Imagine a calm and just-right warm evening in the September twilight, and a buffet dinner for 50 on your front lawn. We were at the home of Dorothy Pemberton, across from the rolling green landscape of the Rio Hondo Golf Course, to celebrate another year of service with one of the biggest and oldest service organizations in the world, the Downey Family YMCA.

Greg Welch, incoming Chairman of the Board, said it best: “Everyone here is a servant. So many service clubs are represented: Rotary, Kiwanis, Soroptimist; G.O.O.D., Assistance League, Optimists. Giggy and Tod are on the school board. We are here to serve others in the passion we live for, in the YMCA. We nurture that opportunity.”

“We are here to build character in young people. And to congratulate outstanding individuals,” added Greg.

“I had to tell a little white lie to get him here,” said Betty Ferraro, as bubbly and youthful as she always is, with her involvement on the school board, with the Assistance League and Gangs Out of Downey. She was speaking of her son, Dr. Steven Ferraro, who had just been awarded the Y’s coveted Red Triangle Award, for volunteering in the community.

Greg paid tribute to the Ferrero family as pillars of the community, and he began with Dr. Steve’s grandmother Rosemary Ferraro, a chair of the board in her time, whose devotion and dedication earned her name a place in the Golden Book of the Metropolitan YMCA. Steve’s dad, Dr. Kenny Ferraro, is also a past chair of the board of managers, so Dr. Steven made it three generations of volunteering in the Downey community.

Seen arriving: Bob and Joanne Earl – Bob is marking 50 years on the Y Board, longest tenure of any. Jim Derry looked snappy in a white Panama hat. When asked how he was, after his recent automobile accident, Jim replied, “95%.” Which is amazing, considering the seriousness of his injuries.

Christine de la Torre supported the one bit of board business to be transacted, to continue the participation in the youth convention with a board supplement. Christine is involved with Youth in Government activities at the Y.

Steve Roberson, another past Chairman of the Board, and wife Darlene made an appearance. “If I look like I’m dressed for a softball practice, it’s because I am dressed for a softball practice,” Steve said, and then he gave us “the good news,” that turned out to be the Big News.

“After several years of discussions and looking for a partner if and when we build a new facility,’ said Steve, “we have decided to work with the Downey United School District. We will have a new facility opening on the Sussman Middle School campus, within two years.”

“There’s been a rumor going around,” said Lori Tiffany, executive director of the Y and a member of the Rotary Club of Downey,” that the Y is going to close. No – we’re here, as you can see, and we will have a sparkling new building.” Lori thanked the staff for their hard work, including the two young women at the welcoming table at the party and the lovely and gracious Lupe Rodriguez, Instructor and yoga teacher.

“In two years we will have a 40,000 square foot new home,” said Steve. Jim Derry, fundraiser and motivator par excellence, said the new facility will cost $12-14 million.

“We’ll need your time, your talents and your treasure,” said Jim. “And we’re going to have an old-fashioned campaign. We’ll go person to person to ask for help. We need to sharpen our game, and we’ll do it.”

A buffet of noodles fettucine, stuffed ziti in a rich tomato sauce, and boned chicken breast was served by Café n’ Stuff, and bowls of delicious mango ice cream were brought out to the diners on the lawn.

Marge and Larry Lewis discussed with Ron Kolar the future of USC’s football program over dinner. Marge works with Katie Hare on the Women’s Committee of the Downey Symphonic Society, and Bill is the treasurer of the Symphonic Society Board. All are getting ready for the October concert, Passport to Passion, featuring - who else – Tchaikovsky, his 4th Symphony and Valse Scherzo, among other gems.

Dorothy Pemberton was thanked for offering her large home, and before dinner I was telling board member Ray Mesler that the house is so big that at Christmas parties, a super-size model train runs around the piano and the furniture of the front parlor. Ray took out his iPhone to show me a photo of his home in Riverside.

“I spend 4 1/2 days in Downey, and 2 1/2 days there,” Ray said. “At Christmas, in our living room we have a 6-ft. tree wrapped in gold lights up on a table by the baby grand piano.” Most people put a pencil in the picture to give an idea of scale. Ray uses a baby grand piano and a tree to show the relative height of the ceiling.

Other attendees were Russell Skersick with wife Nikki in a pink floral frock, and Greg Welch, the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Downey, with his wife, Barbara Risher Welch. Barbara is a Past District Governor of the Rotary District where her home club of Montebello is located.

New Board Member Margie Diaz was inducted, as her husband Ernie beamed.

In inducting Margie, Michael Chirco, and in absentia Vijay Patel, to the Y Board, Giggy Perez-Saab, former board chair and Soroptimist, reminded us that the Y is “a force for good.” By this time, it had grown dark and presiding Board Chair Charles Gregorio held a flashlight so Giggy could read from her notes.

Tod Corin, yet another past chair, gave the Distinguished Service Award to Dean Stivers, who has worked extensively with Y campers. “I was happy working in the shadows, and did not expect this,” said Dean.

In his last remarks as outgoing chair, Charles Gregorio thanked everyone who had helped him in his three years as chair, the third being an extra a labor of love beyond the call of ordinary duty.

“It’s been fun, and what made it fun was when I asked for help, everyone jumped in,” he said. “Bob Earl, Jim Derry, thank you for the help you gave me.”

Downey YMCA kicks off season with 78th board installation