Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1916-02-11
Y. M. C. A. BOARD MAKES PLANS FOR
 BlG IMPROVEMENTS
Building Committee Recon. mends Changes Secre-
 tary for Boys Work.

70
 When the regular monthly meeting of the board of directors of the Young Mems Christian association is held next Tuesday night, matters of more than ordinary importance are be discussed, and it Is confidently hoped and believed that the board will ar- thorize number of changes and im- provements in the building of the as sociation. which have been strongly recommended by the building com mittee, of which J. Harvey Means is chairman, and the officers of the as- sociation.
 It is planned to repaint and refur- bish the building throughout, the ex- terior to be given finish on the or der of that possessed by the Mer- chants & Planters bank building. A new stairway is proposed, that per sons may reach the gymnasium with out having to pass through the as- sembly hall. Two or three rooms are to be set aside and remodeled into parlors, according to the tentative plans. and the parlors are to be fur nished by the Woman's auxiliary of the association.
 All these plans have been prepared and will be submitted to the board at the meeting Thursday night. At the same time, the board will receive the regular reports of officers and the special reports, on the result of the recent very successful financial campaign for the association. Be- ~...Sr %l,o rroo% cuproco nf thn m. paign, the board is expected to order the settlement of the old debts against the association, and to authorize the changes and Improvements proposed in the building itself, AN.65 t5 3f Want Boys Secretary. ' eA
 Because of the great work at hand in the boys department of, the 'asso- ciat,on, and the very large number of boys in the city. members and non members, who will be benefited, the board is to be urged. also to authorize the employment of specially train- ed and experienced boys secretary. who will have absolute charge of, that work. e le
 Heretofore. General Secretary E. M. Goodwin has been personally in charge of the boys department, and has been assisted by the other officers. MT. Goodwin has many other duties, however, as have also the ether off1- cers, and the work in the boys de- partment has grown to such dimen- sions that it really requires the full time of one man, to receive proper attention and to accomplish the best results.
 It is proposed that If the boys sec retary is employed, he shall not con fine his work to the boys who are members of the association and who are frequenters of the boys depart ment, but shall also labor among the boys of the city who are non-mem. bers, to arouse their interest and to- organize them along lines which will be. of benefit to them, physically, morally and otherwise. It is expect ed many of these boys will be thus brought into the association, but even if such result should not materialize, the boys will be aided to become good citizens, and the entire community will be benefited.
 Much Enthusiasm Shown.
 4The boys department proved its popularity during the recent high wa ter. period. when there were several schools closed. The department was kept open virtually all day for more than a week. and the boys took ad vantage of the opportunity to play the games at hand, to read books in the library and otherwise to pass tho time away, without loafling around the streets.
 The greatest of enthusiasm and optimism prevails at the association building over the conditions existing at present and over the prospects. and the belief is held that 1916 will be record breaking year in all de- partmeats. for the local association.
 The Woman's auxiliary has all ready begun arrangements for a so- cial to be given at the association building the evening of Washington's birthday. Tuesday, Feb. g, An in- teresting and appropriate musical and literary program is being prepared. and there will be number of pleas ing surprises afforded those who at tend.