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(Google Translate was used to translate this issue of BRIDGES.
It may not be perfect, but we hope it’s helpful)
WFYR GATHERS IN TORONTO
FROM THE CHAIR:
HELENE WEIR
I am honored to have been selected as the incoming chair of the World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (WFYR).
This remarkable group includes many leaders who have long served the YMCA and whose passion for its mission has continued well beyond retirement.
WFYR is open to anyone who has served the YMCA, whether as a staff member or volunteer. Joining is simple: click HEREto send us your email address, and we will add you to our list.
Our BRIDGES newsletter is published in the fall, winter, spring, and summer. Online video meetings featuring updates on global YMCA topics of interest are also held quarterly.
YMCA Toronto and YMCA Canada did an outstanding job hosting 1,400 of our worldwide friends at the World Council in July. Our WFYR group of 57 Y retirees from 23 countries met separately, but in conjunction with the full Council.
We heard informative updates from the entire leadership of the World Alliance. We had a presentation from YMCA Ukraine, an inspiring panel of young leaders, an update on the World Alliance's Christian identity conversations, and a discussion on what constitutes a meaningful retirement.
We also set strategic priorities for WFYR for 2026-2030. Please read the story in this issue outlining those goals.
The YMCA is a unique organization, and we share a bond that connects us around the world.
Despite challenges such as war, conflict, political division, economic and mental health issues, the YMCA remains a force for good, and that is more important than ever.
Helene Weir, Chair,
World Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (WFYR)
FROM UKRAINE:
'INSPIRING' FOR ALL'
Victoria Trefimova, a refugee who returned to become Chief Executive Officer of YMCA Ukraine, inspired all in the WFYR meeting room discussing life in the war-torn nation today.
She spoke of “the humanity; the care; the quiet courage” and how “the YMCA still shines bright in these difficult times when it is needed the most.”
Her talk, titled “From light to dark to light again,” referred to how people go about their daily lives and then it becomes dark, and the air raid sirens go off, and they must move to shelters. And then it is light again.
Victoria spoke of how proud she is of her YMCA staff. “They may be up all night with air raids and attacks, but then they get up in the morning to work with the children the YMCA serves."
Yet, even as she described the tragic reality of living in her country today, she asked WFYR delegates to reflect on the times when their own YMCA was a light in the darkness. Her presentation was a poignant, inspirational highlight of our 2026 conference.
-- photo and report by Joyce Wilson
TWO CHAIRS:
TWO LEADERS
We all welcome Helene Weir as the newly elected WFYR Chair for 2026 to 2030 and salute Kohei Yamada for his leadership as Chair from 2022 to 2026.
--photo by Yukio Yamasaki
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
A Leadership Team to lead the coming four years of WFYR activities was elected in Toronto. The new team represents a combination of returning leaders and an infusion of new ones, assuring both continuity and energy.
Just click the button below to view the Leadership Team for 2026-2030. You’ll be hearing about their work in BRIDGES as we move through the quadrennial.
WFYR attendees received a special welcome from Carlos Sanvee, Secretary-General of the World YMCA, to the World Council.
'REGISTERING' OUR THANKS TO JERRY
WFYR salutes Jerry Prado Shaw, who will step down as Registrar for our quadrennial conferences after 16 consecutive years of service. The Registrar position has long been an essential part of the WFYR Leadership Team.
“I believe it is time to prepare a smooth transition. Serving as Registrar has offered me a unique opportunity to remain closely connected with colleagues — and, in many cases, friends — from my five decades or more of involvement with the YMCA.”
Thank you, Jerry
--photo by Yukio Yamasaki
TWO DECADES OF EDITING BRIDGES
It seems inadequate to issue a simple THANK YOU to Len and Joyce Wilson, who have served for nearly two decades as editors of BRIDGES. It may be inadequate, but it is certainly heartfelt.
They created some 80 issues of our quarterly newsletter. It began in the time-consuming era of cutting and pasting, folding and stuffing, and somehow getting it into the hands of many.
They leave it in the modern era of email development, with still unknown opportunities ahead.
So, let’s make this a worldwide, loud, and grateful “THANK YOU, LEN AND JOYCE.”
(NEW) EDITORS' NOTE:
PEGGI SIMMONS, CRAIG ALTSCHUL
We’ll do our best to bring you BRIDGES issuesthat are fun to read and full of news. We’ll depend on all of you to send us news and photos.
Watch for BRIDGES in the fall, winter, spring, and summer.
What's happening in your corner of the world with our YMCA retirees? Just send us a few paragraphs and a photo or two, and watch for your news in BRIDGES. The next issue deadline is 15 October. Click the button below to send us your news.
Executive Officer of the Jerusalem International YMCA (JIY), is greeted by WFYR leaders (L-R) Kurt Kaboth, Phill Morgan, Len Wilson, Kohei Yamada, and Ghassan Sayah.
--photo by Joyce Wilson
Fadi Suidan told WFYR members that its newsports center provides a source of membership and revenue, enabling the Y to serve families and youth through a variety of programs.
Childcare, youth, and teen programs are bringing individuals and families into a safe place.
The hotel, with few traditional tourists currently, has become a safe haven for stranded individuals and groups unable to secure transportation or lodging.
JIY is a popular venue for community-wide celebrations and special events for residents.
THE NEXT FOUR YEARS
WFYR delegates have set our strategic priorities to be accomplished between now and 2030. Here are those important goals:
1. MEMBERSHIP:
• To foster fellowship and an interest in the global work of the YMCA.
• Expand the membership base, with particular emphasis on recruiting newly retired individuals.
• Membership is available to former YMCA staff and volunteer retirees and alumni.
• Encourage the growth of regional WFYR chapters.
2. COMMUNICATIONS:
• Maintain BRIDGESnewsletter as the organization's core publication; solicit member-generated content.
• Increase the frequency of virtual gatherings to four per year.
• Create a WFYRWhatsApp group.
• Strengthen relationships with National General Secretaries, the Global Staff Team, World Alliance, and the Global Leadership Network to increase awareness of WFYR.
3. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
• Global Retirement Initiative: Increase awareness of GRI as a pension creation opportunity in countries that do not have staff pension funds and grow the program.
• World Emergency Assistance Fund (Secours Speciaux): Fundraise for the World Alliance fund, which supports YMCA staff facing crisis and financial hardship when few resources are available.
4. FUNDRAISING:
• Establish a Fundraising Committee with an annual focus on the World Emergency Assistance Fund and on raising funds for WFYR participants who need financial assistance to attend the 2030 WFYR Conference.
• Clarify and diversify the funding base across individual, national, and local YMCA contributions.
5. WORLD COUNCIL 2030:
• Establish the 2030 World Council WFYR Planning Committee: confirm program committee leadership and financial assistance. Establish the timeline to develop the agenda and raise the funds.
Reports from WFYR continental areas for the just-concluded quadrennial (2022-2026) were a highlight of our Toronto Conference. Here are some short excerpts, along with more news from across the globe.
EUROPE
ESTABLISHED TRADITIONS
WFYR Europeis sustained by personal relationships and long‑established traditions. England and Wales maintain a stable and welcoming presence, shaped by a long tradition and a regular newsletter that makes connection and continuity visible. Scotland is smaller but consistently engaged, contributing an open and dependable spirit to the European fellowship.
Germany (CSI) demonstrates continuous, reliable, and internationally connected work. Many other movements are active but not always visible across Europe.
--Guenter Ozdyk, WFYR Vice President,Europe
CANADA
PROGRAM ENRICHMENT
Canada YMCA Alumni hosts two virtual program enrichment presentations each year on the state of the YMCA in Canada and how the Ys are addressing critical issues in their communities.
TIELINES,our newsletter, keeps our Alumni apprised of the important work of YMCAs across the country and around the world.
Our Storytelling Project is a partnership of the Alumni, YMCA Canada, and young Y leaders.
We have contributed $57,765 to Secours Speciaux over the past four years.
--Sol Kasimer, WYFR Canada Representative
LATIN AMERICA
A CONTINENTAL GATHERING
A cornerstone of our regional life is the continental gathering known as Agape, held every 2–3 years between World Council meetings.
During this quadrennial period, two successful gatherings were held: Agape 2023 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Agape 2025 in Cali, Colombia.
Agape is a space where fellowship is renewed, bonds are strengthened, the mission is reaffirmed, and lifelong friendships are rekindled. The next Agape gathering is planned for 2028.
--Alicia Adelina Sanjurjo Zunini, WFYR Vice President, Latin America & the Caribbean.
USA
NATIONAL SERVICE PROJECT
USA YMCA Alumni completed a four-year National Service Project last September, building four tiny homes for families led by single mothers at the YMCA of the Seven Council Fires in Dupree, South Dakota, involving more than 300 volunteers and donors.
Our International Service Corps (ISC)has made placements and conducted visits of YMCA Alumni members to host countries (Albania, Bahamas, Czech Republic, and Mexico), providing expertise and assistance in program and administration areas.
--Phill Morgan, President, USA YMCA Alumni
EAST ASIA
A FELLOWSHIP EXCHANGE
Major news in the East Asia WFYR Region is that the exchange between the Japan Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (JFYR) and the Korean Fellowship of YMCA Retirees (KFYR) has been rapidly developed.
Last November, three KFYR officers were invited to the JFYR General Assembly held in Kobe. In March, four members from Japan participated in the KFYR General Assembly held in Gyeongju, South Korea.
--Shigeru Shimada, Vice President, WFYR East Asia
AFRICA
A RETIREMENT PROJECT
Across Africa, YMCA retirees often face challenges related to financial insecurity, limited pension coverage, and inadequate access to healthcare and social support systems.
Despite these constraints, YMCA retirees represent a valuable reservoir of experience, leadership, and institutional memory.
At WFYR’s lead, a Global Retirement Initiative Pilot Project was introduced in September 2021 to support YMCA employees in Kenya and Sierra Leone. So far, the Pilot Project has been successfully implemented within two YMCAs.
--Francis Asiema, Vice President, WFYR Africa
INDIA
FAR-REACHING INITIATIVES
India YMCA Retirees joined our Toronto gathering: L-R: Mr. Paul George;Mrs. Sheila Paul; Mr. Stanley C. Karkada, IFYR President and WFYR Vice-Chair; Mr. Jacob A. Abraham, IFYR Vice-President; Mrs. Annie Jacob; Mrs. Annamma John; and John Varughese, IFYR Secretary/Treasurer. (Not pictured, Mr. Swaraj Sircar.)
Photo below: Mr. Noel Amanna, Senior National Leader for YMCA India and President, Bombay YMCA, inaugurated the IFYR annual conference.
--photo by Joyce Wilson
Members of the India Fellowship of YMCA Retirees adopted two far-reaching resolutions for the welfare and sustenance of its members at its 29th Annual Conference in May, hosted by the Bombay YMCA.
Emergency Medical Support: IFYR launched the second phase of corpus fund collection to help alleviate members' medical emergencies.
Pension for Retired Members: IFYR formally requested the National Council of YMCAs of India to implement a suitable pension scheme for all retired Secretaries in India who are currently without coverage.
Mr. Stanley C. Karkada, Mumbai, was elected IFYR President.
Franco Savoia (at podium) salutes WFYR leaders from 2022-2026. Left-to-Right: Don Anderson, Phil Dwyer, John Naylor, Alicia Sanjurjo, Jerry Prado Shaw, Len Wilson, and Kohei Yamada.
--photo by Joyce Wilson
Franco Savoia (at podium) salutes WFYR leaders from 2022-2026. Left-to-Right: Don Anderson, Phil Dwyer, John Naylor, Alicia Sanjurjo, Jerry Prado Shaw, Len Wilson, and Kohei Yamada.
--photo by Joyce Wilson
WORLD YMCA
CHRISTOPHER LEWIS
ELECTED PRESIDENT
The World Council welcomed Christopher Lewis of YMCA Australia as the new President of the World YMCA.
Chris has been a committed YMCA leader for over a decade. He serves as a member of the World Alliance Executive Committee, a Director of YMCA Australia, and Chair of YMCA Safeguarding, a harm-prevention charity dedicated to child safety.
JOIN US FOR WFYR WORLDWIDE VIRTUAL GATHERING 14 OCTOBER VIA ZOOM
Join us Wednesday, 14 October, for a worldwide WFYR Virtual Gathering via ZOOM that will provide a brief verbal summary of the 2026 in-person conference in Toronto and a presentation by new WFYR Chair Helene Weir on our work and aspirations for the next four years.
Subject to their availability, there will be greetings from Christopher Lewis, new President of the World Alliance of YMCAs, and General Secretary Carlos Sanvee.
Our Virtual Gatherings all take place at 8 a.m. New York time. Each will be 60-90 minutes in length with presentations, discussion, and fellowship. Each gathering will use the ZOOM app, and multilingual captioning is available.
Our Virtual Gathering Planning Committee includes Peter Burns, Bonnie Mairs, Alicia Sanjurjo, Franco Savoia, Helene Weir, and Kohei Yamada.
Click the button below to join our October gathering.
Here are some familiar faces in the WFYR world snapped in Toronto: Top row, L-R: Don Anderson (USA); Sohelia Hayek (Lebanon); Eudes de Araujo (Brazil) Yukio Yamasaki (Japan). Bottom Row: Janis Sterling (USA); Eckard Geisler (Germany);Juan Simones Iglesia (Spain); Peter Burns (Australia). Juan led the cheering for Spain at the World Cup Final Watch Party on our Opening Night.
BRIDGES is produced for all who wish to receive it. Just click the button below.
