New Britain herald., 1919-01-14

other fnlprovenl3ntSt 10 HGdonln date the large number of new mem berss anticipated.
 The report follows:
 A month ago you accepted our idea Of giving a free mem mbership in the Y. M. c. A. until October first, to the men returning from tho service, and we inaugurated plan far reaching in it's effect upon the service men in their attitude toward the Y. M. c. A. New Britain was the first city to do this, but that it is a good plan was evidenced when, two weeks after we had put 1t into practice, tho National War Work Council of the Y. M. c. A. urged all associations in the country to give free mem berships to men re- turning from the service. However, the councils plan is less generous than ours, as 1t only calls for three months membership.
 That this war service membership met with general favor both in itself and also because Of the spirit that prompted this action, is borne out hy the testimony of the men who arc taking adyai tage Cf 1t. One or the first places visited after the welcome in the homo is tho "Y'' and your sec retaries are very happy to be able to meet tho nen and welcome them home, giving them membership card as 9 practical and tangible oN1- dence of the friendship Of the Y. NJ. C. A for them. We ore determined that no matter what shortcomings may have been found with the Y M. c. \. overseas work, no criticism shall arise from the way the New Britain "Y'' treats the returning soldier and sailor. Not only are the men wei comed to the "" but they are elso assisted in every practical way to get adjusted again into civilian life. The problem of what kind of work they will get into is discussed with them, and some have been helped to secure positions As the factories and other business Col'cerns are taking back their own men, this has not been round a difficult problem.
 The Red Cross has appointed me to look after the men returned after treatm ont for shell shock, and I shall use the facilities of the '. M. C. A. to help these cases.
 Soldiers and Sailors Club.
 A Soldiers and Sailors club will be formed at a meeting to be held here Wedn esday evening. Over one hun dred and fifty men have been invited to attend. It is proposed to organize for the purpose of welcoming the re- turning men and get them into 4' activities, put on a series Of SOclal affairs, help the men get adjusted into civilian life and good jObs to actively participate in any future public wei coming celebrations for overseas men, put on a patriotic meeting with high army or navy officer for a speaker and to help care for the returned crippled soldiers.
 More Locker Room Needed.
 But the plan of giving every re- turned soldier and sailor a member ship has made acute a situation which was becoming critical when we en- tered the wa and our young men left the city. Our membership has been steadily growing, not only in numbers, but in the number of men who use the physical department privileges, and we now find ourselves unable to pro- vide enough lockers for the men and boys. Our locker capacity would have been taxed without the extra m en who are coming in through the war service mbership. And with their coming we are practically without locker ac- commodations. To take care of these men and our regular membership, we should imm ediately' provide lock- CTS for several hundred more men and boys A committee from the board is ready to report tonight on a plan that has been carefully considered which will solve this problem when put into operation. Another improve ment that should be made a S soon as possible is more shower bath fa cilities. At the present time these baths are not adequate in number to take care of the men and boys using them, and with an increased mem bership, they will be way overcrowded, The addi- ton of a dormitory, which we have planned just before the war, should be taken up in the near future, as the time is ripe for making the Y. M. c. A. building modern in every respect, which it cannot be until 1t provides dorrnitory rooms for the young men away from home, who are working in our industries.
 Industrial Work.
 More and more the Y. NJ. C. A, Is becoming the community center of the city. The young men and women of the city are finding clean, whole some social enjoyment here as never before. Through MT. Skaters efforts a very successful factory league in basketball Is being conducted, which not only fills our gym nas1um to capa- city with men and women every Satur- day night, but also furnishes them splendid sociaI time dancing after the games. The rivalry in the gafles is