The Wood River Community YMCA board of directors celebrated the achievements of 2009 during its annual meeting at Sego restaurant in Ketchum on Thursday, April 15. The event was held in part to announce the appointment of a new board chair, new board members and the YMCA Volunteer of the Year.
New board member Leslie Silva (the wife of Sun Valley Co. General Manager Tim Silva) opened the meeting with some reflections on how welcoming and inclusive the YMCA had been to her since her relocation back to the Wood River Valley. Visibly emotional, Silva recalled how from her first day at the Y to her election as a member of the board, everyone she has met has inspired her with their commitment to a common cause and their enthusiasm for the task at hand.
Along with Silva, the new board members are John Baker, Dave Chase, Pirie Grossman, Gail Severn and Kevin Stuessi.
Current board members Calista Carter, David Hennessy, Ed Lawson, Cynthia Murphy, Tom Unger and Benjamin Wood were re-elected to serve three-year terms.
The event also served as a "passing of the gavel" from board Chair David Hennesy to Tom Unger, formerly vice chair and treasurer.
YMCA CEO Teresa Beahen Lipman discussed the accomplishments of 2009, singling out the Y on Wheels program, which has served 200 students in Carey, Woodside and Hailey elementary schools. Y on Wheels provides free recreational, educational and cultural activities for children before and after homework help time. Launched six years ago, it was the YMCA's first program in the valley.
The Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Page Jenner, who has been volunteering for the Wood River YMCA since the mid-1990s. Jenner was recognized for being a YMCA champion during his 15 years of commitment to the organization.
Jenner accepted his accolade humbly, emphasizing that now was not the time for the organization to rest on its laurels. Despite a successful first three years of operation, he said, "we need to stay involved, to nurture what we've built and continue this, as it is so desperately needed."
Tom Unger
