Duneland Y Names Nancy Zlamal Senior of January 2016

Duneland_Y_Names_Nancy_Zlamal_Senior_of_-1Through its senior of the month, the Duneland YMCA Senior Center commemorates the life of its members. This month the Y is honoring Senior Center Coordinator Nancy Zlamal as their Senior of the Month.

Leaders are part of the group they lead and lead primarily by modeling the goals and activities of the group. Nancy Zlamal has been a member of the Duneland Family YMCA since 2004 and was hired three years ago as Coordinator of their Senior Center and as a fitness instructor for their Active Older Adult/Silver Sneakers classes. Since then she has singularly led the group of Duneland Y seniors and developed interesting and exceptional activities for them. Nancy has credentials as a Certified Fitness Coordinator which contribute to the singular quality and variety of the Y Senior Center activities. Her special loves are aerobics and Zumba.

Nancy's education began at the Zion Lutheran School in Beecher, Illinois, and was completed in the public schools with her graduation from Beecher High School.

She married her husband Paul in 1982 and they became the parents of Cheryl, Jason, Janelle and Matthew. Nancy's first choice was to be a stay-at-home mom and did so until she began her work at the Duneland Family YMCA. As a stay-at-home mom she developed a number of engaging skills as a painter, cook, gardener, landscaper, cake decorator and varied crafter.

Prior to 2004 when they moved to Jackson Township, Nancy and her husband lived with their family in Park Forest and Chicago Heights, Illinois. The family's two youngest children are graduates of Chesterton High School. Three of her children - Cheryl, Jason, and Janelle – live in Valparaiso. Her youngest, Matthew, is part of a Hollywood, California, entertainment adventure. Her three grandchildren (all boys) are proactive elements of her life in Jackson Township and at the Y.

While memories of her life in Illinois are especially treasured, she has a special love for the active life opportunities provided by the Duneland community, Michigan City and Valparaiso. She plans and coordinates visits to various activities, attractions and restaurants in these areas for those participating in the Senior Center.

Nancy is a fan of Indiana and beyond-Indiana travel. Memorable visits have included those made to Michigan, Wisconsin, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and California.

Nancy's forte as a leader and participant in the Duneland Y's Senior Center and with the Silver Sneakers program is her ability to coordinate physical activities with music, to respond to each individual participant in these programs, to provide effective physical activates for all participants and to complement all of this with a great variety of activities including attending movies, book reviews, playing a number of games and traveling throughout the community. Because of her commitment and skills, the Duneland Family YMCA's Senior Center is truly a Duneland community center serving seniors in remarkable ways.

The Y Senior Center, offers the opportunity to cultivate new friendships, sustain existing friendships and stay active in the community. It promotes healthy living through fitness classes specifically for older active adults, fun games, activities, movies and much more. The Senior Center is open for activities Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday each week from 10:15 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Exercise programs are available daily. For more information, contact Carla Patino-Davis or Nancy Zlamal at 219-926-4204.