2003-02-02T23:34:00.000-06:00

Welcome! If you would like to post a tribute, message, poem, quote, or joke in honor of the fabulous Laura J. Slane, aquatics expert extraordinaire (whom we will miss "deeply" when she leaves Y-USA for work at her hometown Y in St. Louis), please send an e-mail with your message to jennifer.elvey@ymca.net. Please put "Laura Slane" in the subject line. Jennifer will work with Celeste Wroblewski to post the message. Questions? Contact Jennifer at Y-USA, 800-872-9622, ext. 8104.

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Thank you for the great job in YMCA Aquatics, for keeping swim lessons,
lifeguarding, etc. on the cutting edge. I also cannot thank you enough for
all your help as I have grown in the YMCA and for believing in me. THANK
YOU!!!!!!!!!! May the Lord bless youn in your new job!! I will be
thinking of you as you start on your new adventure. Thank you again,
Carole Forbes
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Laura, I left you a recent voice mail, but wanted to reiterate in writing how sorry I am to see you leaving the national YMCA position you have held for so many years. As I told you, I have great respect for you and have enjoyed working with you. You have been an swesome resoucre to me and I am sure to 1000's of other aquatic's people. Thank you for keeping the YMCA liefugard curriculum so strict and "challenging" some organizations :) are making theirs so "fast food" easy that I am worried about the safety of these young lifeguards. I hope all goes well with you, and I am sure you are looking forward to not traveling so much, enjoy the St. Louis YMCA and know you will be missed.

Frances Seeley,
Aquatic Director
Rapid City YMCA - South Dakota

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Laura, you and I have worked on 14 books and launched the new YMCA Swim Lessons program – and we’re still talking to each other! Seriously, I’ve been amazed by your dedication to producing quality aquatic publications and programs and your willingness to try new ways of presenting information. You’ve been a joy to work with, and I’ll miss our conversations about both work and family. Best of luck in your new position – I can’t think of anyone who could do a better job of training than you.

Pat Sammann
YMCA Program Store

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Laura,
I will miss you at National as you have truly been
a leader in a field that is not easy to organize in
one direction. You are tenacious,humorous and very
kind . I wish you well in St. Louis and hope to talk
to you in the future. Suzanne King

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Laura,

Just a huge thank you for all you have done for the YMCA’s aquatic programs. We were a ship without much direction before you came and we now know exactly where we are going. You have also guided many of us in our career paths and YMCA’s around the country are stronger because of you. You are the best.

Steve Smith
YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee

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Friendship is a Golden Chain,
The links are friends so dear,
And like a rare and precious jewel
It's treasured more each year.
It's clasped together firmly
With a love that's deep and true,
And it's rich with happy memories
and fond recollections, too.

Time can't destroy its beauty
For, as long as memory lives,
Years can't erase the pleasure
That the joy of friendship gives.
For friendship is a priceless gift
That can't be bought or sold,
But to have an understanding friend
Is worth far more than gold.
And the Golden Chain of Friendship
Is a strong and blessed tie
Binding kindred hearts together
As the years go passing by.
I will always cherish your friendship, the things I have learned from you , and all the good times we had at Program schools and meetings. The YAM Academy the Expo and all the great meeting in Chicago. Thank you so much.
Kathy Pszczolkowski

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Thank you, Laura for 11-years of dedication and commitment to YMCA Aquatics. Your hard work, open-mindedness and great leadership has led us into another 150 years of excellence in aquatics! We wish you well in your new YMCA, and we are also very happy that you will remain as part of the greater YMCA Family! Best wishes, New Canaan Community YMCA

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Thanks for all you have done for Y aquatics, Diane Hicks Bath YMCA, Bath Maine

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Laura,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for encouraging me to move onward through the ranks to becoming a Facility member in the Aquatic World. Thank you for all the rewarding life time experiences at the Academies, Program Schools, Skunk Camp, and other projects that you invited me to and thank you for being a friend.
The best to you and the new projects that you will tackle in your ongoing YMCA career. Please stay in touch and if you need anything please let me know. Take care. "Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality."
Linda Garcia YMCA of Greater Hartford Association/ Wheeler Branch

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Laura, I was honored to be one of your colleagues. If it’s true that everything moves toward water - - then, in the same fashion, everything at the Y often moved toward you and your intelligence, dedication and commitment. Thank you for your presence and participation all these years, helping make the Y, and my time there, inspired and so influential. I wish for you all good things in your new efforts and look forward to being in touch, as always. Best wishes, Jason (Shinder) (Director, Writers Voice)

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LAURA SLANE, IN the MAIN

There was an aquatic champion named Slane,
Whose dedication to safety could ne’er wane.
She dedicated her wit
To the mutual benefit
Of swimmers both crazy and sane.

This same hero would share all she had
With colleagues and competitors – egad!
To help them to see
The best they could be
In character development, for her no fad.

We will miss her so much.
So many lives she did touch.
Mine, in particular,
She gave spectacular
Assistance, never the brush

But, hear the good news for all,
Our Laura’s not got the gall
To go too far away
From our needs, night and day.
Pick up the phone, give St Louis a call!

Melissa Davis
Former Senior Consultant for Membership & Program
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Laura,

Who’s going to teach our youth how to swim faster than the sharks?

Las Vegas Devotion

Beverly Brown
Associate Director, Youth Development
National Black Achievers Director

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Laura, I wish you the best in your new venture! I hope you find it very rewarding—and hope our paths cross at many Y National functions!

Vanessa Boulous
Membership & Program Consultant
YMCA of the USA

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Laura-Best wishes to you. Thanks for always being prompt when I needed answers and help. I looked and looked for a funny card for you but had to pick "nice" one for your party. ..Since I ALWAYS pick out funny cards, I now will share with you a funny story...

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to consider putting a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns. After the plate was passed, he noticed someone had put a $1,000 bill in the offering. He was so overcome with joy, he wanted to personally thank the person responsible. A quiet, saintly lady in the back raised her hand. The pastor thanked her profusely and told her to pick out three hymns. She looked out over the congregation, pointed to the three most gorgeous men and said..."I'll take him and him and him".

Brenda Welker, Association Resources
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Laura,
We are all sorry to see you leave. You’ve taught us so much over the past years, and often defied some common wisdom.

Common Wisdom:
1) I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it. No, thanks to you, we have plenty of wisdom, insight, and knowledge.
2) I finally got my head together; now my body is falling apart. Thanks to your swimming instructions, my knees are now saved from the jarring of running on pavement.
3) All reports are in; life is now officially unfair. This one’s true, cause you’re leaving YUSA.
4) It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser. You’ve proven that wrong, we’re all better off because of the things you’ve taught us for the past 11 years.
5) Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant. We’re always the dog with you.
6) The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you're in the bathroom. But Aquatics Kings and Queens get their own throne.
7) The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. At least if it fills with water, we’ll know what to do.
8) These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about the hereafter ...I go somewhere to get something and then wonder what I'm hereafter. Where’s that Principles of Aquatics Manual?
9) Funny, I don't remember being absent minded...
10)Funny, I don't remember being absent minded...

Best of luck with the new position in St. Louis. They certainly got the best end of this deal.

Jim Kauffman
YMCA of the USA
Membership and Program Consultant

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Laura- I’m so sorry that I will miss your party on Friday- I will be out of town. We have been colleagues for many years and during this time, I have always known I could count on you for whatever help or support I needed. You have been a tremendous asset to the YMCA of the USA and the Movement and I am thrilled that you will still be part of the Y. Congratulations and I wish you the very best in your new role.

Fondly,
Myrtis
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers
is the chance to work hard at work worth doing"
Theodore Roosevelt

Laura, this quote from Theodore Roosevelt reminds me of the wonderful contribution you have made to the YMCA Movement through you hard work in getting the our Aquatics program into a position of national respect. Throughout my life I have heard people share their chosen profession as a "labor of love". It is obvious that you are one of these people. It is noticeable that you have pursued your labor of love with Aquatics at the YMCA of the USA with passion, spark and enthusiasm for completing work that is worth doing because it is so important. In my way of thinking, this has been your higher calling for the Movement.

I hope that you are proud of your accomplishments and will be reminded from time to time of the positive and powerful impact your labor of love will have on local YMCA staff, volunteers, and members for a long time to come. Your labor of love has already and will continue to help the people the YMCA serves grow in spirit, mind, and body toward the potential they were given by God.

Not only has your labor of love touched the lives of the people the YMCA serves, it has also touched the lives of your colleagues at the national office. I want to thank you for all the help you have freely and happily given to me over these twelve years in the work that I do for the Movement. I could always count on a willingness to help in any way, a listening ear, an honest response, and an affirming attitude. Your counsel has contributed to making the work that I do a work that is worth doing.

The staff and volunteers of the St. Louis association are very fortunate to have the opportunity to become your new labor or love. As you roll up your sleeves and invest your work ethic in helping these individuals grow their potential for leadership, I look forward to seeing that association's capacity to work the Y mission in the lives of it's members reach new levels of greatness.

Keep me posted on the journey.

Your friend,

Don

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Laura,
I wish you all the best in your new adventure and I know that the legacy you leave at YUSA is a professional and articulate portfolio of Aquatics materials, resources and trainings as well as those individuals around the country that have had the opportunity to meet and share with you. I’ve appreciated knowing you and I know you will be an incredible asset to your new Y.

Take Care,
Barb

Barbara Roth
Specialty Consultant for Child Care
YMCA of the USA
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Laura- It's hard to believe you're not going to be Director of Aquatics for Y-USA. Aquatics at 101 was Laura Slane. I personally want to thank you for being a great mentor, example and supporter to me in my brief 2 years with Y-USA. You have always given me your ear and have given me solid advice. Your contributions to the YMCA movement nationally are incredible. Just think, when the YMCA celebrates its 200th Anniversary someday, local YMCA 's will be celebrating and highlighting the accomplishments you have made. You will be sorely missed. I wish you the best in your new chapter of YMCA life. God bless you and thanks again for the gift of time and caring you gave to me!!!

Augie Mendoza
Associate Director for Sports
YMCA of the USA
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Laura,
I will truly miss working with you on all of the Program School Aquatics
issues that come up time after time. I know you'll be a true treasure
to the St, Louis Y and I wish you every bit of luck and good fortune in
your future endeavor. However, I'm not certain what I'll do with all of
my newly found "spare" time...Thanks for being a terrific person to work
with.

Best wishes,
Joan Polner
YMCA of the USA
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I wish you the best of luck. I know how lucky St. Louis is to have you. I only wish we could have worked together longer. I appreciate your true concern and commitment to this work. Every time I asked you to help me you were there. I have learned a great deal from you and I thank you for that. I have also learned to never carry your bathing suit with you on the road because you might have to put it on. Good luck.

Janet Dunn
Membership/Program Consultant
YMCA of the USA
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We appreciate the work that Laura Slane has done to further YMCA Aquatics on the national scene. With her most recent development projects coming into fruition she has been able to communicate the YMCA mission to a broader audience and educate YMCA staffers on the importance of sharing YMCA resources to educate not only our staff but also the general public. For this Laura will be missed. I am sure at times Laura has felt more like Lois Lane than Laura Slane. Thanks for everything you have done for the YMCA movement.

Kevin Bottomley
Associate Executive Director
Bryan Family YMCA
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Laura,
Congratulations on your new position with the YMCA of St. Louis!!!

I know you will do a great job for this YMCA, as you have done for the YMCA of the USA for 11 years.

I am sure that you are aware of the impact that you have had, working with YMCA's across the country in the field of Aquatics, which we all know is so important to the work of local YMCA’s!!

I want to wish you the best of luck in your new endeavors, and my hope would be that some day we meet again in YMCA work!!

Congratulations again!

Regards,
Krystal R. Canady
YMCA of the USA
Senior Network Consultant
Grp.2, Serving CT,NJ,NY
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Dear Laura,
Wishing you the very best as you enter this new phase of your life and career. We will miss you but I am quite sure all our paths will cross in time.

St. Louis is lucky to have you!

Cheers~

Jan
Jan Pate
Associate Director, International Group
Area Specialist for Europe

Laura Slane,you're swell, so long but not farewell