Dos Palos resident Darrell Fonseca was elected Grand President of the national Young Men’s Institute for 2022-2023.
The YMI, as it is more commonly known, held its national convention last week in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Delegates from across the country participated. His name was placed in nomination by the delegation from Hawaii.
Before the roll call vote was completed, it was moved to elect him by unanimous acclamation. He and other officers were officially installed into office at St. Theresa’s Church in Lake Tahoe, California. His first duty was to speak at the YLI (Young Ladies Institute) convention in Glendale this week.
Fonseca was California’s longest serving city manager in a single city (32 years in Dos Palos) before retiring three months ago. He has since been considered for interim positions in two nearby cities but declined interest due to his current commitments.
Fonseca will be making official presidential visits to YMI councils beginning with a mid-western tour of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky.
The YMI is a Catholic fraternal organization established in 1883. Today it has over 15,000 members in many states across the U. S. The clubhouse in North Carolina is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The YMI is known for its patriotic and charitable causes, which include fighting discrimination, feeding the poor and giving assistance to veterans, widows and orphans.
It also conducts a nationwide essay contest, provides cash prizes to middle school students and scholarships to high school, college and seminary students. YMI members strive to set a positive example as responsible husbands, fathers, brothers and sons.
