This study investigated the perceptions of administrators of the YMCA and municipal recreation departments in the state of Texas concerning their cooperative relationship in the use of areas and facilities, personnel management, and program planning. A questionnaire was used to obtain their perceptions. Of the 140 questionnaires mailed, ninety-two were returned that were able to be utilized in the study. Their responses were analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The findings revealed a general agreement concerning the lack of cooperation between them. This wat evidenced in that they "never" or "seldom" communicated, consulted with the other, initiated joint sponsorship of programs, or cooperated in the three specified areas of recreational programming.

Based on the author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Minnesota, 1998. / Caption title; description based on t.p. screen of 2009-09-06. Originally published by Gutenberg-e: www.gutenberg-e.org. Includes bibliographical references.

The dissertation looks at the history of one physical education organisation which was of great significance to the development of physical culture in inter-war Czechoslovakia and Poland, despite this not being its only activity. The YMCA came into being in England but it particularly flourished in the United States of America. During the First World War, Czechoslovak and Polish soldiers were given a taste of their activity, being accompanied home by members of this in- ternational association after the war had ended. Following requests from military and political leaders of the time, the American YMCA sent its secretaries to the newly established Czechoslovakia and renewed Poland to help establish the first local associations. It was particularly due to them that new practically unknown sports, were introduced to the region. In addition, in both Czechoslovakia and Poland, the YMCA also took responsibility for having new physical education fa- cilities built, improving training methods and generally enhancing young people through sport. During the inter-war years, local YMCA groups and their mem- bers performed exceptionally well in a number of sporting disciplines and ranked among the top Czechoslovak and Polish athletes. Furthermore, the YMCA con- tributed to establishing the tradition of permanent...

The dissertation looks at the history of one physical education organisation which was of great significance to the development of physical culture in inter-war Czechoslovakia and Poland, despite this not being its only activity. The YMCA came into being in England but it particularly flourished in the United States of America. During the First World War, Czechoslovak and Polish soldiers were given a taste of their activity, being accompanied home by members of this in- ternational association after the war had ended. Following requests from military and political leaders of the time, the American YMCA sent its secretaries to the newly established Czechoslovakia and renewed Poland to help establish the first local associations. It was particularly due to them that new practically unknown sports, were introduced to the region. In addition, in both Czechoslovakia and Poland, the YMCA also took responsibility for having new physical education fa- cilities built, improving training methods and generally enhancing young people through sport. During the inter-war years, local YMCA groups and their mem- bers performed exceptionally well in a number of sporting disciplines and ranked among the top Czechoslovak and Polish athletes. Furthermore, the YMCA con- tributed to establishing the tradition of permanent...

This project addresses the contemporary and competing non-state governmentalities in the Gaza Strip through an analysis of the 1948-1967 period. During this period the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) constructed early notions of non-state 'governance' and quasi-citizenship in Gaza. The majority of this research focuses on these organizations in the 1948-1967 period, however, there is a case study that addresses the way in which these competing models of non-sovereign administration impacted the approaches used since 2007 by Hamas. The distinct histories and experiences of administration under each organization has created competing notions of what components constitute an assembled notion of citizenship in Gaza. Specifically, the bureaucratic categorization preferred by UNRWA conflicts with Hamas' focus on individualized service based on the tradition of shura (consultation) and youth training, in particular. Several approaches to governance in Gaza are common to the three major faith-based organizations discussed here (the AFSC, the YMCA, and the Hamas). Notably, these organizations create sacred spaces and processes as a mechanism of governance, allowing them to exert control over the population. In particular, the manner in which two distinct international organizations – UNRWA and Hamas – came to operate parallel state structures in the Gaza Strip, and the way that these two organizations imbue citizenship like rights and responsibilities on the populations that they serve is of particular interest. In this way governance in the Gaza Strip has completed a circuit: from the faith-based Friends to the faith-based Hamas, with UNRWA as the constant secular parallel authority. Through an examination of organizational archives, memoirs, and interviews this project links these events, arguing that the institutional records of these organizations provide an illuminating path to better understand the situation of governance in Gaza today.

This dissertation is about American Red Cross and YMCA work in revolutionary and civil war Russia. It focuses on the most significant phases of these organizations’ efforts in terms of the numbers of personnel involved and the funds expended: Moscow and Petrograd, 1917–18; northern Russia during the Allied military intervention, 1918–19; and Siberia and the Russian Far East, from 1918 through the early 1920s. By drawing on dozens of often underused archival collections this study is able to discuss these “constructive efforts” in much fuller detail than have existing works. The activities of the Americans who worked in Russia, rather than those who made policy from afar, are of primary interest. The concern here, beyond the what, where, and who, is why: Why did American relief or social service work occur? The answers, of which there are several, include a desire to provide assistance to suffering populations. But the humanitarian impulse was often not the one that carried the day when decisions about policy and practice were taken. Military concerns were important, especially while the Great War still raged on the western front, and while Allied and American soldiers fought Russian Bolsheviks. American relief workers also saw themselves as contributing directly to relations between Russia and Russians on the one hand, and the United States, the Allies, and the American people on the other. They were moved to carry out their work because they saw the importance of it for the present and future of relations between the two countries. Americans in Russia also took advantage of the presence of soldiers, civilian refugees, and former prisoners of war from a variety of European countries to spread the good word about all things American. Ultimately, Americans viewed revolutionary Russia through the lens of modernization. With American help, the future could be bright. With the right leadership in place to oversee their education, honest, hardworking, and intellectually curious peasants (as they were described by contemporary observers) could be turned into modern citizens. The Russian project failed to achieve its promise, but for a time Americans retained their optimism about Russia’s future.

This dissertation is about American Red Cross and YMCA work in revolutionary and civil war Russia. It focuses on the most significant phases of these organizations’ efforts in terms of the numbers of personnel involved and the funds expended: Moscow and Petrograd, 1917–18; northern Russia during the Allied military intervention, 1918–19; and Siberia and the Russian Far East, from 1918 through the early 1920s. By drawing on dozens of often underused archival collections this study is able to discuss these “constructive efforts” in much fuller detail than have existing works. The activities of the Americans who worked in Russia, rather than those who made policy from afar, are of primary interest. The concern here, beyond the what, where, and who, is why: Why did American relief or social service work occur? The answers, of which there are several, include a desire to provide assistance to suffering populations. But the humanitarian impulse was often not the one that carried the day when decisions about policy and practice were taken. Military concerns were important, especially while the Great War still raged on the western front, and while Allied and American soldiers fought Russian Bolsheviks. American relief workers also saw themselves as contributing directly to relations between Russia and Russians on the one hand, and the United States, the Allies, and the American people on the other. They were moved to carry out their work because they saw the importance of it for the present and future of relations between the two countries. Americans in Russia also took advantage of the presence of soldiers, civilian refugees, and former prisoners of war from a variety of European countries to spread the good word about all things American. Ultimately, Americans viewed revolutionary Russia through the lens of modernization. With American help, the future could be bright. With the right leadership in place to oversee their education, honest, hardworking, and intellectually curious peasants (as they were described by contemporary observers) could be turned into modern citizens. The Russian project failed to achieve its promise, but for a time Americans retained their optimism about Russia’s future.

No description available.

The diploma thesis concentrates on and deals with the attractiveness of YMCA summer camp. The aim is to find out what factors are able to influence the decisions of children and parents if they take part in this camp. The work has been bringing in the different possibilities of activities. It is expected from these activities to have the ability in infuencing the attractiveness of this characteristic the summer camp. These activities have been proved by evidence and realized on the specific cases in the practice in this diploma thesis. The answers have been looked for in the context of the basic research question and the diploma thesis has been drawing conclusions on the basic of the research result of the sample of respondents.

As youngsters become adults, the development of their personality becomes the focus of their attention. However, neither Christian youthwork nor adult education within the Protestant Church in Germany is geared towards accompanying and advising them in the midst of their religious questions and changes. There is virtually no scholarly or church literature that would focus on the age group of 18 to 30 year olds. Thus far, the Protestant Church has not yet published non-commercial programs for personality development. This dissertation focuses on evaluating a personality training program that was specially developed for young adults. The structures and the content are analyzed in order to gain insights into how such a training can be implemented in the local church. The empirical results will be complemented by insights from different studies on youth, theological and anthropological perspectives on personality and personhood, and two popular models of courses on the Christian faith. / An der Schwelle zum Erwachsenwerden steht die Entwicklung der eigenen Persönlichkeit im Mittelpunkt des Denkens von jungen Menschen. Aber weder die Jugendarbeit noch die Erwachsenenbildung sieht eine Aufgabe darin, junge Erwachsene in ihren religiösen Fragen und Veränderungen zu begleiten und zu beraten. Wissenschaftliche und gemeindepädagogische Literatur, speziell für die Altersgruppe der 18- bis 30-Jährigen, liegt kaum vor und innerhalb der evangelischen Kirche gibt es bislang keine nichtkommerziellen Persönlichkeitsprogramme für diese Personengruppe. Der Fokus dieser Arbeit ist auf die Dokumentation und die qualitative Evaluation eines Persönlichkeitstrainings gerichtet, das speziell für junge Erwachsene entwickelt wurde. Untersucht werden die Strukturen und die Inhalte des Programms, um konkrete Gestaltungshinweise für die Durchführung in einer örtlichen Kirchengemeinde zu gewinnen. Die empirischen Ergebnisse werden durch Exzerpte aus verschiedenen Jugendstudien, aus theologisch-anthropologischen Erörterungen zu Persönlichkeit und Person sein und die Bewertung von zwei christlich populären Glaubenskursen ergänzt. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)