing space in our upstairs area, it made for a perfect spot for our Rock Steady equipment. The bags are critical to the program. The boxing is such a critical piece. It wouldn?t be the same without it. It?s worked out perfectly.? Briggs is simply happy to be back with the Parkies fighting back against the disease. ?The Y has been wonderful,? Briggs said, ?in helping us find a spot.?
?It just filled my heart to see everybody back.? ? Judy Briggs
Join our Team! We are looking f or ent husiast ic people looking t o posit ively impact our communit y t hrough Yout h Development , Healt hy Living and Social Responsibilit y. You bring t he smiles. We will provide t he st ylish gear! Current ly Recruit ing: Yout h Development Aides Yout h Development Counselors Lead Teachers Sit e Direct ors Lif eguards Volunt eer Tut ors Cleaners Fit ness Room At t endant s Program Specialist s Apply t oday!
ALAN IS ON BOARD Alan Stamp thinks the Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA is a great place to sweat and to serve. Whenever time allows, the RE/MAX real estate associate loves to conclude the workday by putting on some music and getting in a good cardio workout at the Y. Stamp wants to live a healthy lifestyle. And the Ohio native, who moved to Staunton in the late 1980s, wants others to live a healthy lifestyle, too. Stamp recently joined the YMCA board of directors. ?Alan has been a long- time supporter and advocate of the Y,? SAYMCA executive director Josh Cole said. ?Alan and his family have been members for many years, and we look forward to his stewardship in his new role over the next several years.? One of Stamp?s friends passed his name along to Cole as a potential board member. ?A friend of mine had mentioned that the Y was looking for someone to help out on the board,? Stamp said. ?He (my friend) stuck my name in, and Josh ended up calling me and asking me some questions. I ended up meeting with Hillary and himself, and I found out a little bit more about what was involved. It seemed like a good fit.? Cole has already seen Stamp at work helping people to live healthier lifestyles. ?His support was critical in us launching the
Diabetes Prevention Program in 2017,? Cole said. ?That program morphed into the LEAN (Lifelong Essentials for Activity & Nutrition) program. He made the connections to get the support we needed to get the program to its maturity.? Stamp hopes to help with more of that in the future. ?Starting that stuff is kind of my passion,? Stamp said. Stamp tagged along to the closest YMCA to his Ohio home growing up, which also doubled as a YWCA. As a kid, he would head to the playroom on occasions where his mom would go work out. He moved to Staunton around 30 years ago, and Stamp sees his role with the YMCA board of directors as another way to help the community he?s embraced to thrive. ?It?s been a good community to be involved with,? Stamp said. ?I fell in love with the Staunton area, and the folks around here are just amazing. I really enjoy it here.?
"Starting that stuff is kind of my passion." - Alan Stamp
AND SPECIAL THANKS TO THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED THIS YEAR!
HALL OF FAMERS Smit h Family Trust (Endowment Gif t ) Coiner Family Trust (Endowment Gif t ) Boyd W. Thompson Revocable Trust CHAMPIONS Janet & Gray Ferguson ALL STARS Rudolph Bumgardner III Joe Chadwell Pat ricia Lovelace
Susie Mahler Paul Mart in John McCart y
Roller and Jerry Shipplet t William Sibert Paul Vames
MEDALISTS Pat ricia Alexander James Allen Amazon Smile Foundat ion Anonymous Anonymous Susan Baker Janet Balser Pat rick Banks Kennet h and Jacquelyn Beals Gregory Bednarz Thomas and Claire Bell Pat ricia Bennet t Rixey Bernier Ryan Blosser Buzz Boet t icher Harry Boney, Jr. Robert Boyle Tanner Boyle Phyllis Brooks Kat harine Brown Diane Bryant Jeremy Bryant James But t Carol Byrd Jane Cangalosi Georgiann Cat let t Linda Chapman Jef f Collins Julie Conner Ken and Phyllis Cox David Craig Birgit Craig John and Jacqueline Crawf ord St acy Damron Elizabet h D'aquino
Lloyd Delvaux Pat ricia Devit t Andrea Early Fost er Everiss Eric Fauerbach Diane Fecht el Mat t hew Fleisher Linda Fost er Calvin Frizzelle Jamie Frye Sharon Fuller Sun Fuller Mat t Gaf f ney Judit h Gardner Mark Gat ewood Michael Goings James and Carol Goodloe Bet t y Gough Shannon Gray Mat t hew Hain Carol Hall Carolyn Hamrick Karen Hamrick Miriam Handley Clif f ord and Rebecca Harmon Cleve Helmick Margaret Henderson Cornelia Henry The Hershey Company Connie Hilgemann Raymond Hoast er Cindy Holland Maegan Hoy Padraic and Brigid Hughes
Barbara Hunt er Debbie Jacobs Sally James Peggy Jennings John Mark and Sharon Johnson Sarabet h Johnson Kevin and Sara Jones Karen Joyner Ophelia Kier Amy Kiger Jennif er Kirkland Elsa Kiser Sheree Kiser St even Klein Kroger Communit y Rewards Randy Laird St ef ani Laird Eric Laser William Lobb Carol Lobenhof er James Lot t Nancy Love Ellen Lucius Michael and Jane Lund Jane Manning Judy Marks Nicole Mart in Frank McDonough McDonough Toyot a Sam McGhee Christ opher McHugh William McInt yre Alice McLeod Linda Meyer Karen Miller
James Miller, Jr. James Mills Mary Ann Morriss R. M. Moomau Heat her Morgan David and Mary Murray Net work f or Good/Facebook Nichole Nicholson Nisource Charit able Foundat ion Kat hleen Pat t erson Diane Pavalonis Teresa Pedut o Teresa Pedut o Carol Poulson Barbara Puzanskas Mike Radoiu St even and Jessica Ray David Rhodes Tom and Cindy Robert s Mark Robert son Janice Rockwell Curt is Rohr Michael Roman Jane Sawyer Ryan and Anne Schat z Robert Scot t John Sherwood Rhonda Shinaberry Tif f anie Sholes Clarence Simpson Angela Smit h Randy Smit h Diane St amp St aunt on Yout h Foot ball League
Angela Sut t on John Swenson Joan Swif t Joann Swisher William and Janey Terry Timot hy and Jenny Tilburg Chase and Leslie Trissel Casey Tucker Michael and Joy Ut berg Michael Van Dyke Robert Von Oeyen Mart ha Walker Dennis Ward Jerry Warner Lee Warren Mary Welliver Connie and Hugh West f all William Whit e Mary Wilkinson Rachel and Jessica Windley Rob and St ephanie Wiseman Henry Wood Rebecca Wood Dennis Woolf rey Chris Wray Daniel Wright YMCA of t he USA Bradf ord Young Rodney Young Mark and Denise Yurish
NO TEARS NUTRITION WITH KAREN LANDERS Like everyone else, Karen Landers gets unsolicited stories on her social media feeds. Stories about the newest fad diet or celebrity weight loss. And for a split second, she?s tempted to react. Then Landers, a Staunton- Augusta Family YMCA aquatics instructor who just completed her National Academy of Sports Nutrition certification ? remembers what she?s spent years studying. ?I have struggled my entire life with my weight,? Landers said. ?I thought, ?What am I doing wrong?? Why aren?t I skinny? I realized that after taking courses and pursuing coaching, it?s not about being skinny. It?s about being healthy.? She hopes to spread that message as the YMCA?s new nutrition coach. ?Having Karen as our nutrition coach will enable to us to help those members who have been looking for additional help in their fitness quest,? YMCA fitness director Wendy Shutty said. ?Nutrition is an important component to fitness, and now we have that missing component.? FINDING HER PASSION Landers, who has a bachelor's and master's degree in nutrition from Kaplan University, sort of stumbled into nutrition. Originally from northern Virginia, she first started taking nutrition classes simply because of an academic opportunity. ?I had gone to a community college, and I actually found out that if I took a few more classes I would have a second associate?s degree,? Landers said. ?I found at that time all the science of it didn?t interest me. I didn?t pursue it.? Landers moved to Texas to take care of her mother, who was diagnosed with Parkinson?s disease. As she took care of her mother, she started pursuing a degree online. ?Something changed in me,? Landers said, ?and I started loving the science of it.? DISCOVERING HER ?Y? Something else that Landers loves is Virginia. And once her mom passed away, Landers determined to get back, only this time to a part of Virginia without bumper- to- bumper traffic. She settled locally without knowing anyone. Many of the relationships she quickly formed happened through the YMCA.
?I?ve always heard good things about the Y,? Landers said. ?And they?ve been a lifeline to me. They?ve reached out to me. It?s really a family atmosphere.? Landers started off teaching aquatics at the Y. As Shutty learned more of her story, she encouraged Landers do pursue her nutrition certification as well. ?Wendy is a fabulous person,? Landers said. ?She?s one of the most supportive people I?ve ever encountered. I told her about my degree in nutrition, and that?s when she said, ?Would you like to do this (certification)??So I jumped on it. And it was a long progress ? It took me almost a year to do it.? LAUGHTER IS GOOD MEDICINE Even in the shortest of conversations with Landers, it?s apparent that she laughs easily and has a great personality. It comes through in how she teaches about nutrition. ?I tend to do things with humor,? she said. ?When you think of nutrition, it?s this really heavy (topic). Why does it have to be so serious? I learn better when there?s humor involved, and I think others might, too.? Shutty believes Landers is well suited for the position. ?Karen?s personality makes her perfect for a nutrition coach,? Shutty said. ?She is someone who listens, thinks sensibly, and answers honestly. She is empathetic and supportive to everyone around her.? Along with the idea that nutrition has to be serious and humorless, another notion Landers would like to clarify is her role is not to stop people from enjoying food. ?If someone came to me and they had soda all the time, it wouldn?t be, ?You can?t have soda anymore,?? Landers said. ?It would be, ?How many sodas do you have a day? Do you think you could knock that down to one a day? You don?t want to do anything drastic. You have to be realistic. It?s a long journey. If you do anything drastic, you?re going to go back to your old habits. It has to be your lifestyle, not a diet.?