The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-12-17
Y. M. G. A.

The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
was held on Wednesday evening. All the direc
tors but two were present, these being out OF
the CITY, Interesting reports were presented
by chairmen of the various committees, and the
annual reports Of Treasurer Stewart and Gen.
eral Secretary Nan Ness were read.
The membership committee reported the to-
tai membership at the close Of the year to be
36l, and recommended that another contest be
entered upon to increase the membership to 600.
The report of the devotional committee for
November shows among other things that the
largest mems meeting ever held in the rooms
was held in November, the attendance being
2O2 There is an increasing interest in this de-
partment of the work.
The educational committee reported good
interest in this work, and stated that the class
in mechanical drawing gave promise of being
unusually practical, as in addition to the regu-
lar work. the instructor, Mr. j. S. Thompson,
planned to take up the study of machine shop
arithmetic and work in physics Supt w. f.
Bradley will meet with the class several times
during the term, and will give the members
some helpful suggestions. Chairman Stewart,
Of the library committee, stated that the new
catalogue was ready for the printer and in
very short time il would be possible to have the
books in circulation.
Secy Van Ness, of the lecture committee, re.
ported that the attendance at the first two en-
tertainments last year was lO0l this year 1t was
1900 The actual sale of season tickets is GIL;
last year 1t was AL.
Physical Director Crawford gave an interest
ing report OF the gymnasium work, which show
ed that the young men we're availing themselves
OF this privilege. and recommend some i'm
provements to the gymnasium that 1t is hoped
to bring about The new feature of basket ball
was approved. This department will be made
very attractive.
The annual report of Treasurer Stewart was
very complete and covered many details. The
actual expense Of the work for the past year
was S2O34s6, which is about 800 more than for
the year previous, but which is reasonable in
crease when it is understood that the rooms
we're papered and painted and improved in
many ways during the year or the receipts,
S1013 was from subscriptions, and 1856 was from
memberships. The balance coming from towel
rental and sundry sources.
The budget for the coming year will be $1,000,
OF which about $1,000 must be raised by sub
scription. If the citizens of Owosso Will all
help this amount will not be q burden to any
one.
Ness showed many interesting things, and was
encouraging in every respect. The work of the
past year has been highly successful and the
rooms have been more largely used than in any
previous year. A few figures from the report
are as follows:
There have been 80 mems meetings, with
total attendance Of 1928, an average OF 66. Last
year the average was a.. The Bible class held
~fQ
The average was four and there were but four
sessions the year before. In the religious
meetings there have been 10 requests for pray
er 10 young men have professed conversion.
The reading room has had a total attendance
27,275, an average per day of 75 The average
last year was5a. The library was open 1877 days
and 1918 books we're drawn, an average per day
of 20K as compared with Q, the average OF last
year. Total attendance in all departments was
a, $3.50, an average per day of 100 as compared
with 1Oi last year.
The election of officers resulted as follows:
President-B. s. Knapp
1st Vice President-Charles Il. Rigley.
Cd F" A Il. Thomas.
Recording Secretary-A. ID. Whipple.
Treasurer-C. ID. Stewart.
f. G. vanNess was engaged as general secre-
tary for another year by unanimous vote OF
the board. In notifying him OF the fact Dr
Knapp took occasion to congratulate him upon
the success Of the work during the past year
The DR.. said "that while the board could not
offer him any increase in salary, they could give
him big increase in the work. adding that the
directors would all give hearty assistance TO his
efforts. In accepting the work for the coming
year Mr.. Van Ness made few brief remarks
which deeply touched all by their earnestness.
The Association is very fortunate In peing
able to retain Mr.. vanNess as secretary. Inc
work under his charge has increased In every
| direction and never was as fiourishing as at
present. Heis thoroughly in earnest ana mas
the good OF the young men Of Owosso In mind at
| all times.
Wafchaa 10 auit ouerVh0dY. Large as