Part 3 of 8 - CLOSING THIS CHAPTER OF MY JOURNEY

Author Preface - This post is 3 of 8 of posts related to my last weeks prior to retiring from the YMCA of South Florida after just over 40 years.

This is my actual unabridged e-mail I sent out via e-mail to those individuals I felt deserved to be told individually and/or in person but I simply ran out of time.
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It’s with a heavy heart, I write this tonight.

By now the word has probably spread faster than a conflagration in a dry forest. I am sure you all have heard my news. I have officially announced I’ll be retiring from the YMCA of South Florida on December 13, 2024. It was not an easy decision, but I feel after just over forty years of service to this organization, it’s time to chase my dreams while I still am healthy enough to do it. I shared my intent to retire with my Mom, those closest to me and a few mentors who retired early. Unanimously, all agreed with my decision without any reservation.

Once I decided on the date, I first shared my intent to retire with my Mom and my closest family of friends. Then I proceeded to share with Sheryl Woods, President/CEO and my immediate supervisors. After spending almost two weeks of scheduling one-on-one meetings, small group meetings or made my rounds to share my news personally with chiefs, select leadership staff and those staff members who’ve become family through years even decades of working together I used up more than a few boxes of tissues. I eventually shared the news with those I worked with outside of the YMCA on various committees and partnerships. With time running out, unfortunately, I hadn’t reached everyone. Many were out on PTO or otherwise unavailable or were not part of any of the groups I met with may be reading the news here for the first time, my apologies. It was not easy to share my news with any one group I spoke with; but the hardest was with Sheryl and those staff who’ve become like an extension of my family.

When I first started at was then, the independent, Greater Hollywood Family YMCA. I never imagined that I would be fortunate enough to spend my entire career here. From the very first day, I was drawn to the mission and the work we do — but it was the people that kept me here. Over the years, I've worn many hats, played many roles, and watched this organization evolve and grow in ways I couldn’t have dreamed of when I first walked through the door. Each role I took on taught me something new, challenged me in ways I didn’t expect, and helped me grow both personally and professionally.

I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many passionate, dedicated individuals — all of you who have made this work so meaningful and, at times, so much fun. From program staff to board members, from volunteers to donors, you’ve all brought something special to the table. We have been partners in a mission that matters deeply: to make a difference, to lift up those who need it most, and to create a world that is a little bit kinder, a little bit better. That has always been the heart of what we do, and it is something I will carry with me long after I leave.

When I think about the people we've helped, the programs we’ve built, and the countless hours of hard work that have gone into this organization's success, I am truly proud. There are so many milestones we’ve reached together, and I’ve had the privilege of being a part of it. Whether it was launching a new initiative, navigating a difficult challenge, or simply showing up for our communities, every step of this journey has been meaningful.

After just over 40 years of a blessed career in more than a dozen variety of capacities in which I feel I sealed and left my legacy in all that I have done. It’s time to prioritize my own selfish desires while still young and healthy enough to do it. It's not what I have in life nor the many positions I carried, but it’s the lives I impacted and inspired and to a lesser extent, those who left a footprint on my heart.

It’s time for me to start writing the next chapter of my journey. I’m grateful for the opportunities given to me, the experiences I gained and the mentors who walked my journey with me for either a moment in time or for the duration.

I’d be honored, if you read my post on my blog (link below) and share your thoughts, memories, comments etc there as well as here. Feel free to look around as you will find other stories of my Y Journey as well as my life. This will be one of many posts I will write to bring closure to my career. I’ve always said, my written word is louder than my spoken word.

Enjoy!

Posting on my blog will allow me to access it, long after this day has passed and allow me to read them not just with happy tears but with a smile reflecting back on my career. Feel free to share my blog with past co-workers or current ones who may not do social media or are linked to me.

… rant over, back to your regularly scheduled day.

Blog Website: www.https://YMeJourney.blogspot.com