Charlevoix county herald., 1915-09-18
Review the
Years Work
County Y. M. c. A. Has En-.
jOyed a Healthy Growth.

| Committee of the Charlevoix County
Young Mems Christian Associations
met and after lengthy consideration
of matters pertaining to the work came
to the conclusion that it would be
necessary for them to discontinue the
active work which they had been con-
Quoting during the previous two years.
A short time elapsed following this
when another meeting was called and
the members decided as they were only
acting for the men and women Of the
country who had been contributing to
the maintenance of the work it would
be well to present the matter to them
for their consideration and il they ad-
vised it then the work which had ac-
complished such satisfactory results up
to that time would be continued.
The answer which the committee re-
ceived was very encouraging for the
people who were interviewed not only
expressed real interest in the work
which the Association was doing
amongst the boys in the towns and In
the country but also made their pledges
to assist the Committee in financing
the work. Four hundred and twenty
three individuals contributed three
thousand and thirty dollars making the
average gift about seven dollars.
Having practically completed the years
work for which these gifts were made
the committee is desirous of reporting
its accomplishments to all friends of
the work throughout the county. 1t is
not record of successive victories nor
is it an account of continuous defeat. It
is the record OF steady normal growth
that the Committee has desired.
Following the work of securing the
necessary financial support for the
work of the Committee which lasted
well into October the matter of Group
Organizations was taken up for this is
considered, though there is nothing
spectacular about it, the fundamental
work of the Rural Y M. c. A. How
ever, before groups of boys can be
organized the necessary leadership
must be secured and this furnishes the
largest problem for county secretary.
No community in any county boasts an
over abundance of older boys and men
who are both willing and qualified to
assume responsibilities OF this sort.
During the fall eleven groups were
organized with membership of two
hundred and eight. During the year
three hundred meetings were held
with total attendance of four thous-
and two hundred and an average at
tendance of one hundred and fifty-four
The programs for these meetings were
prepared by the county secretary in
conference with the group leaders and
| provided for Bible study, educational
talks, non-equipment games and social
activities. All leaders made it a practice
to begin and close meetings promptly
in an effort to educate the members
away from the common American
practice of going late to meeting and
thus making it necessary to continue
the meeting beyond the hour set for
closing.
Very few, if any, of the delegates at
tending the annual Older Boys Con-
ference at Ann Arbor during the
Thanksgiving recess had to travel as
far as those coming from Charlevoix
county. Considering the expense in
volved, though 1t was nothing when
compared with the good derived,
eighteen delegates was more than a
satisfactory number to attend from this
county This was the largest confer
ence of its kind ever held in North
America and was conducted by the
State Y. M. C. A. Committee to further
interest Michigan boys in all phases Of
constructive living. Acting on resolu-
tons made during this gathering
several of the Charlevoix county dele
CATION Joined the church upon their re-
turn home. This year the conference
will be held at Kalamazoo.
In February, as result Of previous
arrangements made by the county COM
mittee, Charles M. Carson, Factory
Manager for the Cadillac Motor Car Co.
came to the county to tell in his straight
forward, business like way what the
business world thinks about the use oi
cigarettes. Mr.. Carson spoke before
the boys and girls Of all the high gram
mar schools of the county. At the
time of this campaign every high school
! fellow was presented with copy OF
Henry Ford's booklet, "The Case
Against the Little White SLAYER"
. No one event touching the boy life oi
!, the county has been Of any greater I'm.
: portance than the second annual Coun
'ty Boys Conference. Thirteen differ.