The Irish standard., 1915-07-24
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u fields, and such other information tina
I8 OF society and to promote industrial T
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
THE BUSINESS GIRLS co.oPERA-
TIVE CLUB.
By Susan P. Wendall. -
The Example of Grand Rapids, Mich.
Our name signifies what we area
cooperative club; we help to educate,
develop and broaden the individual.
We were organized for the purpose of
securing good positions in reputable
places for the young women starting
out in the business world to make
good.
Our object are to promote and safe
guard the interests of these young
women by providing safe medium
through which they may secure good
positions, or procure better positions
for those members already employed
who may wish to advance themselves,
and cultivate spirit of cooperation
and helpfulness among the members.
We were organized three years ago
by Rev. FIR. McNulty, a Jesuit Priest
OF Chicago, who came to Grand Rapids
to give a mission, and upon the COM
pletion of the mission he called the
young women of the different parishes
in the city together at special meet
ing and told of a similar club he had
just organized in Chicago, pointing
out the benefits which each and every
girl might derive through such an
organization and urged us to organize.
This we did, starting out with 200
members; we now have over 600 of
the best business girls in Grand Rap
ids. and we hope to have 1000 by next
year.
Any Catholic working girl, irrespec.
tive of the work she may do, is eligible
to membership, and upon the payment
OF SO cents (our annual dues), she is
enrolled as a member. If she desires
a position, she fills out an application
on one of our blanks, files it with the
business manager, leaves her tele-
phone number where she may be
reached and a position is secured for
her at once, or as soon as there is
one available. The business manag-
er's position is a very important one
and very responsible one, in fact,
1t is the pivot upon which the organ
ization swings.
The Management.
She must have the name and record
Of all the reputable offices, stores and
other places of employment in the
city, with whom she is in direct COM
munication, also, the applications of
all members desiring positions. When
ever any of these men require a clerk,
stenographer, secretary, or other help
they call Miss Business Manager and
state their wants. She Immediately
gets in communication with the girl
who wishes position, advises her to
call on this employer (if she desires
a letter of introduction she is given
one), and to report whether or not
she secures the position. Ninety-nine
cases out of hundred she secures
the position, for we send out only
competent help. We make no charge
for this service either to the employer
or employee. We keep list of offices
which are undesirable, and blacklist
those people, when they call up by
phone, our manager advises she hasn't
any young wOmen-they are all busy
Should any of our girls unfortunately
get into an Office of this kind through
some inadvertence, they are advised
to leave Immediately, which they do
reporting 1t to the business manager
In addition to securing good positions
for the girls, our business manager
advises them and gives good counsel
telling them, If necessary, the duties
they owe their employer, how they
should conduct themselves and othel
good advice which many of the young
er girls are in need of.
Men and women who have daugh
tiers. sisters and other relatives going
out into the business world to make
their way alone, who perhaps not only
have to work for themselves, but fol
widowed mother an invaded father
or younger sisters and brothers who
must be provided for and educated
will fully appreciate how important l,
is that these girls secure good posi-
lions in the right kind Of offices. What
a satisfaction to know that these girls
are backed by an organization thai
secures only such positions.
We issue membership card upo1
payment of dues and this card Is {
passport into similar organization
when our members visit or 60 to Nvs
in other cities where we are organ
lied.
Continued Growth.
The first year Of our organization
we were able to supply the demands
which were made upon US for help
and had to go outside Of our ranks
for young women; we helped many
who were non-C Catholics to secure pc
sitions and thus created q kindly feel
inc am0np monv ~ thew