Category: Personal Y Stories

Watertown Area YMCA members enjoy time spent together.

Whoever said “blood is thicker than water” certainly never met the rousing group of friends who make up the “One Big Happy Y Family” at the Watertown Area YMCA.

Coming from all different walks of life, these active senior women truly love, laugh and live well together. Celebrating everything from birthdays, graduations and holidays to hosting events and outings to welcoming one another back from a surgery or illness, they are one tight knit group of gal pals.

Nell Winkler, long-time YMCA member, considers herself lucky for being part of such a special friendship. At 76 years young, Winkler first joined the Watertown Y when it was known as the HAWC in order to start working on gaining back muscle tone and strength. Now, several years later, she says she had no idea at the time that it would lead to all the amazing friendships she has today.

“The Y has impacted me in so many ways,” she says. “I have made lovely friends. If I miss a class, it really affects my entire day. I’m so very thankful for the people at the Y and their kindness.”

Winkler says her friendships made at the Y go even further than just exercising together. “We’ve confided in one another. We’ve hugged and cried. We’ve comforted one another in times of need.”

She considers herself to be a happy, healthy senior because of what the Y has offered her both physically and emotionally.

There’s an old adage, “good food, good friends, good times.” Watertown Area YMCA member, Pam Sterling, along with her tribe of fellow fitness comrades live out this expression well.

For the past 15+ years, the group of 5 women from the Watertown community have been dedicated on a regular basis to work out, fellowship and travel together, something they describe as keeping each other on the path of wellness.

It all started back in 2006, as Pam and one good friend were meeting every Saturday morning for coffee and a fitness class at the Watertown Area YMCA (formerly HAWC.) Over the years, as they continued to try new Y classes being offered, they met new women, finding camaraderie and adding to their group of steadfast workout enthusiasts, who also just happened to love a good cup of java.

“We think our early morning group gets along so well because we have a positive outlook on life. We encourage each other to try new classes and we challenge each other to keep growing,” says Pam.

From Cycling to Body Pump to Flow to Combat, no matter what the class was being offered, this group of women always found something to better their overall health.

This continued pattern of fellowship and fitness at the Y grew a tight knit bond between the five friends, eventually leading to taking vacations together to Northern Wisconsin. Exploring the Northwoods, hiking or biking, eating good food and enjoying each other’s company with time away has strengthened their relationships even deeper.

Pam says the accountability built from this strong bond is really what fuels the group to stay active together. “We all attribute our exercise habit as one reason why we feel good and are generally pretty healthy. We’ve learned about clean eating and healthy snacking from our Y teachers. But we’ve also learned about how important social connections are to our health,” says Sterling.

Even during the height of the pandemic, this commitment stayed stable, with the friends continuing to meet, socially distanced, to walk. They would bundle up and walk a good 3 miles around town, then have coffee together at home via Zoom.

Through the Watertown Area YMCA, this special group of women have found connection, support, encouragement and wellness.

Sterling adds, “As much as we like each other, we really feel like we’re part of the larger Y family. We also feel their support and encouragement to build our healthy spirits, minds and bodies!”

Here at the Y, we have a great team of staff members! We’d love for you to put a face to a name and get to know them a little better. 
Each month, we will feature a different director from either our Pabst Farms or Watertown branch locations.
We hope you enjoy this new opportunity to meet our incredible Y Team! 

This month, we’d like you to meet…

Membership Engagement Director at the YMCA at Pabst Farms, Laura Ferree.

Laura’s dedication to Y members really shines through in all her friendly interactions at the Pabst Farms branch. Here’s a bit more about Laura…

-How long have you worked for the Y? 8 years

-My job at the Y is: My title is Engagement Director. I serve our membership department through planning and execution of member engagement and retention strategies, membership reporting and social media and communication support.

-Pets: Our dog Finley is 8 years old. He loves to eat and nap and gets super excited when you tell him it’s time for a walk.

-Hobbies include: I like to sing at church and run. I also dabble in pottery, painting and sewing.

-I work for the Y because: I’ve always believed in the importance of community building and was excited when we moved to Oconomowoc to be part of the Y community. Working at the Y has helped me get to know the community better and I love supporting a place that so many people see as their second home.

-Favorite music: I listen to a wide variety of music and often change it up based on the season, activity or mood.

-Favorite movie: I like folding laundry to a good romcom. I don’t really have a favorite.

-The most fun part about my job is: I really like working on a team so the best parts of my job are when I’m collaborating to get something big done.

-Favorite sports team: I root for the Packers.

-Favorite restaurant: I like to go out for Mexican or any place with a patio in the summer.

-The most meaningful part of my job is: Getting to hear member’s stories. Sometimes when you’re doing the daily routine, it can be easy to forget that the Y is really important to people or that it has helped them grow and change. I love to hear about what the Y means to folks.

-Favorite way to relax: I like being outside to relax. You might also find me curled up on the couch with a cup of tea.

-Favorite holiday: I get pretty jazzed for Christmas, but I think Thanksgiving is my favorite. The past few years have made us rethink how we celebrate and given our family an opportunity to make our own traditions and try new things. I also really just love the food.

-The biggest lesson I’ve learned while working at the Y is: The staff team at the Y is really focused on how our culture can live out the Y values and that’s give me a lot of practice in grace filled service. In a world that can be harsh and contrary, it feels unique to work at a place that prioritizes serving member and each other with love.

Here at the Y, we have a great team of staff members! We’d love for you to put a face to a name and get to know them a little better. 
Each month, we will feature a different director from either our Pabst Farms or Watertown branch locations.
We hope you enjoy this new opportunity to meet our incredible Y Team! 

This month, we’d like you to meet…

Membership Engagement Director at the Watertown Area YMCA, Sharon Kurkiewicz.

Sharon’s dedication to Y members really shines through in all her friendly interactions at the Watertown branch. Here’s a bit more about Sharon…

-How long have you worked for the Y? 8 years

-My job at the Y is: Membership Engagement Director

-Pets: 1 cat, Shelby

-Hobbies include: Bike riding, hiking, playing volleyball, paddle boarding and kayaking.

-I work for the Y because: Its mission makes sense for my life, beliefs and core values.

-Favorite music: Pop

-Favorite movie: Forrest Gump

-The most fun part about my job is: The conversations I have with the members.

-Favorite sports team: I love to watch AVP women’s volleyball. Favorite all time player is Misty May!

-Favorite restaurant: Café Manna

-The most meaningful part of my job is: Connecting with members on a regular basis and knowing more than their name.

-Favorite way to relax: Paddle boarding

-Favorite holiday: Christmas

-The biggest lesson I’ve learned while working at the Y is: You can make a difference, even in the smallest of measure, in someone’s life!

Here at the Y, we have a great team of staff members! We’d love for you to put a face to a name and get to know them a little better. 
Each month, we will feature a different director from either our Pabst Farms or Watertown branch locations.
We hope you enjoy this new opportunity to meet our incredible Y Team! 

This month, we’d like you to meet…

Health and Wellness Director at the YMCA at Pabst Farms, Emily Lopez.

Emily’s contagious smile matches her friendly personality! Here’s a bit more about Emily…

-How long have you worked for the Y? Since June 2021

-My job at the Y is: Health & Wellness Director

-Pets: 1 Pup – George

-Hobbies include: Working out, Coaching Lacrosse, Going to concerts & live sporting events

-I work for the Y because: At first, I just needed a job that was in my field and would allow for personal and professional growth. Now, a year later, I work at the Y because it truly feels like home and I cannot imagine working anywhere else! 

-Favorite music: Country, but I listen to everything.

-Favorite movie: Fever Pitch

-The most fun part about my job is: Hanging out with some of the most fun, energetic people I’ve ever met.

-Favorite sports team: Is that even a question? GO PACKERS!

-Favorite restaurant: Uncle Julio’s Mexican 

-The most meaningful part of my job is: Being a part of someone’s health and wellness journey. If I am helping in any capacity, then I’ve won.

-Favorite way to relax: Drinking coffee on my back patio.

-Favorite holiday: Christmas

-The biggest lesson I’ve learned while working at the Y is: The Y loves everyone. We are a safe, welcoming environment for anyone in our community and will call this home to whomever walks through the doors. I have never felt acceptance like I do here.