Editorial

Dear Friends

December was a period of festivity, joy and mirth with celebration of Christmas galore. But soon after we were propelled into a zone of tense activity, with the onset of the Annual Membership Campaign. It looked like we had to leave the comfort zone and called to tie up our safety belts for this journey into space, a mission accomplished or a mission aborted. To wait and see.

On January 4th 2008 our Membership Campaign was inaugurated by Shri. P.W.C. Davidar, I.A.S. Mr. R.Veeramani, Chairman, Gem Group of Companies was the Campaign Commissioner. One a high profile bureaucrat and the other a high profile industrialist. The Annual Membership Campaign needed the stewardship of such tall personalities to handle this challenge. The target set was an astronomical figure of Rs.75 lakhs in terms of members it meant 750 new life members.

Immediately the branches took off under their Deputy Commissioners, mobilizing their teams, formulating their marketing strategies with the arduous task set before to beat the old record. They had to dabble with strategies to achieve the target. Finally the magic figure of Rs.75 lakhs was surpassed with a record haul of over one crore.

Well done friends! Your efforts were indeed commendable. The Award Night was organized on 29th March where all the members who have contributed to the success of the Campaign were duly honoured.

The popular mandate among the public that goes in favour of YMCA is as a premier Association for the family values and its universatality. While many clubs operate only up to the state level the services of YMCAs transcends barriers of all states and countries with established network in almost 120 countries. With the world changing scenario of globalization, the role of YMCAs should also be modified to offer their new demands to adopt new lifestyles. I can assure each one of you that you will enjoy being a member of this international movement and I look forward to your esteemed patronage and fruitful association.

Thanking you
With good wishes                       

Dr. G. Ebinesan
General Secretary

Annual Membership Campaign 2008 Inauguration

The Annual Membership Campaign got kick started with the inaugural function on 4th January 2008 by Shri. P.W.C. Davidar, IAS at the Vepery International Youth Centre. Rt.Rev. Dr. Mano Daniel, President, Mr. N.C.Williams, Vice-President and Mr. David Livingstone, Treasurer were on the dias. Bro. P. Rajah Prabhakaran, Branch Chairman, presided over the function and introduced the Chief Guest.

Rt.Rev. Dr. Mano Daniel extended a warm welcome to the members of the campaign crew of all the branches and the dignitaries. He encouraged the campaigners by saying that with the present infrastructure available in the YMCA enrolling new members should be a cake walk. Mr. Davidar profoundly commended the services of the YMCA not only to the sports fraternity but also to the community.

He lauded the efforts of the YMCA Management in construction of the new International Center at Vepery equipped with the latest state of the art, sports, facilities, swimming pool, auditorium and guest rooms. He encouraged the Campaigners to showcase the facilities of the YMCAs in promoting the campaign drive. Mr. R.Veeramani, Director, Gem Group of Companies ,the Campaign Commissioner present in the campaign report meeting subsequently commended the diversity of YMCA services specially to the upliftment of the downtrodden through its various community services. He urged the campaigners to use creative promotional strategies to supersede the target of Rs.75 lakhs. Periodically the Campaign Report Meetings were held where the performance levels were assessed. All the Branches were consistently performing well at the final report meeting, the total amount collected exceeded an historic figure of over one crore. Vepery took the lion's share of over half crore followed by Royapettah with 14 lakhs. All the branches had exceeded their previous collections.

Membership Campaign Award Night

The Membership Campaign Award Night function was held on 29th March 2008 at YMCA Vepery. The glittering function was organized to honour the contribution of the team members of different branches who have contributed significantly towards the success of the campaign. The function started with prayer by Fr. James. Mr.N.C Williams, Vice-President of YMCA Madras welcomed the diginitaries and the members present. Dr.G.Ebinesan gave a brief report of the campaign.

He also announced that the total collection exceeded over Rs. One crore and ten lakhs.

Mr. R. Veeramani later distributed mementoes to the team members and the Campaign Trophy to the winning team Vepery YMCA for Best Performance. YMCA Kottivakkam won the award for higher percentage in collection over previous years. Mr.Livingstone proposed the vote of thanks and the function concluded with a banquet dinner.

Semester at Sea

Students of Semester at Sea from the Virginia University visited YMCA Madras on 11th March 2008. They were accorded a warm welcome by Mr. M.Jeevakumar, Secretary YMCA Esplanade on behalf of YMCA Madras. They were briefed about the various activities of YMCA Madras and the community welfare programmes. They were taken to the YMCA Boy's Town at Kottivakkam. Mr. P. Asir Pandian, Asst. Secretary introduced the visitors to the inmates of the Destitute and Tsunami Home.

The visitors were profoundly impressed and enthused to interact with the inmates. Mr. Earnest Demel, Faculty Leader of the group lauded the services of YMCA for its services for the upliftment of the down trodden children. A Dinner was hosted for the visitors at the Vepery International YMCA by the General Secretary, Dr. G.Ebinesan, who greeted the students and honored them with shawls.

YMCA Kilpauk Republic Day Celebrations

Republic Day Celebrations were conducted at the Branch with the traditional hoisting of the National Flag by the Chairman, Rev. Dr. N.Durairaj. The programme commenced with prayer by Mr.Percy Williams. Dr. Durairaj delivered the message and encouraged national integrity among the members. Mr. R. Richard Ezekiel, Secretary proposed the vote of thanks and the meeting concluded with fellowship breakfast.

New Year Rhapsody at YMCA Royapettah

The YMCA Royapettah Branch celebrated Christmas Carols programme on 23rd December with much exuberance and grandeur. Delightful carol singing were performed by Ms. Catherine Dhinakar accompanied by Kirubai Ravi Orchestra. Pastor Rajiv Hubert of Apostolic Christian Assembly delivered the Crispy Christmas message. Santa enthralled the audience with jubilation amidst the Melody of Jingle Bells. Mr. Surendar Gideon, Asst. Secretary felicitated the participants and distributed gifts to the poor.

YMCA VEPERY YOUTH CENTRE

64th Ecumenical Good Friday Service

The 64th Ecumenical Good Friday Service was conducted on 21st March at 6pm at the Branch premises. Rt. Rev. Dr. Mano Darnel. President YMCA Madras conducted the service which began with the call to Worship by Mr. N.C. Williams, Vice- President, YMCA Madras. The Christ for Every Soul Orchestra rendered special passion music and songs. Bible portions were read by Mr. J.S.Jeyakardoss and Bro.Samuel Sudhakar, Board Members.

YMCA KODAMBAKKAM

Good Friday Service

An ecumenical Good Friday Service was conducted on 21st March at the branch between 9.00 a.m. and 12. 00 Noon Rev. Gnanasambandam, Academic Dean, Madras Assembly of God Bible College delivered the message of the cross. More than 300 people attended the worship service. The audience indulged in sprit filled worship and rendered special passion songs.

YMCA ROYAPURAM

United Good Friday Service

The 52nd United Good Friday Service was held on 21st March at the Maharani Theatre from 7.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. The auditorium was fully packed despite the rains.

The service started with opening prayer offered by Mr. Muthu Williams. Mr. M.J.John, Branch Chairman welcomed the gathering. Mr. R. Bernard Rajkumar, Secretary read the call to worship.

YMCA Boy's Town, Fort

The Republic Day was celebrated at YMCA Boy's Town High School on 26th January 2008. Mr. K.Ashok Viswanath, Advocate, High Court, Madras was the Chief Guest and hoisted the National Flag. Mrs. Annie Ebinesan was the Guest of Honour and distributed prizes for the various competitions held. Children performed cultural program and enthralled the audiences. Earlier Mrs. J. Swarna, Headmistress of the School extended a warm welcome.

State Ranking Judo Championship

The YMCA Boy's Town High School boys participated in the State Ranking Judo Championship at Vellore on 30.01.08.

The following students won the first prize R. Thamilarasan below 40kg, M. Chinnaiah -below 50kg. and J. Vijayakumar below 55kg.

Winners of the Stale Ranking Judo Com petition with
Mrs. J. Swarna. H.M.YMCA Boy's Town High School, Fort

YMCA Boy's Town, Kottivakkam

The Republic Day was celebrated at the YMCA Boy's Town Higher Secondary School on 26th January 2008.

Mr. M.M. Selvakumar, Chairman, Boy's Town Kottivakkam was the Chief Guest and hoisted the National Flag.

Working Women’s Hostel

Hostel Day was celebrated at YMCA WWH at Kottivakkam on 16th January 2008. Inmates of the hostel performed cultural programme.

We Thank

Pastor Daniel of Dunamis AG Church for donating a Cycle for the Boys Town, Kottivakkam.

Lioness Club of Shree Darshan for donating 500 Lts. Sintex tank for Boy's Town, Kottivakkam.

Mr. Elumalai for donating Rs.7,500/- for a Sponsor a meal program.

Opening of Tsunami Home for Children in Crisis

The 2nd Phase of Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitations work of Madras YMCA is the Children in Crisis Programme. A new Tsunami home was constructed for the Tsunami affected children at YMCA Boy's Town Kottivakkam with support of Y Care International and YMCA Madras. It was inaugurated on 28th February 2008 by Mr. J. Alexander, National President. NCYI and was dedicated to the Glory of God by Mr.T.Thomas, National General Secretary, NCYI.