North American Fellowship of YMCA Retirees
Diversity Task Force
International Senior Service Corp
| Diversity One of NAFYR's thrusts this year is to increase participation by people of color. Last week, chapter presidents received a letter from diversity chair Tom Hargrave and me encouraging them to be proactive in encouraging minorities in their chapter areas to join and be more active in chapter and national events. Enclosed was an extensive list of names and addresses of Black, Hispanic and Asian retirees (a huge task) put together by Jean Ann Durades, a member of the Diversity Committee. But it is not the sole responsibility of presidents to make contacts. If you know of a minority who is not active in your chapter, a personal contact by you may be all it would take to involve him or her. |
| International Senior Service Corps The Past In 1982 at a meeting in San Antonio Oliver Smith, then president of IARD (precursor of NAFYR), made a proposal to form a YMCA Senior Service Corps. This National Senior Service Corps soon evolved into an International Senior Service Corps. Some of the early volunteers were Robert and Prue Brockelsby who served in Jerusalem’s Peniel By the Sea, Lawson and Mary Kately and Ed and Mary Torrence who served in Jerusalem, and Dick and Jackie Wilson who served in Peniel and Jerusalem, all of whom served in the 1980’s. At that time volunteers paid their own travel costs and received room and board from the host YMCAs. In 1992 under the leadership of Don Sherman, NAFYR and the International Division of the YMCA USA cooperated to further the ISSC. Dick Ortmeyer first chair of ISSC served as a volunteer in Fiji. Pres and Dee Johnson of the Grand Canyon Chapter served in Chili and in 1998 Peg and Loren Andrews, also of the Grand Canyon Chapter served at the YMCA of Chiang Mai, Thailand. They were so impressed with the worth and value of the program that Peg became the next chairperson and served for 7 years. Bill and Jean Fesperman of the Weatherford Chapter also served in Thailand for a year at the Bangkok YMCA. The Present Most recently in the 2000’s Ray and Muriel Jacoby of the New England Chapter volunteered in Beijing for two different six month periods, followed by Judy Sparanese of the Marston Chapter and Lois Keim of the Hoosier-Buell Chapter, just recently returned home. Gene and Jeanne Sacha of the Grand Canyon Chapter, Larry and Carole Lieving of the Willis Chapter and Bill Hawkins of the Central Atlantic Chapter served in Chengdu and Larry has since returned to Chengdu for another period of service. Teaching English and management consulting have been the two major focuses of these recent volunteers. The Future The YMCA of China is anxious to maintain this relationship with the ISSC and wants to continue having volunteers in these two cities. At the same time we hope to expand the program into other countries. The commitment on the part of volunteers is a six month period of service. ISSC pays for the travel expenses and immunization recommendations of the US Center for Disease Control, and the host YMCA's provide housing and stipends for food and local transportation. Contacts For further information contact Ray and Muriel Jacoby, co-chairpersons of ISSC at jacoby@together.net. They will send you pictures as well as some specific information on living as a volunteer in Beijing and Chengdu. See Bill Hawkins’ blog at www.billschengdujournal.blogspot.com for lots of information and pictures of Chengdu and Judy Sparanese’s blog at www.judyschineseadventures.blogspot.com for information and pictures of Beijing. |
| Wise Words from Jean Ann at the recent NAFYR Board Meeting in Chicago: NAFYR and its Chapters should remember Diversity is the Mix Inclusion in Action is making it Work |
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| Information and Tools for your Chapter Meetings or Newsletters from the Jacoby's Please click on these two new PDF documents. Not only read them for information, but print them out for sharing PS: PDF is simply a easy way for everyone to view documents just by having the free and common Adobe program. |
Why we have the NAFYR International Senior Service Corps ISSC |
| A Fantastic 2 Page list of your Frequent Questions. Everything You Ever Wanted to Know ! FAQ's |
| The Passing of Nicholas Patinos March 24, 2009 Mary Tikalsky from the YMCA of the USA informs us of the loss of Nick Patinos, World Service Advocate and Messer Chapter Member. Click here for a copy of the Tribute to Nick prepared by Mary and the details of the services. |
| Information can also be found on www.ymcaretiree.org. Courtesy of Mary and Bill Glenn |