About Y's Dom

How Y’s Men Began
Founded in Toledo, Ohio, USA in 1922 to support a local YMCA. Y’s Men International is now oriented to serving the communities in which it is present throughout the world. Since the YMCA is usually known as “the Y” in the USA, and as the Y’s Men movement started there as a club of “men of and for the Y”, it was named the “Y’s Men’s Club”.
However, we who are members of a Y’s Men’s Club know well that women can be full members of our movement (and indeed many women are among its members and additionally family participation is encouraged in numerous activities) and this is a very important selling point in many communities. Since 1995 local affiliated clubs who wish to emphasize this openness can opt to call themselves “Y’s Men and Women’s Clubs” or “Y Service Clubs”, Members are known as Y’s Men or Y’s Women . . . and today we have over 1,500 clubs with 27,000 members in 69 countries on all continents. Y’s Mens club is organised in such a way to have areas and region under it. We represent one of the regions in India area, called Mid West India region.
Y’s Men International is recognised globally as a service organisation promoting cultural awareness leading to brotherhood and world peace.
Our Mission statement
As Y’s Men International is a worldwide fellowship of persons of all faiths working constructively together, its mission is to strive through active service to develop, encourage and provide leadership to build a better world for all humankind.
Our Emblem
The Y’s Men emblem consists first of a red triangle, the symbol long employed by the YMCA to denote its three-fold programme of spirit, mind and body building.
In the upper border of the triangle appears the word INTERNATIONAL, indicative of the scope of our purposes.
Within the triangle a golden star sheds rays of light on the name, “Y’S MEN’S CLUB”
This star symbolises the star of Bethlehem. Just as that star served as a guide to the Wise Men of the East, so shall this golden star, which also represents the ideals of our club, serve as a constant guide to the Y’s Men of today and lead them to a true realisation of the nobility of unselfish service.
Y’s Men International Activities and Programmes
About 90% of local club support stays in the local community through direct community support. Annually, such support is estimated at close to US $ 5 million - plus numerous hours of volunteer service work.
But all clubs also support international programmes, such as:
Alexander Scholarship Fund. Named in honor of our founder, Judge Paul William Alexander. The International headquarters (Geneva) is using this fund to support leadership training programmes mainly in Africa, Latin America and India, but in recent years also in Eastern/Central Europe.
Brotherhood Fund to allow travel of members to visit members in other countries. Every year, about US$ 200,000 is contributed through the sale of used stamps (about 15%) and from cash contributions (about 85%). This programme helps to increase understanding of different cultues - both for those travelling (“BF Delegates”) and for those hosting them.
International Brother Clubs to enhance international understanding. Links between Y’s Men’s Clubs in different countries through the exchange of letters, bulletins, photos, cassettes, videos, etc - and visits whenever possible.
Time of Fast Money is raised through Y’s Men “skipping” a meal or two and paying what the meal would have cost into the “TOF” programme. The funds thus contributed are used to support Y'sMEN projects all over the world. The programme started about 20 years ago and shows a dramatic increase in contributions.
TOF Grants received in 2003 - 03 by MWI Region from Y's Men International
Project Amount
Bou's Home, Thrikkakkara, Ernakulam
US $ 30,000
Community Centre, Kalamassery
US $ 26,000
Community Centre, Thodupuzha
US $ 25,000
Youth Involvement and Activities
Young people have been the focus of Y's Men International. Below are the main programmes targeted at the youth.

YEEP - Youth Educational Exchange Programme. Children (and grandchildren) of Y's Men - 16 to 18 yaers of age - can stay one year with a Y's Man family in another country and attend school.
STEP - Short term Echange Programme. Youth 14 to 25 years of age can have a shorter stay of 2 - 11 weeks - without attending school.
Youth World - Y's Men's Youth Newsletter on paper - and on line !

Y's Menettes are not small men !
Traditionally, a wife of a Y's Man was called a Y's Menette and they sometimes form an auxiliary to the local Y's Men's Club. Today, Y's Menettes are women who have chosen to join a Y's Menettes' Club - and a Y's Menettes' Club today is no longer an auxiliary to a Y's Men's Club but has its own programme to support the local Y's Men's Club, YMCA and the community.
Y's Menettes also support their own international projects. For 1996-98 these were:
Africa Gambia, women's Development US $ 21,000
India Women's Empowerment US $ 5,000
Lat. Amerca/Car. Costa Rica, Gender development US $ 10,000
.....and for 1998-2000 Y's Menettes are supporting these two projects:
Africa Senegal, Adoloscent Reproductive Health $ 15,000
Europe Bulgaria, Gabrovo YMCA Community Development Centre US $ 10,400
"This is your Opportunity"
Where are the Y's Men's Clubs and how can I become a Member?
Y's Men work is going on in 69 countries around the world. To become a member, contact your local or nearest Y's Men Club. If there is no Y's Men's Club in your area and you would like to start one, contact the Mid West India Region.
Come with us . . .
We're the Y's Men, group of men and women dedicated to serving the community and we have fun doing it.
We can promise you the personal pleasure of fellowship and shared ideals plus the satisfaction you get from helping make your community a better place to live in.

The Y's Men's Club in your area is part of a worldwide organisation that works with YMCAs for community betterment in over 66 countries on all continents, offering international opportunities for contacts and projects.
We're a mixed group that thrives on the variety of qualities that each one of us contributes to the whole.
We are male and female of all ages, races, religions and socio-economic levels. But in common, as Y's Men, we enjoy our shared service and accomplishments.

And while we render all these services to others, we have fun and enjoy fellowship. And being active in a Y's Men's Club provides many opportunities for personal development. Through taking on responsibilities at Club, District, Region and higher levels, we develop various skills which are beneficial to us - also outside club life.
Our Motto . . . " To acknowledge the duty that accompanies every right"