Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-12
NEW SECRETARY
HAS HIGH AIMS
FOR Y. M. c. A.
Wants Active Cooperation of
Every Director to Aid the
Institution

This is not going to be a one
man association" II shall expect
the cooperation of every member of
the board of directors, and the act
i've members of the association, as
wei as the ladies' auxiliary" With
sentences like those Robert b.
Reeves, the new general secretary of
the Y. NJ. c. A, last evening made
his report to the board of governors.
The questions for which Mr.
Reeves asks immediate action to
bring the Harrisburg Y. M. c. A. to
the standard maintained in other cit
les he places in order of Importance
as follows: Finance, building re-
pairs, introduction of new activities
and larger membership.
$4,000 For Repairs
When Mr.. Reeves assumed his du-
ties the financial condition of the
organization was serious. While
more money is needed to carry on
the work, a general campaign for
funds will not be started for some
time. 1t is, however, imperative that
funds be raised Immediately. Men,
ton is made in the report of the
recent campaigns for funds in the
city and it has not been definitely de-
cided just what form of activity the
canvass for funds will take.
Need Swimming Pool
Before the physical director can
bring the standard of the physical
department up to its proper level
many improvements will be neces-
sary about the building. New shower
baths should be installed, lockers re-
paired, the water system renovated,
bowling alleys repaired. The bowl
ing alleys have always proved to be
one of the greatest attractions and
unless they are kept in perfect re-
pair they soon lose their interest for
the young man who had formerly
been spending his time in poolrooms
and places of a worse character, the
report said.
The need of a new swimming pool
is mentioned but it is the intention to
defer that until present needs are
taken care of. 1t is estimated repairs
alone may cost $4,000.
Service and utility stand out in
red capital letters in the plans for
greater activities. The few activ;-
ties that draw young man has been
believed to be the cause of the steady
decrease in membership. The new
secretary is very anxious to have q
large membership of boys between
the ages of 10 and IS. To do this
separate rooms will be needed for
them. At present their only room is
a dark, ill-smelling place in the base
ment. Mr.. Reeves suggests that
much of the unused space about the
building be used as room for new
furniture and equipment necessary
to attract the young boys of the city.
Educational classes in other cities
30 hn n
branches of Y. NJ. C. A. work. Mr..
Reeves speaks of the splendid op-
portunities for educational work in
this city. Definite plans for the
classes he hopes to form in the fall
have not been made, but he hopes TO
bring Harrisburg work to the high
standard achieved in other cities
where he has been engaged as an
executive.
The need of attraction at the pres
ent time is very urgent, especially
in the form of light amusements. 1t
is suggested that a piano, a motion
picture machine and a photograph
be installed. Pool tables take many
Young men from their homes to a
place where they shoot pool and 1t
is only logical that pool tables prove
one of the most popular attractions
of Y. NJ. c. A.
To Cooperate With Ministers
Religious work will not be neglect
ed but 10 work in cooperation with
the ministers of the city will be one
Of the chief plans of the new sec
retary. 1t is hoped to arrange o.
series of big mems meetings for Sun
day afternoons in Fahnestock Hall
ut is my ambition to crowd this
building to the limit, and to so eX-
pand our work that we will be COM
pelled to enlarge our plant" is the
pIan under which Mr.. Reeves hopes
10 swell the present depleted men,
hership of 419 to at least three times
that number. A general drive for
new members may not be started un-
til later in the summer as the early
fall is the logical time for such n
campaign, but ultimately and with
as much speed as possible Mr..
Reeves hopes to make the associa-
tion one of the leading forces for
civic righteousness In the city.
Name Committees
Committees appointed last even
ing are as follows:
Physical Department = Al. X.
Thomas, chairman; Frank j. Roth
and George Carl.
Finance Committee-W. Grant
Rauch, chairman; George w. Reilly
and Al. K Thomas.
House Committee-W, P. Starkey,
chairman; ]. William Bowman and
Arthur Bailey.
Bows Work Committee-w. Grant
Rauch, chairman; William Paul and
George Carl.