The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-12-09


of last evening, the open meeting
of the Y. w. G.. A. drew great many
interested friends of the association,
who found much of inspiration and
interest in the splendid reports which
We're made of the years work.
The president of the Y. w. C. A.,
Mrs. ]. B. Mcneil, presided, ano seat
ed with her on the platform were the
board members and trustees of the
association. The Rev. A. S. Moffett
gave a short scriptual reading and
opened the meeting with prayer, after
which reports were made by the Off
GERS of the association, who are, Mrs.
Mcneil, president; Miss Isabel Ingra-
ham, general secretary; Mrs. H. S.
Merwin, recording secretary; Mrs. j.
F. Dusenbury, treasurer; Mrs. G. D..
Boyer, chairman house committee;
Mrs. c. w. Lamar, rest room; Mrs.
John G. Pace, religious; Mrs. ]. H.
Collins, membership.
The reports of the officers follow:
RECORDING SECRETARY'S RE-
PORI.
In order to better understand the
position of the board of managers at
the beginning of 1916 it is necessary
to go back a few months.
From September to November, of
1915, the expenses were increasing to
such an extent that it seemed nee
essary to plan some way whereby
they could be reduced. In November
at the suggestion of some outside
friends, the board voted to secure a
woman to take charge of the boarding
home, paying all overhead expenses,
the association to guarantee four
dollars per week per person. AS you
know, the young women pay forty
per cent of their salaries. Those
whose salaries did not call for that
sum the amount lacking was made up
by the board. As very few did, the
sum was quite large one in a
month. After two months trial, this
arrangement was found to be unsat-
isfactory and the board resumed
charge.
Next, a committee was appointed
to look up suitable boarding places
in order that the young women might
be well cared for. This plan did not
succeed and the first of January,
1916, found the treasury and finan-
cial ommittee in sore straits. 1t
seemed as though the boarding home
must be closed, but what could the
eight young women whom we had
promised to aid do in the middle Of
winter.
During January and February, so
many, both Of full board and commit
tee, meetings were held that the hus-
bands of some of the members were
heard to say that if they missed their
wives at any time all they had to do
was to call up the association num-
Der to get into communication with
them.
Three times the board met expect
ing to vote to close, but each time
some unavoidable obstacle prevented
And, at last, we came to realize that
a higher power was supervising and
plainly showing that there was a
work to be done for the young women
of Pensacola, as we'll as for our young
men.
On February II, it was voted to
keep open three months, or until the
first of June. When that time came
more of the good people of Pensa-
cola had come to the aid of those
weary and sorely perplexed women,
SO there was no thought of closing.
From that time till the present,
there has been steady growth along
all lines. During the year twelve
regular and seven special meetings
have been held. 1t would be impos-
sible to recount the many committee
meetings.
Our hearts were saddened by the
loss of Mrs. E. A. Kelly, very eff
cient member, who died in January.
The results of the years work will
be given in detail by the chalrnen of
the various committees.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY S. MERWIN,