YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22369, 17 September 1934, Page 11

YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL REPORT The annual report of the Young Women's Christian Association, to be, presented at the annual meeting to-night, states:—; Work in the Employment Department has gradually decreased, and much of it lias consisted, in passing on girls to other societies more rightly fitted to assist them. The secretary states that there is no difficulty in finding domestic work for girls and young women of good character and ability,, but older women and untrained girlsjhaTe very little chance. On" the other hand, the untrained girl under 16. years of age, with a proficiency certificate and a leaning toward manual work, is fairly easily placed in factory work. The course in leadership training arranged in 1933 came to an end in September, and, although not as fruitful a recruiting ground for leaders as was hoped, the members of this group have given assistance in various special undertakings. The house buildings have been im-: proved in appearance, through renovations in the lounge, offices, stairway and lobby. All kinds of meetings have been housed, while frequently space is taxed .'. to capacity by our own activities. Meetings of the auxiliary have been well attended, interesting accounts of • the work in the association being given by chairmen and secretaries, along with the talks of more interest. Funds have mounted" by degrees, and. ,made it possible to present the association with a carpet for the hostel and chairs for the lounge. A year with very few changes in the staff has made for more continuity. In September last Miss I. Carter relinguished her duties as relieving secretary in the Employment Department. In March Miss J. Shepherd resigned from the position of sub-matron of the hostel, a post which she had held with the Utmost efficiency for eight years. In regard to finance the year has been more satisfactory than a number of past years. Finance efforts have included the Hallowe'en' Fair, from which the total , net proceeds were £109; the £IOOO appeal, proceeds of which were £BOI 3s lid, and included a number of generous donations, the most' outstanding being £l5O from the Dunedin Savings Bank and *£loo from an anonymous donor. Smaller efforts of all kinds, including ■ sales of work, jumble sales, and con- : certs, have been made by almost every : department to meet some special purposes of necessary renovations and the like. Two small sums held in special accounts were transferred to the consolidated account, and as a consequence we close the year with the substantial reduction of £315 2s 4d on our overdraft, as well as having both bur buildings considerably reconditioned. The national office continues to serve most faithfully through its officers, Miss J. Stevenson and Miss P. Ron ay ne. Miss Stevenson paid a short visit lasting three days in December, when her work was ' concentrated mainly on staff conferences and the inauguration of a sports. council, both of which proved most helpful. Regular letters have been received from Miss Moncrieff, as well as communica- • tions from members travelling abroad who have visited associations in other lands, and the World's Council member has also done much to keep alive World Fellowship interest through information passed on at board meetings. Our live interest in World Fellowship is\ also gauged by the success of State World Fellowship funds, for which £ll4 7s 3d in all has been collected this year. There has been a steady consolidation of work in the Girls' Department, and also in the Health and Recreation Department, * where, through the Sports Council end, other committees, a sense of responsibility and membership is being developed. In the senior activities the formation of a new special interest group, the Business Girls' Lyceum, and the formation of the Senior Activities Council have been the main features of progress. The reorganisation of the Hostel Residents' Council is supplying a real need. .