Is your club fortunate enough to be in a city or town where there is no need for “community service”? I don’t think so! Even if you live in an affluent neighbourhood, rest assured that there are fellow citizens in need of something - and that your club can do something about it. Why? Because a fellowship of 15 or 25 or 35 Y’s Men can do a lot if they set their heart to it!
Did I hear you say that you already contribute a handsome amount of money to Y’s Men’s Time of Fast projects, the Brotherhood Fund, YMCA etc.? Excellent – these are extremely important projects, but – there are also needs much closer to home, where often, money is not the issue but rather: A helping hand, a call for justice, a food drive, a renovation project, a cry for world peace.
Community Service is the basic Y’s Men activity. This is how we strive “through active service to develop, encourage and provide leadership to build a better world for all mankind.” We cannot change the world but less will do – and 2.500 active Y’s Men’s Clubs scattered around the world will surely make an impact.
And there are spin-off effects for your club: improving fellowship in the club, making the club better known in the community, raising the general recognition of Y’s Men.
In any community there are good people doing their best to make life easier for fellow citizens – but who are mostly not really recognised for their effort and commitment: Nurses, teachers, social workers, postmen etc. Your club could institute an annual, festive prize ceremony, e.g. hosted by the club or the mayor’s office in honour of such a person or organisation, thereby illuminating the service concept and setting a good example.
June 2007
Otto H. Larsen, ISD Community Service
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