December 2022 Newsletter

COPINGCORNER

By BruceBlair, Mental HealthAmericaof Augusta

For many, the excitement of the holiday season conjures up feelings of family, friends, and a season of giving. But for others, the holidays can cause increased stress, depression, and anxiety for a variety of reasons This time of year, most of us typically spend so much time thinking about and giving back to others, that our own mental health is often neglected. Be sure to put your mental health first this year.

If you need someone to talk to who knows what you are going through, Mental Health

America Virginia provides a peer-run Warm Line for any resident in Virginia We offer this support line for individuals, family members, and other concerned parties who would like someone to talk to, or who request community mental health resources, or who have specific questions about their recovery journey. The peers who answer our WarmLine listen with compassion and provide non-judgmental support They work hard to give individualized support and attention to each caller. Peers provide personal examples of wellness, recovery and hope, and maintain personal wellness as a model to communities and callers alike.

SALVATIONARMYPARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTSGENEROSITYOF STAFF, MEMBERS

By Dawn Medley

The iconic red kettle A smiling face and handheld bell A tree adorned with the familiar strips of cardstock printed with children?s ages, favorite toys, and shoe sizes.

If there?s one thing you can count on during the holiday season at the STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILYYMCA, it?s the organization?s vital partnership with the local Salvation Army to help families in need in our community.

?We?ve been collaborating with the Salvation Army as long as I?ve been working here ? so more than 20 years,?said Associate Executive Director Candace Martin, who now coordinates the Angel Tree and Bell Ringing programs

THEGIVINGTREE

Martin works closely with Lts Johnathan and Kelsey Meredith, the husband and wife team who lead the Staunton/Western Augusta County Salvation Army chapter,

to provide personalized gifts for 50-75 local children annually.

The Y?s participation is even more critical this year, as the Salvation Army has taken on more than 600 seniors and children in the Angel Tree program, in contrast to between 400 and 500 in previous years.

?It?s quite simply peace of mind knowing that every person who is taken by an organization like the Y is going to be well taken care of,?said Lt Johnathan Meredith. The pair coordinates with dozens of area businesses and nonprofits to ensure that all programparticipants receive necessities as well as something special for Christmas

YMCA member Krista Goldenberg looks forward to picking her family?s Angel Tree recipients every year. She began getting cards herself as a young adult, then poured over the descriptions to help her three children select angels when they were

young. Now she is back to choosing for herself and involving her grown children in shopping for the little ones.

?If possible, I try to make sure that no one is left out,?Goldenberg said

?We have always enjoyed talking about who we have that year ? how their favorites and interests might be similar to our kids at that age,?she added ?It has been meaningful to have them involved in providing essentials and sparking joy for someone else?

This year, she is pleased to have two young girls to bless with everything fromsocks and mittens to carefully chosen toys

?It has been a long time since I shopped for an infant, so that was fun and brought back memories,?she said.

Jane Ford has also been contributing to the YMCA Angel Tree since her own children were young, and she usually continues the tradition of selecting one boy and one girl in their honor As a board member for both the Yand the Salvation Army, Ford often has a unique window on the challenges faced by many families in the community

?I find myself drawn to older children, those that are more likely to be overlooked,?she said.

?I amso grateful to be part of the collaborative work that these organizations accomplish in our city,?Ford explained. ?They work easily together toward common goals, and that is how things get done well.?

RINGINGINTHEDONATIONS

When SAYMCA staff members Suzi and Eric Nolley picked up the shiny bells to take their position beside the red kettle at the entrance of Wal-Mart on December 6, they became part of a 130-year tradition for the Salvation Army Longtime volunteers and generous contributors to their church and other charitable organizations, the Nolleys signed up for their first bell-ringing gig together as another opportunity to share their resources and time.

?Being involved in community groups

extends our family. We know that we have been blessed with plenty in our lives, and we are always happy to give back,?said Eric, who serves as a Wellness Center Attendant

?I enjoy knowing that everything the Salvation Army does is local, that we?re helping fill a need right here,?said Suzi. She joined the Wellness Center staff in early 2022, after volunteering with the Y?s neuro-wellness programin previous years. The Nolleys joined other staff members to fill hour-long slots at the popular holiday shopping site from9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

In all, the Salvation Army stations bell ringers at eight area locations between November 10 and December 24 The fundraising campaign brings in about $63,000 each year, accounting for more than half of the organization?s operating budget, according to Lt. Meredith.

?The only way we?re able to do anything is by utilizing our partnerships throughout the community,?he said.

Martin herself will close out the SAYMCA day of ringing, doing her part to support the agency that came to her family?s aid when a flood destroyed their home when she was a young girl.

?I can remember momand dad going to the Salvation Army, and they basically opened their doors to us and said, ?take what you need,?she recalled ?Even down to the holiday decorations, they were there for us.?

SPECIALFEATURE

NATIONALYMADNESSWIN ATRUECOMMUNITYEFFORT

By Dawn Medley

Heading into the YMadness championship round on November 17, Expresso rider Tammi Piguet knew she was going to give it everything she had. She planned to log more miles in a single day on the state-of-the-art bikes than she ever had before. But she really didn? t expect to be the last rider to dismount at the STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILY YMCA as the seconds ticked toward midnight

?I heard Candace say over the loudspeaker, ?We have four minutes left; make sure to log

out before midnight so that your miles count ?and I was just finishing up on Fruitdale,?said Piguet, who was riding one of four bikes in the Wellness Center.

?I thought it was pretty cool!?she added. Tammi and her husband, David, had started riding at 3 am that day, and the pair combined to add 191 miles to the 2,292 that ultimately propelled the SAYMCA to its 2022 National Champion status

STRENGTHINNUMBERS

Earning the YMadness Tournament title was the culmination of five weeks of biking by 121 riders,

?The reaction has been crazy,?said Collins. ?It seems a lot of people ? not just riders ? were checking out the bracket and following along Someone asked me when we get to go to the White House, so we will have to work on that!?

After being ousted in the semi-final matchup of the 2021 competition, Collins set his sights on building a large base of riders to carry the Yto victory in the annual tournament. By creating excitement through weekly in-house incentives and encouraging new and veteran riders via Expresso?s Ride of the Week program(see story, page 9), he positioned the teamto have a fighting chance at the top prize.

Although Collins himself rode a total of 379 miles in the tournament, he is quick to defer credit for the win back to the pool of participants.

?In the end, it all comes down to riders. You have to have people who are willing to put in the hard work,?he explained

?We have the largest teamin the tournament, and it is filled with riders who are very dedicated and very strong We have numbers, commitment, and strength and that is a tough combination to beat.?

The facility opened early and closed late to accommodate a full 24 hours of riding during the final two rounds of YMadness, and there was hardly a bike left unoccupied during those hours.

Case in point: One of the nine machines developed a glitch that Collins later learned was due to it overheating fromconstant use.

"Tenacious dedication to pumping those legs to

an effort led by Expresso TeamCaptain and SAYMCA Business Manager Jeff Collins.

victory is all I saw on the day of the YMadness Championship," said Caleb Simmons, a graveyard shift rider

INDIVIDUALRECORDS

LEADTOGROUPVICTORY

?We definitely saved our best for last in the final,? Collins said

On its way to securing the winner?s Golden Spokes trophy, the SAYMCA set several benchmarks for future contests In addition to setting a tournament record for total miles, six people rode more than 100 miles in the final round, four logged 300 miles or more during the tournament overall, and eight SAYMCA members made it onto the list of the Top 25 riders in the country

Tammi Piguet?s 91 miles in the final round was no small feat ? it solidly placed her in the Top 25 nationwide, and was dozens of miles more than her farthest previous ride But next year, she?s aiming to break the 100-mile mark.

?It?s all good, though,?she said, jumping back on a bike a few days after the championship to complete the Ride of the Week course. ?Whether you rode one mile or 100, we were all part of the teameffort, and it brought us together as a community.?

PERPETUALPEDALING POWERSSAYMCATO 52-WEEKWINNINGSTREAK

By Dawn Medley

On the heels of winning the fast-paced, high-energy event that is the YMadness Expresso National Championship, riders at the STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILYYMCA proved that they have the endurance and dedication to reach another ? maybe even more meaningful ? goal For 52 consecutive weeks, equivalent to an entire year, the SAYMCA has earned first place in the worldwide Expresso Ride of the Week challenge

FromBilly Goat Falls in late November 2021 to the 2 3-mile Rabbit Run that rounded out the final week just after Thanksgiving 2022, our Yhad the most riders log in and complete the courses among YMCA organizations around the globe

The momentumstarted right after the SAYMCA won its Electric Eight match-up in last year?s YMadness tournament, beating a teamthat often took the top spot in weekly rides

?That teamkind of cushioned their loss to us by mentioning that they always beat us in the Ride of the Week. Well, I took that as a challenge,?said Jeff Collins, SAYMCA Business Manager, who developed a bit of a competitive streak after he picked up riding several years ago.

The SAYMCA went on to lose in the 2021 tournament to the eventual champions from Powhatan, Virginia, but they have not lost a single weekly contest to competitors in the U.S., France, Norway, Canada, and other countries since that date.

?I didn? t really know how it would go in that first week, but I knew we had a lot of riders ? that was what got us as far as we did in the tournament ? and if we could motivate them, we would have a good shot at it,?said Collins

Promoting the rides with posters and newsletter features, along with a few in-house incentives and friendly competitions among members and staff have helped propel the local teamto victory week after week Staff members in the Wellness Center play a critical role in getting people involved

Longtime employee David Redman caught the Expresso bug during the 2021 championship push. While working on his own personal bests, Redman recruits other regulars to hop on one of the state-of-the-art bikes for a serious workout and an opportunity to contribute to the bigger program

?It?s exciting to see our Y doing so well,?Redman said. ?I?mproud to be a part of this year-long challenge.?

Redman recently convinced Brittany DeVane to gear up to ride for the first time She planned to pedal on a Thursday ? hoping to complete the Ride of the Week and add her miles to the tournament total

?I just moved here a few months ago, so it?s fun to have the chance to be part of the larger group effort,?DeVane said DeVane will have plenty of chances to ride for the SAYMCA team, as Collins wasn? t looking to prop up his feet after 52 weeks of victories.

?At this time, we really don? t have anyone who is close to us We have a lot of people interested and putting in the miles I feel like it?s reasonable to set our sights on another 52 weeks!?Collins said.

KEEPTHESTREAKGOING

Look for the Ride of the Week poster in the hallway on the way to the Wellness Center, or find ride previews in this newsletter. If you don? t already have an Expresso rider account, see Jeff Collins or a Wellness Center attendant to create one.

VOLUNTEERSPOTLIGHT

TWOGENERATIONSTRANSLATE MATHMASTERYINTOMENTORING

By Dawn Medley

For most of her life, Blakely Bryant has known her grandfather, Jerry, as a professional mathematician and educator. As she grew up, Jerry recognized that Blakely had a natural gift for the subject as well.

What the pair didn? t realize until just a few weeks ago is that they both volunteer as math tutors in the SAWTutoring Network, which is coordinated by staff at the STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILYYMCA.

?I think it?s great,?said Blakely, a junior at Staunton High School.

?He has a lot more experience teaching than I do, so it will definitely be good to have himto talk to.?

The pair has a lot to share with each other, and Jerry is just as eager to learn fromhis granddaughter?s perspective Just a few minutes after meeting up for this article, the interview shifted into a lively conversation

?Do you find that you understand the concept better once you?ve taught it? Have you had that experience??Jerry piped in to inquire of Blakely

"Oh, yes, I?d say so,?she answered, giving an example about a student who showed her an alternate method for long division.

That?s exactly the kind of interaction that SAWTutoring Coordinator Brian Ringgold is looking for ? the kind that builds rapport and trust between tutor and student.

?One of Blakely?s strengths is that she has a good sense of how a student is responding to a certain method, and if they?re not getting it that way, she can adapt and introduce another method,? Ringgold said.

With approximately 18 tutors serving around 90 students in both in-person and virtual sessions, Ringgold is strategic about utilizing a mentor?s strengths where they can have the biggest impact. The largest demand in the Yprogramis for mathematics tutors, so he?s particularly grateful to have skilled participants like the Bryants

?Consistency is important for the students, and the tutors as well It helps with their routine and sticking with

Blakely and Jerry Bryant, 2019

the program,?Ringgold said Ringgold took the helmof the tutoring network in late September, after the departure of Hillary Getsey The programwas launched in fall 2020 to provide educational assistance as Covid-19 pandemic shutdowns lingered.

To plan monthly schedules, recruit new tutors, and maintain communication with students and families, Ringgold relies on every bit of just over a year of experience serving as Tutoring Monitor alongside Getsey.

The free programbegan to offer in-person sessions in April and has a solid base of tutors and students, but Ringgold knows that there are still people out there who would be great assets as mentors and those who could benefit fromthe academic assistance. He continues to look for new ways to promote the service, telling the stories of those like the Bryants in hopes of getting others involved.

?Our fundamental goal is to help kids have confidence in themselves and their ability,? Rinngold said. ?Seeing their grades improve is a great benefit, but what I believe - and what I work with our tutors to instill - is that it really comes down to encouraging themto be the best people they can be.?

Sessions and Positions Available

Sign up for a tutoring session in a specific subject, or apply to volunteer as a tutor at saymca.org/youth-2, just look for the SAW Tutoring Network header

BIBLE

STUDY:

In 1844, 22-year-old George Williams founded the first Young Men?s Christian Association (YMCA), a refuge of Bible study and prayer for young men seeking escape fromthe hazards of life on the streets of London

The Staunton-Augusta Family YMCA carries on the tradition of non-denominational Bible study Bring your Bible and a friend This hour-long study is led by YMCA Chaplain Carol Byrd.

Dat e and Time: Mondays, 11 am in the Multi-Purpose Room

Fees: Free

Y NOT SING? SINGERS: Do you enjoy singing, ad-libbing, and having a good time? Come join us on Thursday evenings from6?8 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. We will be choosing music, practicing, and then taking our program out to local nursing homes, senior centers and retirement communities If you have questions, please contact Carol Byrd.

Fees: Free

YOUTH TENNIS

With Chris Stambaugh

Early Hit t ers

Will teach the basics of tennis for ages 5-8. Must pre-register at the front desk

January Session: Tuesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM January 3 - 24 OR Thursdays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM January 5 - 26

Fees: $60 Members per session $75 Non-members per session

Pre-Teen Tennis

Will teach your pre-teen(s) intermediate tennis skills. Must pre-register at the front desk.

January Session: Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM January 4 - 25

Fees: $60 Members per session $75 Non-members per session

High School Tennis

This will get your high schooler prepared for high school tennis Must pre-register at the front desk

January Session: Wednesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

4 - 25

YOUTH SWIM

Tuesday/Thursday Group Lessons: January 10 - February 2

Registration for Members: Dec 10 at 5:00 PM - Jan 6

Registration for Non-members: Dec. 16 - Jan. 6 February 14 - March 9

Registration for Members: Feb 3 at 5:00 PM - Feb 10

Registration for Non-members: Feb 4 - Feb 10

Sat urday Group Lessons: January 7 - February 11

Registration for Members: Dec. 10 - Jan. 4

Registration for Non-members: Dec. 11 - Jan 4 February 25 - April 1

Registration for Members: Feb 11 - Feb 22

Registration for Non-members: Feb. 12 - Feb. 22

Group Lesson Fees: Members: $50 Non-Members: $65

Privat e Lessons Members: $22, second child $17 Non-members: $34, second child $29 Semi- Privat e Lessons Members: $15, second child $13 Non-members: $24, second child $22

Swim Clinic

Mondays and Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:00 PM

January 9 - February 15, 2023 Member Registration: Dec 21 - Jan 5 Non-member Reg: Dec 22 - Jan 5

SAW TUTORINGNETWORK

Session schedules are emailed to families weekly and posted to the SAW Tutoring Network Facebook Page

Cont act : SAWTutoring Coordinator Brian Ringgold at brian@saymca.org

Fees: All sessions are free New students must fill out a registration formto access sessions.

YOUTH VOLUNTEER CORPS

Are you tired of your children being a permanent arm?s length away from their phones or hibernating indoors glued to their TV? Do you want themto learn how to make a difference in their community while boosting their resume for college?

Youth Volunteer Corps is a network of affiliates hosted by non-profit organizations, schools or individuals that offer youth ages 11-18 the opportunity to serve their community

Registration forms are available at the Yfront desk and at Shelburne Middle School and Staunton High School Guidance Offices.

Cont act : Stephanie Mason at saymcayvc@gmail.com

Fees: FREE

Afterschool Adventure Club: Outdoor Fun

Afterschool Adventure Club: Bobbing for Apples

Youth Basketball League Clinic

Little Dribblers

Monthly schedules for theBasketball Court, Group Fitness, thePool, and thePlayroomare availableat saymca.org on theHomepage.

Yoga 4 Cancer

The Yoga For Cancer programfollows a specialized yoga methodology designed to address the physical and emotional needs of cancer patients and survivors. Participants build community and support while engaging in classes that incorporate relaxation, breathing, and restorative poses as well as gentle poses and flows performed on a mat, with yoga props, and with the use of a wall. Classes are taught by certified yoga4cancer (y4c) instructor Melissa Anderson-Morgan with knowledge and awareness of the special needs of cancer patients and survivors

The SAYMCA is excited to be offering a monthly Yoga For Cancer program Email Wendy Shutty at wendy@saymcaorg if interested to be put on the list for January

Fees: $35 / Members $50 / Non-Members

Regist er before the 1st of each month.

The STAUNTON-AUGUSTA FAMILY YMCA is actively hiring for Certified Group Fitness Instructors in a variety of formats including cycling, strength, low-impact, and senior populations

Got quest ions? Contact Fitness Director Wendy Shutty at wendy@saymca.org

Rock Steady Boxing

Women's Basketball League

Senior Fit with Eleanor

Broadway Jazz Master Class with Melissa A

Bible Study

Ride of the Week: Monkey Pass

Check t he SAW Tut oring schedule for sessions!

Adult Volleyball Wednesdays 5:30 - 8:00 PM

Happy December!

Volunt eer wit h YVC(ages 11- 18)! Blood Drive

Bible Study

Ride of the Week: Savage Revenge

Ride of the Week: Expresso Speedway

The Y is CLOSED Merry Christ mas!

Bible Study

Christ mas Present Wrapping

9 AM - 7 PM

PoinsettiaSale

Adult Volleyball

Try Pickleball on the Basketball Court, 9:00 AM12:45 PM

Theme Day: Ugly Holiday Sweat ers

Try Tennis! Private Lessons available.

Adult Women's Intermediates begins January 5!

Brush up on your swimming.

PrivateSwim Lessons available

Ride of the Week: Ravens Roost

Bible Study

Get ready for January and pick up the Group Fitness schedule at the Y

Christ mas Present Wrapping

9 AM - 7 PM

Sign up t o t ut or in our t ut oring program and help your local st udent s.

Theme Day: Ugly Holiday Sweat ers

Take a mental health screening at mha-augusta.org.

Adult Volleyball

Try a Wellbeats class! Schedules available on our website, saymcaorg

Theme Day: Ugly Holiday Sweat ers

Need a break? Check out our pool, ping pong, and foosball tables.

Pick up needed materials at the front desk

Have a happy New Year!

Refer friends t o join t he Y You could win our referral prize

Swim Lesson regist rat ion opens The Y is CLOSED! Christ mas Eve

Reminder t hat t he Y is closed Jan 1 for New Year's Day