Conejo Valley YMCA Appreciation Day

It was a bright and early morning as staff and volunteers started to set up for the Appreciation Day BBQ. Today was a day where we were able to show appreciation for everyone who participates in YMCA programs; staff, volunteers, members, and families. It takes all of these individuals to make YMCA programs successful and we are very proud that the Conejo Valley Y is moving in the right direction.

We had over 200 Y members join us for a delicious BBQ lunch, facility tours, and bounce house. We are fortunate that Matt Lalo, was so generous in building our beautiful new outdoor patio. Many enjoyed their lunch up there and were really impressed with his hard work.Thank you to our Y's men for donating their time and funds to serve some of the best hamburgers, hot dogs and tri tip. They sure were tasty! Thanks to our staff and volunteers who helped set up, decorate, and tear down the tables and chairs. You were all a huge help!

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If you are not a member of the YMCA, you should schedule a time to visit. There are a variety of programs for everyone. We are currently offering a week guest pass for any interested members to try out our facility amenities. Please contact Zak Howell for more information @ 805-523-7613.

Meeting for Annual Conejoy Valley YMCA Turkey Dash

This afternoon I met with Conejo Valley Executive Director, Erin Pierik. Erin is no stranger to the association, but she is recently become the Exec. Director. She is the breath of fresh air that the Conejo Valley YMCA was i need of.
During lunch with Erin, Zak Howell (Membership Director), and Jennifer Silveria (Program Director), Erin honored me by asking me to be the Lead Volunteer for out turkey Day Dash event. I will be heading up a group of event volunteers and working to get sponsors. Shortly after, Erin and I were off to a meeting at the Thousand Oaks Mall. Erin and I met Glen Slensker, YMCA Board Chair. We were also able to meet with Tish Cabezas, The Oaks Senior Marketing Manager. Tish is working closely with Jennifer Ciccone, who is the Senior Property Manager, to help us with another successful annual event. We greatly appreciate their time and efforts!

This 5K and 1K fun run/walk event is a great way to get the whole family active and burn extra calories on Thanksgiving morning while supporting your local YMCA. 5K begins at 8:00 A.M. and 1K begins at 9:15A.M. Bring the whole family out for this fun event! For more information about sponsorship, racing or volunteering contact myself @ missmeghanlopez@gmail.com or Erin at the YMCA, 805-523-7613.

27th Coastal Cleanup Day

Today, thousand of people bombarded beaches along the coast to help in Coastal Cleanup Day. YMCA members and their families gathered at Leo Carrillo State Beach to help participate in this wonderful event. Between Indian Guide families and child care site participants, the YMCA had over 200 volunteers help beautify our coast by picking up any unwanted items and trash that do no belong there. A huge THANK YOU to Jennifer Silveria, who made this all possible for the Conejo Valley YMCA.

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Miss California International 2012

What a unique pageant year! Peterson Productions announced that this would be their final year directing and producing the California State Pageant. Although, as a participant for the last 4 years, I found this news extremely sad, I was very anxious to hear that both Dennis Cooke and Eddie Peterson had great things ahead for them. Four years ago when I joined the International system, community service was not anything new for me. I have been involved in YMCA programs as a volunteer for 8 years. I was skeptical of why I would ever need a crown to do volunteer work. I was fortunate to experience as Miss Ventura County Int'l 2009, the great amount of exposure I was able to gain for YMCA programs and fundraising while being involved with the International Pageant.
This year, I did not plan to compete in the pageant, and at the last minute jumped in to be apart of the finale. Now that the pageant weekend has come to a close, I am so glad that I did.
I was very proud of my accomplishments during the weekend; Top 5 (4th runner up), Miss Congeniality, and  Josephine G Cook Miss California Int'l Community Service Award. Most importantly, I was more proud of what I put into the experience and honored what I gained from it. I met some incredible women this year and made sure to stay true to who I was. I was also flattered by the flooding of messages, phone calls, and emails I received from fellow contestant, staff, pageant judges, pageant directors, family, friends, and even complete strangers that included some of the kindest and reassuring words.
 Alycia Darby and Brooke Conlin were two of the most supportive and honest people I was able to create new freindships with over the weekend. They both joined me in making Top 5 and we all agreed that it was most honoring to be in Top 5 among women like eachother who were so honest in what they did. Among the other contestants, I had a great opportunity to meet and get to know Jr. Miss, Teen, fellow Miss, and Mrs. Contestants. I can't begin to tell you between all 62 contestant how much talents, passion, and beauty was in one room. Congratulations to the 2012 California International Queens.
Mrs. Melissa Dacy Lockerman, is one women who made me extremely proud. Never having done pageant before, she let me talk her into competing. She not only was recognized for her community service efforts, but was 1st runner up. What a huge accomplishment, I am so very proud!
I may of not walked away with a title and a crown, but that's not what's most important to me. I was able to walk away with much more; new friendships, a new outlook, a monetary award to be donated back to YMCA programs, and most importantly so many new life lessons.
 I want to thank the International Pageant System and especially Peterson Productions for their fantastic support and positive encouragement over the years. Also, I want to thank Gini Watterson for everything she has done to help make this pageant another wonderful experience!
This is not the last you have seen of me. I will continue with my passion and my efforts with the YMCA and community. They are only bound to continue to grow =]

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Camp Oakhurst 2011

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It's one of my favorite times of year again! I just returned from Conejo Valley YMCA Camp Oakhurst Resident Camp. This year was unique, knowing that it could possibly be our last program year at Camp Oakhurst, the place we have called home for the last then years. This year I worked with the LIT staff again, which is incredibly rewarding. We immersed ourselves quickly into a fun filled week. One of my favorite parts about camp is our Rag/ Leather Program. Since working with the LITs, I currently only spend the week counseling with them which because of age they participate in the Rag Program. For over 96 years, the YMCA Rag/Leather Program has been an effective tool in promoting one on one counseling and personal growth. The program is designed to help people take a closer look at themselves in relationship to their own strengths and weaknesses, religious beliefs and relationships that surround them. It provides an opportunity to promote positive growth. YMCA's use the Rag / Leather Program as a tool to encourage quality time between staff and members, counselors and campers. Growth in spirit, mind and body is incorporated into the program. This program also follows in line with what YMCA's strive to accomplish through their mission. Each Rag and Leather has a specific challenge and is accompanied by a personal goal developed by the individual. Participation in the program is enhanced by the use of tradition, resource materials and one-on-one sharing sessions. Through the generosity of the C.J., Carrie D. and R. Howard Walker Foundation training in and facilitation of the YMCA Rag/Leather Program in the U.S. has been made possible. I think the Rag Program is one of the most rewarding and powerful programs that I have been able to witness change people's lives. It's neat to think how a simple piece of fabric can have so much meaning. I currently have my Red Rag which promotes the goal of : sacrifice or time, talent, and personal will. I have had this goal for the last five years. Time and talent come easy to most including myself, but it is the sacrifice of personal will that becomes so hard. I strive everyday to sacrifice that personal will of mine, but in the process of doing so it's a challenge and a journey. My Red Rag and I have a love/hate relationship.
This year's LIT (Leaders In Training) group, were rock stars. Our returners made a huge impact with their growth and maturity over the last year. Our first years, were rock stars that jumped head first into the program. Together them were great leaders within the group and for the rest of the camp. They will all be amazing counselors and I am honored that I got to work with them again. The activities we engaged in during the wee were touch. They encouraged and pushed them to really be honest, open, and positive. We had discussions about the people we were and who we wanted to be, tough personal life situations were shared, and most importantly through all of this they built friendships and bonds that were incredible.I enjoy this week so much because I have had the chance to work with all the age groups in camp. It's neat to watch the campers grow in one week. Even though I worked with the LITs, I still had the chance to get to know the other campers and that's always fun. Week activities included; campfires, chapels, swimming, archery, mountain bikes, ropes courses, lip sync, synchronized swimming, boat races, hikes, wood work, arts and crafts, dress up days, dances, and most importantly character and group building activities.  I was sad to end the week, but just as us volunteers like to say, our calendar year is August to August. I am already counting down the days til Resident Camp 2012!

Visit to Lake Sequoia

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It was an early morning as I traveled to Bakersfield to meet Dave Edler, Intermediate Camp Director for Camp Oakhurst. We then traveled to Lake Sequoia to meet with the camp director of the property. We were accompanied by Jessica Ramos, Andy Hughes, and Jake King who are all Oakhurst Resident Camp Volunteers. The mission of our day was to tour Lake Sequioa facility in hopes it could be a potential home for our location change for our resident camp program. Evan, Lake Sequoia Camp Director, spent the day giving us a tour of acitivty areas and facilities. He was very helpful answering all of our questions and hearing our ideas about funding in order to give lots of TLC to this beautiful camp. As a volunteer team, we are working to get large donors to help us with the re vamp and TLC we want to give to this camp to make it the best camp home for our program.Thank you Evan for spending the day with us! We see lots of potential in the camp and are keeping our fingers crossed to call it home!

Staff Volunteer Training for Camp Oakhurst 2011

This past Friday, the volunteer staff met at The Shima household to embark on a weekend full of camp training. We departed from the Shima's and headed over to In n Out for a group dinner. Then it was off for a weekend campout in Santa Paula .Our Resident Camp Oakhurst includes a volunteer staff of roughly 70 individuals. All of these volunteers have grown up in the program and are now adults giving back passionately. I am very proud of the volunteer staff and their efforts to continue making our Resident Camp the best around. Thank you to Lisa and Chris Soury's family for opening up their beautiful ranch for our training.Our staff was able to camp out and enjoy the beautiful outdoor ranch. During the weekend, the volunteers share ideas for new activities, safety procedures, go ove scheduling, and learn how to handle any "tough" topics or situations that may arise with campers.The staff even participated in a scavenger hunt that allowed them to travel by car to various cities to complete tasks. Our volunteers are required to participate in training, as well as be certified in both CPR and First Aid. Take a look at the funfilled weekend!

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