How to make Ys Men attractive for younger

How to make Y’s Men attractive for younger people ACM, Vejle 15. 03. 2019 Bjørn Arve Bentsen RD Norway 2018 -19

Membership status YMI

Current status for Y’s Men in Norway • In one year - «lost» four clubs: – Eidsvoll YMC – Åsane YMC, Bergen – Tiller and Heimdal YMC, Trondheim – Stockholm/Bromma YMC, Sweden • Two new clubs started in 2018 – not yet decided to be Y’s Men • Four new club intiatives taken • Member status: 1330 (-97 during last year) • Number of clubs: 47 Regional board is worried – Actions taken!

YMI – is getting weaker No clear actions for improvement • Top heavy organisation - not focused on fundamental challenges • Great distance between governing elite and members at club level • Is there a danger that recruiting to management positions is characterized by prestige rather than skills and competence • An organisational development process needs to be initiated # Unrealistic goal for growth: 50. 000 in 2022

Status: YMI Area Europe • Long lasting decrease in number of members • Sweden is almost erased – alarming situation! • Top heavy organisation - traditional and unclear roles and tasks • Lonely ASDs miss challenges and complain for lack of feedback • Annual reports can be copied from previous year – no changes – no actions taken(? ) • WE MUST TAKE ACTIONS!! Europe must take the lead

What do we do in Region Norway? No quick fix – things take time! • An internal work group was established in September 2018 – expected to answer these questions: • Are Y’s Men’s clubs a valid choice only for retired adults • Why is our YMI concept not attractive for young people? • Their report was presented to the regional board in December • The leader of the new club, Y-FOLK was an important member and cont in the work group (Y-Folk has not yet decided to join YMI) – (Hopefully they will !!)

Reflections (1): • Today’s concept of Y’s Men’s clubs is not attractive for younger adults in the age group 35 -55 • May young people think that the concept is too rigid – it has similarities w masonry - the framework is too old-fashioned? • Members might dislike to commit themselves to service efforts beyond pers capacities and desires • The language spoken is unfamiliar ( «a tribal language» ) – abbreviations are plentyfull • Current member-age in Norwegian clubs signals that «This is nothing for m at the age of 42!»

Reflections (2): • The name «Y’s Men’s Club» is difficult to understand communicate externally • For a club to become member (chartering) the ceremony is too comprehensive and old-fashioned • For people to become members, the ceremony is too formal and personal focused • The Rules and Regulations are considered rigid and demanding – little room for individual local solutions • The expectations for service activities, that create money, are overwhelming

Reflections (3): • Adults in their 40 -50’ies have been providing intense support and logist services for their children for about 20 years (sports, scouting, music, etc. ) Both parents are normally working • They are not looking for new service opportunities in the first place • Service activities might be valid and interesting in the long run, but do not come first! • WELL-BEING is what they search for – together with people of same ag and life situation • An evening out – to meet with friends – in a good atmosphere – listening to a good and interesting talk/lecture - is attractive

Reflections (4): • Young adults look for informal venues where they can meet interesting people and discuss relevant issues and everyday challenges • Christian basis must be the basis – must be a natural element in every m • A formal membership in an international organisation must prove to be of significant value (What is in it for us? ) • How should we in YMI «sell» our movement to convince club initiatives to become members?

Recommendations: • For making YMI, an organisation to join for younger people – we need to loosen up formalities and create a concept that becomes attractive for 40+ generation in 2020! • This is what we are working on in Region Norway at the moment • We work closely with YWCA – YMCA Norway • First step is a revised Agreement of Cooperation between Y’s Men and Y

Important points in Agreement of Cooperation between Y’s Men Norway and Norwegian YWCA-YMCA “Y's Men International, Region Norway (Y's Men) has as its main objective to support the work within the YWCA-YMCA movement in Norway”. “YWCA-YMCA of Norway will actively contribute to maintain and establish new clubs (e. g. Y-people / Y Service Clubs / Y's Men’s Clubs) for adults over the age of 30”. “YWCA-YMCA will communicate (internally and externally) that membership in clubs affiliated with Y's Men are recommended alternatives for adults within YWCA-YMCA”. “The Y’s Men’s clubs are to be profiled on the YWCA-YMCA website and in social media”.