The message to the churches got through too. Certainly, some churches were observing the day by January 1940 ^[8] and it was nationally observed by 1946 at the latest.^[9]

By 1957, the leaders of the movement decided to change the date from January to July. The National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) formed and the first Sunday in July became a day of remembrance and celebration for Aboriginal people and heritage.^[10] In 1991 NADOC became NAIDOC (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee), to recognise Torres Strait Islanders and to describe a whole week of recognition, rather than one day.^[10] The committee's acronym has become the name of the week itself.

NAIDOC Week activities[edit]

The governing body for the North American YMCA Development Organization is composed of NAYDO Council Members who serve 3 year terms and can be re-nominated for a second 3 year term. Council members must  be NAYDO Association Members, have demonstrated competence in their field, work at YMCAs that model financial development best practices, and have a record of NAYDO involvement. A Nominating Committee recommends to the NAYDO Council the names of new Council Members when openings occur. For more information contact Nominating Chair Shelly McTighe-Rippengale at smcrip@ymca.org or NAYDO Operations and Conference Director Mary Zoller at info@naydo.org or 504-464-7845.