Dale’s extraordinary career as a YMCA volunteer leader and supporter of the global Movement began in the 1950s as a fundraiser for international work for the Y’s Service Club in Cleveland.
Dale´s contribution to the European YMCA movement was outstanding and all of us will miss his vision, commitment and passion for international work.
We join Dale´s family and friends in these days of sorrow as we keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
His profile and attitude towards international understanding was very well described by Terry Ratcliffe (former President of YMCA Europe) in this article published in 2010 when Dale was honoured for his YMCA work.
"DALE VONDERAU
I am delighted to know that Dale is to be honoured for his YMCA work and I am certain whatever form this takes the honour is much deserved.
I have been asked for some reflections on Dale and I am most pleased to respond. However I feel that I can only do this by providing first some background information.
I feel that I have known Dale forever! This has certainly been true during my period of international experience with the YMCA’s which started in 1977 when I attended a World Council meeting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I have many memories of that event but in particular of a large delegation from the USA and for some reason I particularly remember Dale, not knowing then how well I would come to know and respect him in the years to come.
Since that meeting I have had the privilege of working with Dale in many situations, sometimes at subsequent World Council meetings but more particularly during my association since 1979 with the European Alliance. I was for 10 years President of the European Alliance and thereafter since 1992 Leader of the Field Group for Russia. This has proved to be a momentous period which has due to historic events changed the face of the YMCA’s of Europe. At all stages Dale has been involved.
In the earlier years our problems were mainly in sometimes successfully sustaining YMCA’s in Western Europe whilst developing increasing contacts with certain individuals and groups in central and Eastern Europe during the days of Communist rule. Our second area of work was with movements in the south of Europe which were mostly struggling. In 1989 however, the emphasis changed with the collapse of communism and the door opened to the countries of central and Eastern Europe some of whom had in previous years had thriving YMCA’s.
We can now look back with satisfaction of how we were able to respond to this situation remembering that a driving force behind our achievements were the YMCA’s of the USA spearheaded by Dale Vonderau. He was the perfect person being sensitive both to a legacy of earlier investments in many European countries and also to the aspirations of the established YMCA’s in Europe.
There was a joint recognition that by working together we could achieve so much but that by working in isolation we would achieve little. Fortunately we worked together and set a pattern for years of positive collaboration.
Our earlier experiences working together with struggling YMCA movements mainly in the south of Europe, did I believe establish a pattern of working in partnership which helped us move to the next stage. In the south of Europe nearly every national YMCA movement appeared to be in deep trouble whilst owning many assets and often not reflecting the invaluable work being done within their local associations.
Nationally problems existed with leadership succession and the proper management of assets some of which were the result of earlier USA investments. We persevered over many years with many frustrations and often disappointments but notwithstanding this, today most of the movements survive, some have developed beyond expectation and some new movements have been developed.
The vision of Dale supported by his movement in the USA played a major role in this. Above all our experience of working in partnership lay the foundation for our next and most major challenge.
Our work in the south of Europe was put on hold by the accelerating situation in central and Eastern Europe. Our earlier contacts with these countries had identified the existence of previous YMCA members who wanted urgently to re-start their work with us. There were also new opportunities arising in other emerging countries.
Our need was to respond to this but whilst we had a vision we lacked the essential resources. This problem was quickly resolved by what in retrospect I believe was the most significant opportunity which arose when the YMCA’s of the USA negotiated a "Saphir" grant of $1.5 million for development work in former communist countries provided that this was matched by the YMCA’s in Europe. It is reassuring to say that all parties rose to the challenge which has resulted in the most amazing YMCA initiative which today has changed the face of the YMCA worldwide.
Dale Vonderau has walked with us throughout all of this time and I am in no doubt about the debt which we owe to him for his understanding, sensitivity and consistent support over many years of successful YMCA and personal development.
I have during this time from our many meetings learned a little of the history of Dale from his boyhood on a farm, to his wartime service and his time with the YMCA. He is a most private and modest man. He is in no way boastful and his personal information is gleaned only in small doses after a long acquaintance. He works tirelessly as a volunteer on behalf of the YMCA and I never cease to admire his stamina in the many transatlantic flights that he has made. We have met in many countries and had many experiences.
I have often admired Dale’s technique of stopping a discussion in its tracks and causing everyone to return to first base frequently towards the end of a long debate when people are reaching a comfort zone Dale will, clear his throat and in his slow deliberate style, intervene with a radical challenge to what apparently is being decided thereby causing everyone to re-think about the issues. The answer may frequently be the same but it comes with a certainty that it is the right answer. I have almost come to expect this of Dale, to the extent that I am unhappy if it does not happen.
I apologise that this is a long narrative but I believe it is necessary to provide a background to a person who has given such immense service to the YMCA as a whole and in particular to the YMCA’s in Europe and I am certain that as a result to the YMCA’s in the USA.
I sincerely believe that his commitment, intellect, consistent application and friendship have been a major factor in shaping the present day YMCA’s of Europe. I am aware that in this he has had the support of the YMCA’s in the USA but I have no doubt that his leadership has been instrumental in harnessing this.
We are all indebted to him and I am delighted to know that he is being honoured for his service."
Terry Ratcliffe
