YMCA of the RockiesÂ’ Estes Park Center Hosts Global YMCA Leaders to plan 2014 World Council

(I-TravelNewswire.Com, June 26, 2012 ) ESTES PARK, Colo.- The executive leaders of the World Alliance of YMCAs, General Secretary of Asia and Pacific Alliance of YMCAs, and the head of the European Alliance of YMCA’s joined Kent Meyer, President and CEO of the YMCA of the Rockies, on June 6th – 11th, 2012 to plan the 18th World Council Meeting at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park during the week of 4th of July, 2014. The World Council meets every four years and is the highest decision making body of the World Alliance of YMCAs, or WAY.

According to WAY the World Council “Is responsible for setting the policies and direction of the World Alliance, electing its Officers and Executive Committee, evaluating the work of the last four years, and deliberating on priorities for the next quadrennium.” WAY is made up of YMCA Movements in 119 countries. The first World Council convened in 1855 with 99 delegates representing nine countries. In 2014, YMCA of the Rockies is looking forward to hosting as many as 1500 delegates from around the world.

Secretary General of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Johan Vilhem Eltvik from Geneva, Switzerland, tells the Y that he’s excited about returning to the YMCA of the Rockies. The YMCA of the Rockies hosted the World Council in 1981, and the 18th World Council meeting in 2014 will be the third time that a World Council meeting was held in the United States, and the first time it’s ever gone to the same location twice. Johan tells us they’re drawn to the YMCA of the Rockies and Estes Park because of the “beauty of the mountains, the fantastic surroundings for the context of the meeting.” Johan goes on to tell the Y of the Rockies that this visit to Estes Park has inspired him, he has seen a “unique opportunity to integrate the nature and the beauty of this place within their World Alliance programming. The environment will make the Council meeting more interactive and with the quality of staff, hospitality and great atmosphere he has found a place where employees are walking their talk.”

This year’s World Council meeting will reflect the World Alliance of YMCA’s theme of “Empowering Young People.” The World Council meeting will be a celebration of 200 Global Change Agents, between the ages of 18-30, who will be selected to empower youth in their communities and countries and will be the voices for the Y global movement. Johan tells the Y of the Rockies that he is “excited for the opportunity to be creative and to innovate new ways to empower youth, empowering young people is in the DNA of the YMCA global movement.”

YMCA of the Rockies has two retreat-style properties in Northern Colorado, the Estes Park Center and Snow Mountain Ranch. The Estes Park Center began as a conference training ground for YMCA directors in 1907 and hosted the previous World Council gathering in 1981. As many as 1500 participants from around the world are expected to attend the event which will take place June 29 – July 5, 2014 and will include worship, training, support and cultural opportunities.

For more information about YMCA of the Rockies visit www.ymcarockies.org or contact Laura Field, Director of Marketing at lfield@ymcarockies.org

YMCA of the Rockies

CONTACT: Laura Field

TEL: 970-586-4444 x6062

EMAIL: Lfield@ymcarockies.org

WEB: www.ymcarockies.org

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YMCA of the Rockies

Amy Shadell

970-568-7423

Amy@adventuremedianews.com

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