Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-16
many PRESENT At
ANNUAL MEETING
Y. m. c. A. YEARLY GATHERING
FEATURED BY BANQUET At
WHICH 1850 ARE SEATED.
FOSTER RESIGN S
Leaves Presidency After Twenty-seven
Years at Head Of Association
J. K. Mahon Elected as
Successor,

One hundred and fifty persons, near
ly all of whom were members Of the
senior department of the Y. M. G. A.
gathered on the gymnasium floor
Tuesday evening for the annual ban.
Guet and election of officers. The gym
nasium was beautifully decorated with
pink streamers, and the fifteen tables
were adorned with candelabra and
bouquets. One table was occupied by
the speakers, and another by the
wives of the board and contributors.
The rest were filled with senior mem.
bers Of the association.
] The Triangle orchestra furnished
music while a two course supper was
served, the invocation being de-
/ livered by Rev. Malcolm Dana. After
the tables were cleared and the Y. M.
G. A. male chorus had given two high
ly appreciated selections, reports were
made by T. D. Foster, as president OF
the association, and J. Royce Brown.
general secretary. Mr.. Fosters re-
port was a verbal one, and gave a
summary of the years work. He spoke
especially of the work being well
balanced, and called attention to the
numerous changes and improvements
which had taken place, saying the in
crease in membership was due to the
progress made along these lines. Mr..
Foster was followed by Secretary
Brown, who went more into the activi-
ties Of the association.
Foster Resigns.
T. D. Foster who has served in the
capacity of president Of the local Y.
M. c. A. for twenty-seven years.
rendered his resignation from that
post at the close of Mr.. Parsons ad-
member of the association. Mr.. Foster
has been identified with the work
from it's infancy, and has given freely
of his time and means in its interest.
Under his presidency the institution
has grown and expanded from small
but faithful band of men meeting in
downtown hall to the present well
organized association, with it's splen-
didly equipped building and its healthy
membership.
Election Of Board.
The annual election of the board re-
suited in the reappointment of c. j.
Ekfelt. Dr. E. T. Edgerly, G. D. Evans
and Samuel Mahon; Chase Bannister
being elected to succeed William Nc
Nett, who requested that he be al
lowed to retire from the body. These
/ five men then elected John X. Mahon
to succeed Mr.. Foster as president OF
tie association; T. Henry Foster to
succeed F. w. Sharp as vice president,
and Chris Haw to succeed j. w.
Neasham as treasurer.
Printed reports of the condition OF
the association for the year ending
March 81 were distributed, together
with the Y. M G. A: prospectus,
small illustrated pamphlet describing
i the association and its various activi-
{; ties. The report shows that very
successful year has been passed. The
liabilities total S4,154.34, with assets
amounting to $675, thus reducing the
Indebtedness from over $4,000 at the
F; beginning of the year to $3,479.34 at
the close The attendance in the ply
steal department was larger for the
year ending March 81 than ever be-
fore in the history of the association.
The number reached in the regular and
special class attendance was 46.317
for the year, which is $4,000 more than
any previous record. The number
reached through extension work was
1913.
Edward B. DeGroot, president of the
Chicago Fairgrounds association, was
then introduced and gave an interest
| ing address on the Fairgrounds and
their relation to the Y. M. G. A. He
told how the playground was original
ed in Boston some twenty-five years
ago. for solution of the problem Of
recreation for children and adults who
could not afford the pastimes of the
more well-to-do.
Mr.. DeGroot stated that while the
Y. M. C. A. took the place of a play
| ground for boys and men, there was
still need of some place which would
furnish recreation for little children
too young to be members Of the asso-
citation and others who could not at
| ford the expense. "The Y. M. G. AS
have done wonderful work." he said,
"but there are thousands Of children
in our tenement districts to whom a
Y. NJ. C. A. membership is an impos-
sibility, and it is to these little waits
of the streets that the playground as
sociations throughout the country are
reaching forth helping hand
| M. w. Parsons, state secretary OF
the Y. M. G. A., followed Mr.. DeGroot's
address with an illustrated talk on
various phases of Y. M. c. A. work
| throughout the United States. About
thirty.fve pictures were thrown upon
the screen, showing scenes in many
; different associations and picturing
variety of activities. Mr.. Parsons
spoke very highly Of the local Y. M.
c. A.. saying that it had set a pace
which all the associations in the state
were trying hard to keep up with.
Your physical department" he said,
sis doing the best all around work of
any department in the state in city
of this size"
! An Efficiency Test.
1.-THE head Of our concern decided to
have everybody undergo an efficiency