Y Service Clubs International
Welcome to our Web pages. We are a non-profit organization of men, women and youth, dedicated to providing service to the YMCA and Hawaii's communities. Membership is very rewarding.
Russ Lynch, Regional Director 2010-2012
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West Oahu Issues Special Japan-Trip Bulletins
Six people from the West Oahu Y’s Men’s Club traveled to Hiroshima for the Japan West Region Convention, June 12-13. The club is putting out a series of special club bulletins to show stories and pictures from the trip. Click here for Part 1. Click here for Part 2. Click here for Part 3.
Changes: New Metro DG
Bill Stone, executive director of the Windward YMCA, stepped up to fill an unexpected gap as Metropolitan District Governor and was sworn on by Regional Director Russ Lynch at a Metro District meeting on July 1. The previous appointee for 2010-2011, John Putz, has had to step down because he will be moving to the mainland shortly for family reasons. Bill is a longtime Y’s Man and member of what is now called the Windward Y Service Club. He has been very active in the club and is club secretary. Marion Liu remains as Metro Lieutenant Governor and Ken Kadomoto is District Secretary-Treasurer. All three are Windward Y Service Club members. (Windward decided at its June meeting to change its name from Windward Y’s Men’s & Women’s Club to Windward Y. Service Club.) Bill is already hard at work as Metro DG and looking for ways to expand Y’sdom on Oahu and get us better known in the various communities.
Club Bulletins
The first of the September club bulletins from Hawaii is out, the Central Y Service Club’s “Y’s Observer.” Also out are the August issues of Hilo’s “Y’s Cracks”, Nuuanu’s “Y’s Up,” and West Oahu’s “Y’s Words”,To see them and other recent and back issues of Hawaii club bulletins use the “Club Bulletins” link at the upper left of this page.
Videos from 2010 Regional Convention
A talk by former Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim on the unkept promises of peace after the horrors of World War II was a highlight of the 74th Hawaii Region Convention of Y Service Clubs International, held at the Pacific Beach Hotel the weekend of
U.S. Area President Phil Sammer has completed another issue of his newsletter "AP's Angle." This one is for June 2010. To download a printable copy, click on the page image at right.
RD Lau's May Blog
Outgoing Regional Director Rick Lau has posted his RD’s Blog for May 1. Club presidents receive it and are asked to share it with their members, but it is also filed here and can be found at "RD's Blog" at the top of the main menu at left. Rick always has important thoughts and news to share.
International Convention
Organizers hope a major contingent from Hawaii will attend the 69th Y’s Men International Convention in Yokohama, Japan, August 5-8. But please take note: Registrations after May 15 (deadline was extended two weeks) will carry a price penalty and even the early-bird discount rate is equal to more than $500 per person for the convention activities and meals alone. Hotels, transportation and other personal expenses are extra. To see a proposed itinerary and learn more about this great event, click here. To see and/or download a letter-size version of the International Convention Brochure, click here.
Metro Assembly Dinner was a Treat
More than 30 members and spouses from the Y Service Clubs on Oahu attended a great Metropolitan District dinner and assembly at the Pearl Country Club in Aiea on the night of April 10. Aside from the enjoyable socializing, a great dinner and a stimulating meeting, highlights were Regional Director Rick Lau conducting the installation of officers of the six clubs in the district and a speech by Tony Pfaltzgraff, senior vice president of the YMCA of Honolulu (and a member of the Kalihi Y’s Men’s Club.) Tony talked about big changes coming to the YMCA nationally and how the need to be financially stable by means such as generating fitness income has to be balanced by a new emphasis on YMCA “mission” work, such as attacking childhood obesity and adding more programs to help teens. Click on either of the pictures to see a gallery of photos from the evening. To see a short video of the installation of club officers, click here.
Tony Pfaltzgraff
District Governor Phil Chun conducts the District Assembly
A Good Y’s Men’s Turnout for “March for Meals”
Representatives from several Oahu clubs turned out to carry signs and help promote care for our senior citizens at the “March for Meals” on March 24. Importantly, donations to Lanakila Meals on Wheels adding up to more than $700 were later made by individuals and the clubs of the Metro District. At ther march, some of our Y’s Men had their picture taken with City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell and Mayor Mufi Hannemann outside Honolulu Hale. Some 400 marchers from all walks of life turned out to support “Lanakila Meals on Wheels and More!” in its drive to end hunger among our elderly and we had a strong presence. To see a few pictures click on the photo below. For a reminder of what it was all about, go to our “March for Meals” page. Learn how to make a donation through Y’s Men. Next step: Volunteer to help Meals on Wheels. We’ll have more later on that.
Photo: Y’s Men in support. From left, City Managing Director Kirk Caldwell, Russ Lynch (Windward), Phil Sammer (US Area President/Central), Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Ray Seto (Kaimuki), Darryl Tupinio (Central), Roy Tateishi (Central) and Rick Lau (Regional Director/Central). Also present but not in the picture were Garret Ho (Central) and Jim Kanehira (Windward).
February “Bulletin Board”
The Hawaii Region’s quarterly publication “The Bulletin Board” is out and contains a proposed itinerary for the International Convention in Japan, more on March for Meals and other news. Get your printable copy here.
Future of Y’s Men & the YMCA
Attendees at a training session in California in mid-November, for Regional Directors Elect, heard an eye-opening speech about what we must do to prevent Y’sdom from dying and about big changes coming in all the YMCAs in the U.S. and Canada. The speaker was Larry Rosen, who has been a Y’s Man and a Y staffer for 40 years and now is president and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, one of the biggest with 25 branches and six camps. His main message is that we must listen to the needs of our communities and become cause-driven, taking on tasks that will do measurable good so we can motivate younger people to join us. For the YMCA, it’s become “cause-driven” or lose donors. Parts of Larry’s speech can be seen in short videos on YouTube. For Part 1, about big changes in the YMCA itself, click here. For part 2, about where the Y’s Men and Y Service Clubs fit into the coming changes, click here.