YMSL Moms and Sons:

Our Ultimate Gift 2016 - THE LEARNING HOUSE was successfully completed last weekend!  The preschool children, parents, and teachers at this non-profit preschool for children of all abilities appreciate our efforts in positively transforming their backyard and updating their entranceways.  Please look to our YMSL Website and click on the UG tab for before and after photos.

In summary:  A front entry porch was constructed and a back porch was rebuilt.  The fence around the entire property was power-washed and stained with 18 gallons of stain.  Additionally, a 12 foot portion of the fence was rebuilt and reinforced.   Grandma's Garden was replenished with new soil, new plants, a new sign, and a new border.  Batson's Farm was created for growing future pumpkins and sunflowers.  A basketball headboard was replaced and new toys, complete with a new toy chest, were purchased.  The landscape around the entire property was attended to including trimming bushes, trees, and adding rock and recycled concrete.  Our volunteers lined up for a photo with a new sign added to the property, as we celebrated the completion of our project with a cook-out hosted by The Learning House.

THANK YOU YMSL!  Our volunteers signed up for 306 hours, but we estimate the total number of volunteer hours to be closer to 497 hours because many volunteers stayed longer and we had several dads show up for many hours of work.  We also thank you for your donation of gift cards to Home Depot, Lowe's, and Walmart adding up to $1005.

The following businesses and organizations in Fort Collins have donated so much to make our project possible.  With our wish list gift cards, it is a Grand Total of $7,995.  Please remember these businesses when you need them in the future.  

NOCOUnify - $2000 grant

Owl Mountain Investments (Paul Brown - General Contractor  970-231-8100) - a gift of time, knowledge, labor, and equipment totaling an estimated amount of $1500

Heaberlin Lawn Care (Chris Heaberlin- Owner/Operator 970-988-0823) - a gift of time, knowledge, labor, and equipment estimated at $400

United Rentals (970-482-9999) - equipment rentals estimated at $500

The Home Depot  on JFK - Trex Deck estimated at $550

Pioneer Sand Company - railroad ties and soil estimated at $400

Hageman Earth Cycle, Inc. - 5 tons of glacier rock and free dumping estimated at $300

Lowe's Home Improvement - landscape edging and pins estimated at $150

Lindgren Landscape and Irrigation, Inc. - landscape fabric estimated at $140

Crystal Landscape Supplies Inc. - 5 tons recycled concrete estimated at $120

Gulley Greenhouse and Garden Center - flowering plants estimated at $75

Laura Torrisi - rain barrel estimated at $100

Lamar's Donuts and Coffee - most delicious donuts anywhere $300

Jimmy Johns - best Sub Sandwiches in Fort Collins $150

Pizza Casbah - best thin pizza in Fort Collins $150

Sprouts - healthy boxes of apples and bananas $75

Albertson's - $25 gift card

King Soopers - $20 gift card

Target - $20 gift card

Safeway - $15 gift card

If you have the time, ask for a manager, and mention how much we at YMSL appreciate their contributions.  We could not have done it without them.

Ernie and Mary Batson, Directors of Education at The Learning House, provided us with a constant supply of delicious food and snacks during the project.  They have thanked us for all of our hard work, but the best thank you was to see the preschool kids run out to play in their new yard at the LEARNING HOUSE!

~Annie Yeh, Ultimate Gift Chairman

Congratulations YMSL on Ultimate Gift 2016

At the 10th grade Boys meeting on Sunday, September, 11th, many important events took place. After attendance and name tags, the boys were able to learn how to successfully change a tire. This is a crucial life skill especially as the members begin to drive.
After learning how to change a tire, we went inside to conduct the rest of our meeting. With Little Caesar’s Pizza in our hands, we started the meeting. The President, Michael Yeh, headed a good meeting, with a great presentation about Ultimate gift, from Mason Unger and Ben Knauer and a solid speech on Wish List Items, by myself (Beau Van Der Sluys).
Then, we went into a boardroom with a TV. On the TV, we watched a video of how meaningless texting and driving can dramatically change the lives of many in an instant. Again, seeing as how driving is in the near future of our members, this was an extremely relevant video. Also, Tyler Campbell, Ryan Ressler and Casey Knutsen delivered a prodigious presentation on the Elderhaus and Good Samaritan philanthropies.
Finally, the members were able to get a preview of some of our new apparel including new sweatshirts, and three new types of hats.

~~~Beau Van Der Sluys, Class of 2019
Boys VP of Communications

Class of 2019 September Boys Meeting...

At the 10th grade Boys meeting on Sunday, September, 11th, many important events took place. After attendance and name tags, the boys were able to learn how to successfully change a tire. This is a crucial life skill especially as the members begin to drive.
After learning how to change a tire, we went inside to conduct the rest of our meeting. With Little Caesar’s Pizza in our hands, we started the meeting. The President, Michael Yeh, headed a good meeting, with a great presentation about Ultimate gift, from Mason Unger and Ben Knauer and a solid speech on Wish List Items, by myself (Beau Van Der Sluys).
Then, we went into a boardroom with a TV. On the TV, we watched a video of how meaningless texting and driving can dramatically change the lives of many in an instant. Again, seeing as how driving is in the near future of our members, this was an extremely relevant video. Also, Tyler Campbell, Ryan Ressler and Casey Knutsen delivered a prodigious presentation on the Elderhaus and Good Samaritan philanthropies.
Finally, the members were able to get a preview of some of our new apparel including new sweatshirts, and three new types of hats.

~~~Beau Van Der Sluys, Class of 2019
Boys VP of Communications

Join the Ultimate Gift Project at The Learning House

Join us this Saturday as we begin the prep work at The Learning House. Don't forget the heavy-lifting will happen next weekend, Sept. 24-25. Please sign up via SignUp Genius or just drop by ... we'd love to see everyone there.

Logging Hours, Meetings, and Wish List Credits

Please remember to log your service hours, meeting attendance, and wish list credits as soon as you can. If you remember to do this right away, you won't be short on hours or trying to remember months down the road what you may have done.

Here's a quick tutorial on how to do this:

First, log onto ChapterWeb - Go to www.ymslfortcollins.org and click on "Member Login." If you're a new member and haven't logged in, your user name is "firstname_lastname" and your password is "ymsl." After your first login, you're welcome to change your password.

1. Click on the "Hours" tab.
2. Click on the "Hours Submission" tab.
3. Be sure to click on the date of your service or meeting.
4. "Select Hours Type."  You will see in the screenshots below an example for wish list credit and meeting attendance.
5. Under "Select Members" just begin typing your first name and it'll auto-fill. Find your name and click on it.
6. Under "Select a Philathropy," or "Select Meeting Activity" use the drop-down menu to find the correct one.
7. Add a "Brief Description" in the next box.
8. Don't forget to hit "Submit."

Logging Boys' Meeting Credit

Attend 5 out of 7 meetings to meet your requirements.

Logging Mom's Meeting Credit

Attend 3 out of 5 meetings to meet your requirements.

Logging Wish List Credits

Each member is allowed 5 wish list credits a year; one  min. $10 gift card = 1 hr. of service.

We hope this post helps clarify what gets logged and how it's done. If you have any questions, please reach out to your sponsor or any Board member.

Welcome to the YMSL Fort Collins Blog

After some brainstorming and research by the Communications Committee, we have decided to retire our PDF newsletter and instead pilot a blog to deliver snackable size content that's mobile friendly.

We hope this new format will make it easy to scan and read the latest news from our chapter. We're always opened to feedback so don't be shy about either leaving a comment or emailing me at travelb@comcast.net.

In the meantime, let us know if you have any creative ideas for the blog name. We might just offer a prize for the winner.

Pam Cunning
VP Communications