Y’s MEN INTERNATIONAL PAST INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENTS’ CLUB NEWS LETTER March 2021 Our Motto: “ To acknowledge the Duty that accompanies every Right” Service Club to the YMCA * Club de service des UCJG Service Club fur den CVJM * Club de Servicio para la ACJ Contents Flea Market In Østenstad Y’s Men’s Club by PIP . From Chair/Editor – PIP Isaac Palathinkal Henry Grindheim . Congratulations to K.C.Samuel IPE 2021-22 Wide Brown Land Travel Odyssey by PIP Dale . Resource Mobilization and the sustainability Fotheringham Y-Forest Coffee Project . Greetings from Carol Friis (PIP Christian Friis ) by PIP Wichian Boonmapajorn . A new country, A new club and A marvellous . First ever Zoom Meeting of PIPs’ Club by Jennifer project - A report by Daniel Mohan, President Jones North Jersey Club, USA . From Chair - International Convention 2022 . News from Area Korea by AP Hong Yong Seung Committee - PIP Joan Wilson . News from Area India by AP A.Shanvaskhan . A positive approach to the pandemic by PIP Finn . Birthdays and Wedding Anniversaries (March 21 Pedersen to June 2021) From Chair/Editor – PIP Isaac Palathinkal Dear PIP Club members, global platform. That was very significant. Let us We are still in the midst of the thank IPIP Jennifer for having mooted the idea and ISG pandemic. Like all organisations, our Jose Varghese for organising the meeting. Movement also faces challenges in all My report was presented in the meeting and later fields of operations. Fortunately, we copies were sent to all of you. An article on our Zoom are able to face it positively. All our meeting by IPIP Jennifer appears later in this issue of International meetings and thousands Newsletter and hence I am not elaborating it further. of local meetings are now on virtual As reported in the last issue, we have completed platforms. publication of one round of articles from members. The It is a blessing that we have at least this opportunity second round is expected to start from the June 2021 before us. Let us have an attitude that looks for the issue. For this issue (March 2021), I had made a request positives and strive to be optimistic. to all members to volunteer and come out with any As you witnessed, we could hold our first ever Zoom article of their choice. I am happy that seven members meeting of our members on 13th February 2021, along came forward and contributed articles, on general with IEOs and ISG. For some of us, it was early topics of interest and they appear in this issue. morning, where as it was midnight for some others. Wish you all a happy reading. Thank you. Yet we could meet together at the same time on a PIP Isaac Palathinkal IPE 2021-22 Elected CONGRATULATIONS Mr K.C. Samuel from India has been elected International President Elect for 2021/22. He will assume office as International President on 1 July 2022. Mr Samuel is a member of the Bangalore Y's Men's Club of South India Region. Congratulations and good wishes to Mr.Samuel from members of PIPs’ Club. We wish Godspeed in all your endeavours. 1 Resource Mobilization and the sustainability - Y-Forest Coffee Project by PIP Wichian Boonmapajorn APAY once commissioned Mr. YMCA Chiangmai and Chiangrai agreed to visit the Ron Coulombe of YMCA Pha Hi village whereby the children were provided Edmonton, Alberta to stress and education support sponsored by Wakatake Home – convey the importance of Resource established in 1994 to fulfill the mission of education Mobilization and how NGOs like to the Hill Tribe children. YMCA Chiangrai worked the YMCAs worldwide could seek with the Wakatake Home and Kumamoto YMCA to the funding and donations to provide scholarship-sponsors. The Pha Hi village is PIP Wichian support the organization’s nested on an intricate mountain range in Mai Sai Boonmapajorn sustainability. District of Chiangrai, inhabited by Thais Hill Tribe of YMCA Alliance of Thailand received such privileges Akha ethnic. Formerly, these villages were part of to have Ron and team for 2 solid days with cramp Thailand’s largest opium growing area. But since King session for Board Members and staff with great value. Bhumibol Adulyadej’s visit to these villages in early As one of the leading author of the Capacity 1965-1970, all opium plantations have been Strengthening Ms. Judith B explained – What is transformed into Coffee Plantation. Located at an Resource mobilization? Resource Mobilization refers attitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, Pha Hi is ideal to all activities involved in securing new and for the plantation and cultivation of high quality Arabic additional resource for your organization. It also berries and one can relish the rich aroma that fill the involves in making better use of, and maximizing, villages in December-time during the harvesting and existing resources. Resource Mobilization is referred drying prior to the roasting for the coffee bean ready to as ‘New Business Development’ to support the for the cup of coffee. needy in their social and economic development. This is a story of Resource Mobilization and Chiang Rai YMCA is a case of the facing the Covid- opportunity. A resourceful location with raw materials 19 impact among the YMCAs in Thailand with to harvest and then dried and marketed by the Y-Forest encountering the fundamental streams of Coffee Brand as NGO’s Coffee to cater to the sustainability: institutional, financial and community of YMCAs and Y’s Men Club programmatic, each of which is vital to the survival of International. This along with its promotion as an the YMCA. The concept of the Resource Mobilization NGO’s Coffee under the conserved environment of the started up when the Y Development Co-operation green forest to sustain forest coffee for sustainability of Company Ltd, under the flagship of YMCA the Watergate Home in Thailand and even worldwide. Chiangmai did officially appoint 2 Y’s Men - PISG The whole sustainability of the Resource Mobilization Nishi and PIP Wichian as an advisors to revitalize the concept could be reflected into the next issue of the export business of the Y Development. Hence YMI by PISG Nishi Nishimura. 2 First ever Zoom Meeting of PIPs’ Club by IPIP Jennifer Jones The first ever Zoom meeting for the over the past two years, the latest copy being circulated PIP’s Club was held on Saturday 13 in January 2021. Statements regarding dues have also February. The International been shared with the group. Newsletters have been Conventions normally provide an well-produced by PIP Isaac and members are opportunity for PIP members to get encouraged to send articles to Isaac to help keep the together, renew friendships and have newsletter interesting and current. IPIP Jennifer fun. Due to the covid pandemic, IC20 Jones in Denmark was cancelled last year, The meeting was set for 2 pm Geneva time, which keeping us all at home and feeling that we had missed meant that for some, it was around midnight, while for out! others it was early in the morning. Despite the time It was suggested that since the usual meeting could not difference, everyone appreciated being able to attend. be held, a Zoom meeting could be organised for those Members had the opportunity to share something about who were able to attend. The attendees included PIP what was happening in their lives and how the covid Isaac Palathinkal, PIP Bruce Price, PIP John Choa, PIP pandemic was affecting life in their countries. From the Finn Pedersen, PIP Joan Wilson, PIP Henry Grindheim, reports, most countries have experienced lockdown PIP Kazuyoshi Aoki, PIP Wichian Boonmapajorn, PIP conditions at some stage, but the severity of the VS Bashir, PIT Erik Breum, PISG Takao Nishimura, pandemic varied greatly depending on where people PIPE Spouse Birgit Hove Jacobsen, IP Jacob Kristensen, lived. There are few occasions where club members IPE Kim Sang-chae, IPIP Jennifer Jones, ISG Jose can actually meet in person, with most having to meet Varghese and Translator Jin. Apologies were received online. An example of interesting meetings included from PIP Hirotushi Fuji, PIP Christian Bach Iversen, PIP clubs linking together with their IBC clubs, drawing Dale Fotheringham, PIP Benson Wabule, PIP Moon them together from all parts of the world in one “virtual Sang-bong and Carole Friis. room”. Other clubs decided to fundraise using “crowd PIP Isaac welcomed all to the meeting, thanking ISG funding”. Despite the difficulties, new members are joining YMI clubs and a number of Youth Clubs are Jose for making the online arrangements. being formed. Some members are enjoying the cold We remembered with love, those who passed away in weather conditions keeping warm inside, while others the last year or two - PIT BS Krishnan, PIPE Poul- are enjoying their warm climates. Club work as Henrik Hove Jacobsen, PIP Poul V Thomsen and PIP president and compilation of newsletters have kept Arvid Malme. others busy, while juggling grandchildren in between. New members and associates were also welcomed into Technology has certainly kept many of us more the PIP Club - PIP Moon Sang-bong, IPIP Jennifer connected than ever before. Jones, and Associate Members, IT Philips Cherian, IP Jacob shared an interesting message with us PISG Takao Nishimura, Bodil Thomsen (spouse of PIP focussing on three aspects to consider important - Poul Thomsen) and Birgit Jacobsen (spouse of PIPE exciting club meetings, meaningful fellowship and Poul-Henrik Hove Jacobsen). good voluntary work. ISG Jose shared about YMI In Isaac’s report touched upon the following: Troubled Times, emphasising the good work that is going on despite what is happening around us. IPIP Recent amendments to our Guidelines included: Jennifer shared about the celebrations that have been • December 2018, it was voted that currency for PIP planned and IPE Kim shared something about the dues would be changed from US dollars to Swiss Legacy Project.