Often people wonder what benefits or what good comes out of being involved with such an organization. Although the list is extremely long, I will focus on a few of the more important issues, particularly what makes the Pan-Macedonian Youth Association important as compared to other ethnic organizations.
As with most ethnic organizations, the Pan-Macedonian Youth Association offers it's members the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with others of similar backgrounds. It allows one to experience their culture of origin within the confines of their newly adopted country. It offers a sense of fulfillment and adds another dimension to our lives.
With the Skopjian government attempting to rewrite the history of the Macedonians the Association also allows one to take an active part in helping to preserve our history and protect our heritage. A chapter can play a crucial role in helping to raise awareness of the issues in Macedonia. The association can gather support from their respective countries, and make their voice known.
Lastly, perhaps the most obvious reason is that being involved in these chapters is fun. Chapters host and attend dances, trips, and other social functions. The association offers one the opportunity to interact, and travel with a group of people with similar interests.
The work necessary to start a chapter may at first seem overwhelming. The following outline offers advice and hints on how to initiate a chapter, and offers ideas for events. It is always important to keep everything with in perspective and accept the fact that beginnings of these groups will be small. However with enthusiasm and work these small beginnings turn into huge successes.
To begin a youth chapter, you must first have a small group of people who have an interest in being involved. These people can be found among friends, relatives, churches, high schools, colleges, and other youth organizations. The national chapter can supply signs to help advertise for a meeting or event. Another idea is to form a mailing list, and send letters out regarding a first meeting. The national youth can make a customized stationary for your chapter listing the names of each officer, to give a more organized and professional look to your correspondence. It is always a good idea to follow letters up with a phone call when approaching potential members. Keeping records such as phone lists, and address lists is essential. These lists can be handed down from year to year, to be sure that old members are always kept aware of the events happening within their chapter. Always try and keep things organized.
It is also necessary to have a place for the youth to meet. These places may be an adult chapter house, a church, a member's house, or any other place in which it is possible to conduct meetings. It is a good idea to chose a spot which is fairly central and easy for members, and potential members to get to.
The district governor or your region can offer an invaluable amount of help in acquiring all of these things. One of the duties of the district governor is to help the existing youth chapters in their region.
Even the older chapters invariably run into the problem of how to attract new members. Especially when younger members must be brought in to replace older members.
The best way to attract members is to always be active. It is often better to have several smaller events than one large event. Always try and get names and addresses from people who attend. Ask them if they would like to be informed of other events, and ask them if they have an interest in helping to organize another kind of event.
It is very important to try and keep events as varied as possible. Going to a baseball game for every event will only appeal to a certain group of potential members. If people are dissatisfied with the present events always ask them for ideas, and ask them to help organize. People always appreciate events more when they take an active role in organizing them. The more involved a person is with an event, the more enthusiastic they will be about it, and the more effort they will put into bringing along others to the event.
The national youth has been designed to help existing chapters function, and help create new chapters. Therefore there are very few obligations to the national organization. However, the national organization holds the obligation of attempting to help existing chapters whenever possible. If money and time are available, the national organization will help your chapter, especially one just forming in any way possible.
If your chapter has just started then all monetary obligations, i.e. $1.00 dues per member can be waived. These dues are collected annually at the national convention. Although we have no strict requirements we ask that an attempt is made to send atleast one member to a national youth event. We also ask that an attempt be made to avoid conflicts with national youth events. I.e., do not plan a bowling night during a national youth weekend.
We also ask that local chapters come forward and propose to sponsor a national youth event at their location. This of course takes a considerable amount of work and often requires a chapter with several active members to split the work load. The district governor of your region can offer help for these events.
The following is a list of events that have been hosted by local chapters, or by the national youth. It can offer a starting point, and help to give new ideas for events:
The National Youth Association holds several events at local chapters that help the different chapters meet and form the bonds of friendship. Some of these events are becoming traditions, such as our early fall trip to Syracuse New York, or our trip to New York City in the spring. In the past different chapters have lent support to each other by attending their parades when dates have been staggered, or they have attended other chapters picnics, dances and other events.
The national youth also attends the annual Pan-Macedonian Convention. This week long event (usually in early July) gives all the different chapters a chance to get together and discuss their ideas. The conventions have an immense variety of events such as; dances, discussions, trips, meetings, cruises, and many others. Once every four years, the convention is held in Greece. This convention is attended by all of the Pan-Macedonian groups from all over the world. It is always a very profound cultural experience which can not be equaled. It is an incredible feeling to meet people who live on other ends of the world, who have also preserved their cultural beliefs and also keep Greece as a part of their heart. Fortunately this year the convention will be held in Thessaloniki Greece, and will also commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Pan-Macedonian Association. It will be a convention which will set a new standard in the evolution of this association. I encourage all to do as much as they can to try and attend.