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Service First
Ed Niemann has helped out the Cupertino YMCA for more than 30 years
By MELISSA MATCHAK
It started when his sons joined the Northwest YMCA Indian Guides program in 1970, and it has continued to be a part of his life even though his sons have long ago outgrown the children's programs there.
The YMCA is now a part of Ed Niemann's life because he enjoys what he does and the people he interacts with there. After more than 30 years working as a volunteer for the Northwest Y, Niemann has devoted countless hours and energy to making it a place the community can appreciate.
He takes pride in the facility and his work has not gone unnoticed--Niemann was chosen as the 1999 Northwest YMCA Volunteer of the Year.
"I like to see children participate in the programs the Y provides," Niemann said. "The Y provides opportunities for families and youth to participate in programs in the community."
A longtime resident of Cupertino, Niemann first became involved with the local branch of the Y when his sons were in grade school. Although his sons ended their participation in the programs in 1974, Niemann stayed, joining what was then called the Y's Men's Club International, now known as the Northwest Y Service Club.
With the service club, Niemann has participated in many fundraising projects. The first of the club's fundraisers was the selling of Christmas trees, which it did for 10 years. The service club held other fundraising events, including Sunday bingo for eight years, which Niemann said provided the most financial aid to the Y of all the events the club held. The service club now holds giftwrapping fundraisers at Vallco shopping center for three days during Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, and for 35 days prior to Christmas.
Christina Glynn, a public relations manager for the Northwest Y, said Niemann has organized the giftwrapping fundraisers, which have allowed the service club to donate more than $100,000 to the capital campaign.
Niemann has also worked on the facilities committee for most of his years with the Y and also served on the board of managers for approximately 10 years. Although he retired from the board this year, Niemann still works with the facilities committee, putting in 12 to 15 hours a month. His fundraising efforts also include raising money for the Y's scholarship fund and the capital campaign, which provided funds for the recent construction of the pool and new aerobics center at the Northwest Y.
In the 1970s, Niemann and another volunteer remodeled the Y's kitchen, installing new countertops, flooring and a new stove. In 1999, Niemann worked on remodeling one of the meeting rooms, replacing windows, doors, carpet and more. Niemann said these projects were two of the most rewarding he has participated in.
"Those took us a long time, several months," Niemann said.
Most recently, Niemann installed a computer, purchased by the service club, in the lobby of the Y, which allows people coming in to see the activities at the Y during the current day, week or month.
"The computer flashes slides to tell people what's going on at the Y," Niemann said. "We wanted the Y to be more high-tech."
As the Y continues on into the 21st century, it also continues to be a Niemann family tradition. One of his grandsons is now an Indian Guide at the Y in Morgan Hill, while his other son's family all belong to the Y in Redding.
Niemann, who retired from his job as an engineer for Varian in Palo Alto in 1997, is humble about his recognition for his work as a volunteer and said he plans to continue his work there for at least another five years.
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Cupertino, California Since 1947
