Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-26

leaves omaha. where Tor nine years she
has been ~ the helm ~ the Young
WUmen's Christian association for her new
field as national worker. viii he rendered
. farewell reception IN the Association
building Tuesday evening by the board Of
directors. The hours ~ the reception arc
from Sw 10 ~ O'Clock The Invitation Is a
general one. extended not Only to all mem
beers ~ the associate but also to all
those with whom Mrs Bvers work has
brought her IN touch
Since during her nine wears residence
! here, Mrs Bysrs influence has been felt
not only In immediate association work
where 70 has been power. indeed-hut
since she has been in touch with the
Women's societies Of tho various churches
through her talks before them, has been
identified with the omaha womans club,
the Social Service club and given her aid
10 the various upift movements. the In
titation Is wide one. No personal in
vitatiOns have been issued.
The receiving line viii include the guest
Of honor Mrs. W r. Hartford. president
Of the board. Mrs George rideu vice
president Mrs. J. 81 Aiken. second vice
president and Mrs. Edward Johnson. cor
responding secretary Mrs. George w.
IN charge Of arrangements. which includes
Mrs. j. G. Gates, Mrs. w. Shepard. Mrs
w. Garrett The entire board is an in
formal reception committee.
Mrs. Byers. who In April asked to be re-
leased from the general secretaryshlp of
Omaha, leaves this position TO accept that
OF executive OF the North Central terri
tory, which comprises the states OF Eortl
and South Dakota. Minnesota, Iowa and
Nebraska, with headquarters either at
Minneapolis or st. Paul. She viii Weave
Omaha July for six weeks rest in Chi
cago and lake points in Michigan before
assuming her new duties These begin
with the summer conference at Lake
Geneva, where she has charge OF the
economic conference for city workers
which Is held August 1926 She will also
remain for the student conference
which follows the city conference.
In recent interview, the retiring secre-
tary stated that she believes the associa
ton in Omaha is just beginning to do its
work; that the past years have been but
years Of preparation. Be that as II NAV
the directors Of the association have no
nesitancy In declaring that the past years
nave been productive years largely be.
cause OF the splendid work Of the general
secretary. Therefore the briefest way of
telling what Mrs. Byers has done for
omaha's association is to tell what has
oeen accomplished In the nine years of her
work here
Mrs' Byers accepted the position OF gen.
erai secretary OF the Omaha association in
June, hVl' and began work in September
OF that same year. The growth OF the
""rA III her nine years OF service Is shown
IN some degree by comparative statistics.
me membership in 1901 was 1876; in July.
1919, as she leaves the city, the member
ship is at the high water mark of 2s1s
curing the first year OF her secretaryship
the cost Of the work was $4,000. and last
year II cost $4,000
Nine years ago the average numbsr
served to lunch per day was s47: AZ the
present time the average number served
is 800 SCI 'eU
IN 1901 the association was housed in the
FaNton block, two large rooms on the third
hoor having been divided so as TO make
parIor' dining room. gymnasium and Of
hces. The staff numbered four secretaries
In 1909 room was taken on the other
side OF the hall and divided TO mako a
large assembly room. accommodating 175
people and an additional room called the
membership parlor. which was used for
BOARD and committee meetings and for rest
roohs TOT members; also the dining room
was enlarged by throwing in what was the
FORMER parlor. and rooms on the opposite
side OF the hall were taken for library ana
general secretarys office On entering the
ne" building In March. 1909, the staff had
increased to fourteen secretaries and direo-
tors. The building which now houses the
Work or the association. cost S162 900 The
rehslous work: The Sunday meetings have
grown IN nine years from an average of at
tendance OF twenty-five to an average NJ
100 The bible class enrolment has grown
from less than 100 per year to an enrolment
OF go. Mrs ByeTs has taught one largo
bible class. now known as the Byers Bibla
band, Tor nine years; an afternoon class
Ior seven years, which was ultimately
changed into morning class; during one
year she taught four bible classes. and
every year has had at least two.
So far as is known. the association a.
present ranks second in the world.
The educational work has grown from
an attendance OF sixty. including domestic
arts Tn 1901 to an enrolment last year OF
Low including domestic science and arts
An additional enrolment of 800 in gymnas-
ium and $50 in Bible department. makes a
total enrolment OF over /. 800 for one year
The Professional Woman's league %
planning to hold its annual picnic Thurs
day afternoon and evening at Miller park.
This picnic. which Is the last meeting Of
the league until September. Is emphatiealIv
one for a good time; no program of talks
or intellectual efforts are scheduled. In
stead Reuben meet and similar relay
attons are planned.
Tuesday is donation day at the old Peo-
pie day that is the day when the dlrec
tors ask the public which is supplied with
tns worries goods" to contribute OF their
abundance TO the people OF the home N
- donation Of foOdstuf1s which are esne-
eiAiS solicited. some OF the directors will
pc az the home all day to receive the gift
makers and their gifts
Chapter y OF p. r. o. held its last mat
ihs Tor the year with Mrs. George Eddy
saturday afternoon.
Ahe American Women's league met Mon
u~S evening with Mrs, ID, A. Haverly. At
tnls meeting. al which the president. Mrs
W j., Russell presided a report OF the
reNeh' national convention at ST Louis.
"a gwen oy the delegate. Mrs. Nettie NJ.
aish' FaiSs also were given BY Mrs.
J az