Y.M.C.A.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 174, 24 June 1926, Page 2

Y.M.C.A.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MONTHLY MEETING, The monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Y.M.C.A. was held last night, Mr Jas. Wallace presiding. Others present were: Messrs C. E. Histed, J. R. Cunninghame, T. R. Hodder, E. D. Wycherley, M. N. Wallace, I. W. Gerrand, W. H. Ferner and J. C. Young. The report of the physical committee recommended that the board consider the possibility of inviting the Luncheon Club and Chamber of Commerce to a gymnasium night early in August. The physical director (Mr C. Woods) had the Manawatu representative hockey team which is to meet the Indian Army team at the end of the month, taking physical work in the gymnasium three mornings a week. The attendances of the various classes since the opening of the gymnasium season were as follow: Business men 316, seniors 760, High School boys 159, business boys 129, primary schools 334, ladies 492, girls, Friday 215, boys, Saturday 461, girls, Saturday 512; total, 3378. —The report was adopted, and it was decided to invite tne Luncheon Club and the Chamber of Commerce to be present at a special demonstration by the gymnasium classes on August 5. The report of the boys’ work committee stated that, in the special Y.M.C.A. week held this month, the boys’ division had three special rallies, which had proved a wonderful help to all the classes concerned. The following attendances were recorded at the rallies: Primary, 33 members, 2'/ visitors, total 60; secondary, 20 members, 15 visitors, total 35; employed, 14 members, 4 visitors, total 18. There were already five clubs in the primary class, and there < were two members towards the sixth. The director was confident that the remaining six or eight members for this club could probably bo raised by next Wednesday. The total number of boys in clubs now stood as follows, these being all regular attenders: Primary 47, secondary 24, employed 18. A total number of 14 clubs, with 12 adult loaders, and tho director taking the remaining two, was now organised. “We are very much encouraged, report added, “by the number of leaders we have secured this year, especially as they are all fellows who will take the club _ work seriously, sacrificing much time in attending meetings, functions, charting their boys, etc.-Adopted. The social committee reported that arrangements woce under way for the second annual visit of a party of Wanganui members, who hoped to bo in Palmerston North for the social to be held on July 10. It was planned to pay a return visit at their invitation on the following week-end, and it was intended to have a full programme of entertainment for tho visitors, who would be billeted by members for the night. This week the first lounge social of the present season would be held, and it was hoped that. these would form another valuable link in the social chain of activities. The report of the wireless committee stated that of late good results had been obtained with the set, and that some exceptionally good programmes had been heard from both New Zealand and Australian stations. With these good results, a marked increase has been noticed in the number of listeners-in, with some strange faces among them. The sum of 10s 4d had been placed in the collection box since its erection in the lounge. Thanks were due to Mr Blair Tennent for his offer to recharge the battery free, and to Mr Harold Smith for donating a wall-bracket for the loud speaker. The report of the general secretary (Mr F. M. Keesing, M.A.) was as follows:. The regular activities of the association have functioned smoothly during the month, and, in addition, certain special events were carried out — a visitors’ week in the boys’ division, a demonstration night in the gymnasium, a billiards match with’ the R.S.A. and the board conference. The association has also co-operated with the national military department in establishing Y.M.C.A. work at the Flock House reunion camp now on. The outstanding event of tho month was the meeting of the national convention in Wellington. Certain points of emphasis which stood out both at the formal meetings and in informal discussions of secretaries are worth' summing up: (1) Tho need for greater publicity for the movement, local and national. (2) The need for a clear vision of what we are aiming to do. This must be the basis for our existence and the reason why we, as men, are giving time and money to it. (3) The need for a reexamination of our established administration —records, memberships, finance, office methods, committee system and so on, so as to have a maximum of efficiency with a minimum expenditure of time and energy* (4)

The need for search and experiment to discover what methods we, in our own peculiar set of local circumstances, can employ to serve constructively tho boys and young men in our membership; also to catch in the great mass of youth that as yet is untouched by the association. With regard to the administration of the work, Mr Harlcncss and myself have been endeavouring to cut it down to the essentials in order to concentrate as far as possible on the more vital side; our actual work with the boys and young men. As those who were present at the board conference will remember, there are wide fields that we hs yet have hardly touched —the personal contact with homes and parents, the enlisting and training of leaders, the opening up of avenues of service and study, and the definite spiritual challenge. Up to a certain point the association is serving youth very finely, by providing activities, by developing a happy spirit of comradeship, by standing for certain definite ideals. If any board member could be in the building wholly during any one week, he would bo surprised, probably, at the actual amount and variety of informal service given to young fellows that is never recorded by statistics; hero some advice and help in study, on spiritual difficulties, on life work; there some friendships made or strangers given welcome, or, again, interests created or new fields of thought opened up. But beyond our present contribution there are vast possibilities of further work among tho boys and young men at present in our membership and those now outside. GENERAL. The physical director was granted a week’s leave of absence to confer with’ the physical director of the Wellington Y.M.C.A., with tho object of gathering new material for the annual gymnastic display to be held in October. The treasurer’s report revealed that May receipts totalled £l3O 0s Bd, and expenditure £122. Accounts amounting to £77 5s 9d were passed for payment. Owing to his pending departure to Wanganui the honorary secretary, Mr G. H. Trott, tendered his resignation from the board, and it was decided to place on record an appreciation of his work. " Mr H. Ferrier was appointed to fill the vacant position. A resolution expressing appreciation for his work was also accorded Mr G. C. Keeble, who is retiring temporarily from the board.