Good Day Uncut: YMCA Fall Programs

Philadelphia, we are uncut. Hey, what's going on everybody? It's your old buddy Hank, and we are in Exton today. Believe it or not, the Lionville YMCA, one of the different YMCA clubs of the greater Brandywine YMCA. Yeah. This is the Lionville. This is uncut. I'm your host, Hank Flynn. Welcome aboard. Check out this parking lot real quick. This is notable because it's Thursday, 1130. Look at this parking lot. You are going to go around here. In circles and circles and circles. Young lady telling me, yes, indeedy. What are you? That's where I had to go to find one. But, guys, that is it. Thank you, ma'am. I appreciate it. But, guys, as we go into the wine, let's let these folks out first. Excuse me. How are you? Pleasure to see you. Sir, nice to see you. They always tell you, right? Don't they always tell you if you're going to go out to eat in a town you don't know? Go to where there's a full parking lot, all right? Well, if this, the YMCA, were a restaurant... You'd be waiting 45 minutes for a table. Dave, thank you so much. Introduce yourself, sir. You're in charge of this YMCA. Yes, I'm Dave Mullen. I'm our executive director here. It's a pleasure to see you. Dude, there's not a car, there's not a space in the parking lot. Everybody's here. Something's working. Y'all are crowded. Yes, we're very busy. We are a community hub serving Exton, Downingtown. and Lionville community, we serve over 7,000 members in the area, and we have all kinds of activities going on today. Now, a lot of what we have going on today, give me the name for it, because you all have a special name for it. It's programming for guys like me and a lot of you 55 and older. I know I look 20, but I'm 57. Dave, you're what? 28, right? I'm going on 29. Gotcha, exactly. So what is it about 55 and older programming that's really seeming to be turning wheels around here? Maybe you're just hitting the mark. It's called our Forever Well program. It's for 55 and over. And it's a community that wants to stay active, but they also like the social aspect of meeting their friends and having that human connection. And it's really, we hit a sweet spot with it. Yeah, clearly. I mean, we can look around, guys. Who's running the program for you? Where's Donna? Donna Pelzar. Is she in there warming up people up and yelling at everybody? I can see her. She's the one with the sassy hair. We'll be in there with her. But guys, this is Mahjong right here in the front lobby. Beyond that, you've got Forever Well Volleyball going. We're going to pay them a visit and get this. There's a line dance class happening down the hallway, so get your shuffling shoes on. We're going to be doing that as well. Donna, God bless you. Here you are. Take me through some of it. Dave, thank you so much, sir. And hats off for setting this whole thing up. It is up here. Donna, Forever Well. Go ahead and clip it to your shirt. Go ahead. It's okay. Well, you don't have to, or at least hold it up nice and high. Hold it up nice and high. Okay, now can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you just fine. Tell me about this wonderful Forever Well program, and this is what, the book club that we're into? This is a book club, and this is one of our Forever Well offerings. We do this once a month. Members pick the group, the book as a group, and then they come here, have a discussion. It's really great because there's a lot of diversity of opinion. Oh, yeah? There's a lot of great discussion and different ways to look at things. All right. So let me borrow that for a second, Donna. Thank you. Who's Malfi? I know Colleen is. She just got a fresh knee put on. I did. I read her name. Colleen, how are you? Somehow you made it here. I did. You're not a crutch. You're my sister in pain. I'm recovering from a broken leg. I just got back to work two months, not this past Monday, but the one before. But you're here. It might have hurt your knee a little bit to get up and get out this morning, but you had no question you were going to be here. What is it about being with this good group of people that you love so much? We have such a wealth. ...of experience. These women should be running the country. All right, Lucy. I'm one guy. We usually have two guys. Right. Well, I'm not going to get into whether I agree or not, but I'm certainly not going to argue with this group of women at all. Colleen, as long as you're going on with it, what is it about the lion women of Tehran? By Marjan Kamali that we are into this particular month. If you want to talk about a title that's intriguing, I would crack that book. The Lion Women of Tehran. What's it about? And how is the discussion going? Have you all had disagreements? No, no. Not really. No, not really. It basically is about friendship, two girls' friendship from... Early childhood to adulthood, and intermixed with it is the politics. Now, is this modern Iran, or is this 50 years ago? Let's pass the mic to this young lady over here, because she knows things, too. Please do talk. What's your name, ma'am? Joan. Joan, hold that microphone up. You're the lion woman of Axton, right? Yes. I'm in the upper class. Yes. . Joan, it's funny, because you clearly like this. You like the forum. You like coming in with the book read and to talk about it, but I could just see it in your stance and the way you just chimed in on these questions. No, and don't laugh because this is what a book club is. These are ideas. But this is right. And I've been in other book clubs where it's a more homogeneous group and it doesn't go as well. Everybody either likes the book or everybody doesn't like the book and for the same reasons. And this group always has a different angle. People have different, you know, sometimes you agree on some things, sometimes not. Everybody's honest. Everybody has a personal experience. Experience that colors how they see each book we read. Well, what I love about this Forever Well program, for being 55 and older, and with full respect to younger generations, they might not get through, they don't read as much as we do. I think they're going through things that we never necessarily had to with a lot of the tech, and those things will reveal themselves as the years go by. We'll fully understand it, I guess, as it comes. But maybe it's better to have a book club with people that you know. Probably from your generation, because you're going to have other touchstones to hit on as well. Things that you all have been through. You knew where you were when Kennedy was killed. The nine, yeah. Not to bring tragedy up, but maybe it's just an easier group to get along with and talk about these ideas. But I don't think that's why. I think this time and place is convenient for... The people here and we're mostly in the same age group. If teenagers came, we wouldn't tell them they couldn't come. They're going to have a different perspective because we want to hear the different perspectives, right? So we don't all want to agree on the book. Well, Joan, it's Joan you said, right? Thank you so much. Let me have that back. In my short time here, I've yet to see Donna or anyone else kick a 30-year-old out of the book club yet. So I have not seen it. Anyone, anywhere. They will turn out. Donna's the bouncer, so she would be the one to tell. Guys, thank you so much. Thank you for indulging me. I'll leave you to the more important things here, this wonderful book, and enjoy. And thanks for telling me about it. All right, we'll see you soon. Here, Donna, hang on to this. I've got to take a quick break, but before I do, we'll make a quick point, though, about this. I mean, because the idea of going 55 and older can work for about anything you feel like people are doing. Mahjong, book clubs, swimming. We don't do the traditional senior activities, so just because you're 55 and older doesn't mean you necessarily want to be sedentary. Now, Donna, I've spoken with Dave already. 55 and older is not seniors, okay? I don't really want to be placed in the senior corner by you. It's not fair. Oh, no. I'm no senior, Donna. Oh, no. You are absolutely never, ever be a senior, and neither will any of these people. I'll never admit it. That's exactly right. No one in here views himself as being any older. Right. We're going to be right back out here at the Lionville YMCA in Exton, guys, and there's so much to see, so much to talk about, all of it, with people who are experienced, know things, and let's learn how to play some Mahjong. We'll be right back with more on the cut. Like when you're playing Mahjong. It's not going to be like this card. All right, everybody out here at the Lionville YMCA. I am going. We're out here at the Lionville YMCA where it is. It is, uh... Forever Well Day, but that's basically Monday through Friday, right, Donna? It's every single day. It absolutely is. I mean, on the weekends, there are going to be a ton of children out of school, so the whole Y is going to be mobbed at that point anyway. Usually anywhere between maybe 8 o'clock in the morning and past noon, we have some type of senior activity going. It's wonderful. Let's talk to Sandy real quick about it. Hey, Sandy, can I just ride along with you while you... You seem to be teaching your friend a little. It's a microphone. Just kind of hold it up underneath. Okay. So you're teaching her Mahjong. And in order to do that, you're probably fairly literate in it yourself. What's the nature of this game? The nature of this game is you're trying to make combinations of these tiles that you see on her rack that match the symbols on this card. I wonder if any of the other women are secretly watching the Fox local app right now and seeing her tiles. Well, I hope not, because that would be cheating. That would be cheating. We wouldn't cheat at the Y. Hey, Sandy. That goes against our core values here. Well done. Nice job. Way to D up for the Y. Sandy, what is it about Mahjong? I mean, you all could play bridge. You could be here in the book club. What is it about this game that intrigues you and has you sitting down here, and even teaching your friends how to play as well? Maybe you want her on board so she'll come every day and play with you, you know? Well, it just... Being able to touch those tiles and move them around is different from bridge because you're holding them all in your hand and a lot of older people can't hold all those cards in their hand anymore. Right. So they got this rack and they can put all the tiles there. How did you fall in love with it? I know that there in many societies mahjong dominates in a lot of ways. People are mad for it. Well I retired and then I had to find something to do with my life. First, I always congratulate people when they retire. Good job on that, Sandy. The second home story? The third home story? No. The second home story? Oh, yes, I will tell that story. So when you retire, you think about all the financial edge of what you have to do when you retire. Naturally. You're worried about having enough money. Right. And then what happens is you retire and you lose your sense of community because you're... Some of which came from work, I guess. Yeah, from work, all your work friends. Sure. And they're getting, you know, they're making plans while they're still at work, and sometimes they remember to call you, and sometimes they don't. And so coming to the Y and finding Mahjong and bridge and all the other activities, you find your third home. Got it. So you have your home where you live, your home where you worked, and then the Y for a lot of retired people becomes a third home. You've just found a real sense of comfort. You found a different home here with these women playing Mahjong. Right. Good stuff. And not only that, you can walk in any morning of the week, and there are people sitting here before and after their classes, and they're having coffee. Yeah. And you can find someone to say hello to at any point in time. Beautiful stuff. Sandy, excellent. Thank you so much for a brief. I want to get out of the way before I interrupt the game. Hey, Dave. Dave, I'm asking you for one more quick point because we've done a couple of things here. We did Book Club and we've done Mahjong. We're almost halfway through the show, but this is a really good time to put out exactly where it is we are and how 55-year-olds and anyone else that wants to join the Y, and all are eligible. Anyone who wants to join the Y can join it. But if you're interested in this Forever Well program, what's the best way that people can come? How should they contact you if people are interested? Maybe this is their reason to join. So we are at 100 Devon Drive in Exton. Our website is YGBW. YMCAGBW.org, and to your point, we do have financial assistance programming, so based on income, anybody can join. So, I mean, even seniors on fixed incomes, there might be a program for them as well. And we recognize insurance memberships like Silver Sneakers and Silver Fit. We really don't say no to anybody that needs our services. So even if you don't think you can necessarily afford it, come on in and have the conversation because prices are not necessarily hard. You have... Ways around things. Yes, there's a great chance we can work with you and figure out a way to get you a membership here. All right, so before, how old are you? I am 48. It's a shame. Seven more years, man. You can be doing some of this good stuff. We can come play Mahjong. Let's pretend you're 55. What would be your jam? Would it be the volleyball in there, the Mahjong, the reading? Dude, when we see line dance and things are going to get sideways, I'd probably be the Mahjong in the volleyball that we're about to see. Fair enough. And we will be seeing some volleyball, guys. It actually reminds me of that one commercial that you see on TV with the weird whistling music when the guy's like... Do you think I have enough to retire? And the woman's like, Penny, for your thoughts, we're about to go into that swimming pool with those people in about two minutes when we get back out here to Exton with more Uncut. Come on back, everybody. All right, everybody, and we are back. That might have just been a point for the nearside team. A brutal, brutal beach volleyball game happening out here. There's a lot of money and reputations on the line. And these people are like, yeah, we're on TV. Listen, we've got a volleyball game to play, and it's four on four. Everybody's 55 and older. It's the volleyball section of the Forever Well program. Donna, give me a quick word on this. Forever Well gets in the pool as well. Forever Well gets in the pool twice a month. Okay. We run it from, what, 10 to 11? 10 to 11 or 11 and 12? 10 to 11.30. 10 to 11.30. We usually have a full game going. Everybody's pretty competitive. Sure. And if you take a look at that, it is a great hand-eye coordination aerobic exercise. Well, and you're also in the pool, so it's low impact. It feels good. Yeah, low impact. Maybe that's what Norma likes about it. She volunteers here, but she clearly knows. Norma, grab that microphone and walk with me telling a lot of stuff. I'm going to go around the other side over here. Norma, if I were not eating up your time telling me about this stuff, would you be in the pool with them? I would absolutely be in the pool. This is a great activity for getting some social time in as well as getting your exercise. We tend to get pretty excited when we get the ball over the net. The ball is a beach ball, which it makes very friendly. Well, I mean, you've got to kind of be, because there's no out-of-bounds on the back and the far side. You've got four on four, so it's a small enough game. You don't have to move back and forth or dive or anything. You're in a swimming pool. If you want to dive, it'll be fine. That's right. We have kind of a rule where we don't get our hair wet. We have boundaries, and it's just kind of on your own judgment whether the ball is in or out. And we just keep playing. If the ball doesn't go over the net, it's okay. We get a laugh out of it, and we carry on. And the talk in the water is about the score. Like, when this game is over, they'll probably come back to Earth and talk about other things. But while they're in this, that's the only place they want to be. That is a lot of concentration on getting those points. However, the most emphasis is on having fun. Yeah. We are helping each other out. We work together. We love to have new people come, whatever. They don't know about volleyball. We teach them at the time, and everybody just gets in and plays. Hey, Norma, let me ask you this. I'm going to move to your other side and put this down. Let me ask you this. I'm not asking your age, but, like, I'm 57. Out of bounds! Out of bounds! That's all right. Point to the serving team. I don't even know what I'm talking about. But not that you necessarily have a version of it. You might, you might not, but I'm sure you've got friends. This space that we get into when we're 55 and older and we want to stay physical, I really like this program because it addresses what I see as a very palpable need. How have you seen it work? And improve people that you know. We know this program has only been going three years. That's a long enough time. So the people come, they stay, and they are very committed to, you know, this game of volleyball. These are all people, a lot of them are retired. These are people who have choices, that they've been successful, and they're choosing to be here because they enjoy it. They enjoy it because we support each other, and we're always welcoming to new people. Wonderful. It doesn't matter what your skill level is. We like to have you join us, and, you know, we work together on everything. All right. I'm going to name check you real quick, Norma. Do you know who Karch Karai is? No. Karch Karai. He's kind of like the Babe Ruth of volleyball. Okay. He was in those Olympics in the late 80s, early 90s, and then he went on to coach the Olympic team. The thing on him... Even up until he was like 40 years old, he apparently had something like a 46-inch vertical leap. Can you imagine being in your 40s and being able to jump your shoes off the ground? That would be really great. You would absolutely be a ringer in this particular match, wouldn't you? We don't do that. You know, it's just like whatever skills people come with, we work with it. Well, I get a good sense of it. They're having a good time, and if you want to fit into it. Hey, sir, you got a quick word for me? Can you talk to me just for a quick second? He said, I respect that. Have a good time. God bless you. Don, I love the fact that he told me to get lost. That's the best thing I could do. No, he's playing volleyball. They just switched sides like a real team. Bob Collins, come over here. Yeah, you. No, no, let him play. It's fine. Don, no, no, no. You do the talking. It's fine. I'm not going to get in the way of this game. They care too much. This is an event when our members actually came up with the idea for the program. Okay. So Bob is the fellow that recommended that we do this program. All right. I've got to have him real quick. Bob, give me 10 seconds. I don't want to get in the name. But Don, I just fingered you as the guy that came up with this. Yeah. How did you know it would be a good idea? We have a wellness group committee here, and I thought it might be a good idea, I guess it was about three years ago, to start a water volleyball. Well, Bob, none of us are getting any younger, I mean, time doesn't tell any lies, but the way we feel matters, and you guys are like a bunch of kids in here having a blast. And I'm going to be 80 this month, so. Are you serious? Yep. You're going to hit 90. You're keeping up with this volleyball, Bob. Good for you. And thanks for recommending this. Clearly, a lot of others. Yeah, good stuff. Consider that an invitation, guys. Bob wants you to come out and play volleyball. You might have to be next, though. This kind of four-on-four, it gets stacked up in here. Donna, is the pool big enough for these wild people? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. If not, we can certainly extend some lanes. We usually have anywhere from four to six people on each side. You said... For a second, I thought you said 46 people on each side, because that'd be some volleyball game. Four to six people on each side. And that's enough. When we have more than that, we pretty much rotate people out. Yeah, well... So you play a game, then you rotate out. We'll do an hour's worth of Mahjong or something. All right, listen, guys, this is an absolute... Fiesta, the 55 and older Forever Well program here at Lyonville YMCA, but it's really across all of the greater Brandywine YMCAs as well. Actually, other YMCAs outside of that group, although it might just come by a different name, and if you belong to a YMCA outside of that group and they don't have this, walk up to their director, their version of Dave, and recommend it. They'll take the ball and run with it. It's a lot of fun. Donna and I will be back in about 90 seconds. We're going to get our boots on. And go line dancing. You ready for that? I'm ready. Are you ready? Buckle up your achy breakies, Donna. Let's get going. All right, guys. We'll be right back. We'll be right back.