Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-12-31
ASSOCIATIONNOW
IN SECOND PLACE
IN ENTIRE STATE
\. n. L. A. Boys Department Has 55a
Members, Making 1t Larger
Than ANY Chicago Branch.
$4,000 MEALS ARE SERVED
Over l6S,000 Visit Building During
Year-From 5000 to 1000
Monthly Use Gym.
BY General Seereiary.l
l.. III, Martin,

The story Of the Rock Island Y N.
c. A. for the past year is story Of
great activity in all departments, and
is one that, in the very nature of
! things, cannot be told in few words
The first year in the new building
was In the nature Of a flying start,
and as a result it entered it's second
year with high hopes. The fine start
enabled the association 10 make even
a better record the second year. En-
thusiasm is usually abundant the first
/ year and something of minus guam
( tity the second year. However, Rock
( Island has, in a sense, proved an ex-
4 ception to this rule. The interest in
the work of the Y NJ. C. A. has grown
month by month, as evidenced by the
fact that its membership today is the
largest in its history.
Think OF over $4,000 visits to the
t building every month, or 10000 dur
/ ing single year; Of six to seven thou
sand using the physical department
privileges monthly; of five to seven
thousand boys using their department
every month, and of the food it re-
quires TO serve $4,000 meals.
! These are some of the big figures
that stand out. but they are only fig
ures. Consider for a moment the in
| fluence through the noon meetings i'll
the shops, which for the year will
probably reach ten to twelve thousand
men; of the hundreds of men and boys
taught in the various bible classes.
Here again figures are but cold rec
ords of facts. One needs to visit the
building to get into the swing Of the
fellowship and class work TO gain even
fair idea of the tremendous influence
being exerted by this association.
Without doubt, the most conspicuous
( phase Of the work is the splendid CO.
operation of the members themselves.
This was clearly demonstrated in the
recent membership campaign, when
Rock Island was able to carry her
membership to point beyond that Of
any association in the state outside Of
I Chicago. The credit for this is large
ly due to the noble and sacrificing
/ interest shown by the members. An
other reason for the success of the as
sociation is the generous and splendid
support given by the daily papers
/ Public Always Welcome.
Some cities have inaugurated Co
to-see-it" movement, and it would
seem to US TO be a very proper slogan
| for the citizens of Rock Island to
adopt with regard to the Y. NJ. G A.
| A large sum of money was spent in
building and equipping this association
and yet there are doubtless 8. great
many citizens who have never been in
( side the building TO all such the as
sociation extends a most cordial invi-
tation to visit the association at any
time. day or evening, and they will find
the secretaries ready TO show them
through the building. AS a matter OF
fact, the Y. NJ. c. A. building is one Of
the show places" of the city, and GER
tainly has many items Of interest not
W ne IpNEiu all " ilSI Z tl0C
The association desires to express
/ its sincere appreciation for the sup
port Of the ministers, the newspapers
and ali members and citizens who have
had part in this work. and to extend
most cordial invitation to any who
are not now enjoying its privileges to
join with them and share In the still
larger development of this most
worthy enterprise.
Physical Department
sDuring 1915 there were $50 different
men and boys who used the privileges
Of the physical department and 835
were enrolled in q regular gymnasium
class The number of class sessions
held in the gymnasium totaIed LIST
this year, as against 975 last year The
attendance at the regular classes last
year was $4,000, while this year it
went to $500 Nearly 10000 swims
were taken in the pool and the NUM-
Der Of baths taken reach $4,000 The
handball court proved most popular
place and was used by $500, with an
average daily attendance of nearly 90
Over 1000 people attended special
features promoted by the physical de-
partment, and $500 spectators watch
ed regular gymnasium classes; 5000
watched classes in the pool There
were II scheduled gymnasium classes
that met from one to five times each
week and % physical department com
mittee meetings were held with an at
tendance OF 262
A number of special features have
been promoted by the physical depart
ment during the year, among them be-
ing the annual New Years day gym
exhibition at which over 1000 people
attended In the last week OF January
the Health and Happiness campaign
was conducted. with DR.. Charles E
Barker Of Washington, o. c., in
charge He gave Is lectures which
were attended by 1000 people. Much
good was the result,
In March the second annual gymna-
SUM circus was held, with 215 men
and boys taking part. The house was
packed both nights and nearly 1000
people enjoyed it. In April grammar
school indoor athletic meet interested
65 outside boys. The Penta City vol
leyball tournament was played in the
Rock Island gym, the team from the
Rock Island business mems class win
ming the banner
Many Learned to Swim.