The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-04-09
COUNTY WORK OF
THE Y. Nj. c. A..

In view of the fact that the organ
lied county Y. NJ G. A. is taking
such definite form in Marion county
the committee believes that the read
efs of this paper would be interested
in few figures concerning this kind
OF Y. Nj. c. A. work in the country.
The state office in Jacksonville re-
ports some interesting facts. gathered
from reports of 73 of the organized
counties, which is only about half of
the number in operation in the coun-
try.
One great feature of the county
work are the committees and it is
found in these counties that 1922
were serving on committees last year.
There were 81 employed officers In
the 73 counties, 2120 volunteer lead
ers, 6475 boy members and 298S men
members; 3613 persons attended
county conventions, 4247 boys con-
ferences, SAL boys made decisions for
the Christian life, 1852 attended sum-
mer camps and III made decisions
for Christian life in these camps; 325
communities held athletic meets with
1865 persons participating; 1875 COM
munities held play festivals with 1898
persons participating; 1852 persons
took physical training both indoors,
and out of doors, and educational
features of the county Y. M. c. A.
work consisting of educational trips
where 1900 participated. agricultural
contests where 300 participated,
numerous lectures, practical talks,
educational clubs and discussion
groups, ETC., were held.
The religious phase of the county
Y. M. G.. A is also very interesting
and the year book report indicates
that special religious county Sundays
were held in 161 communities with
over $4,000 attending; PIT communi-
ties held leaders training conferences
with 2808 participating. Bible classes
for men and boys were held with total
attendance of 1892. Religious meet
ings for men and for boys were held
with total attendance of 29,242. De-
cisions for the Christian life number
ed 1884.
1t will thus be seen that in this re-
port of only about so per cent of the
organized counties for last year that
a great variety of activities were car
lried on. A study of things that are
being done throughout the country
reveals the fact that all of the work
proceeds along three directions. First
there are those activities centering
around the local self-governing
groups in each community, section of
the town or location In the country.
These groups are made up of a small
number of boys of like purposes and
aims, fathered by the adult leader
who, under the direction and help of
the county secretary promotes pro-
grams along physical, educational,
religious and service lines. The plan
IS that this group shall meet at elast
one night per week and take up some
Of these features.
The second line of activities carried
out by boys is that on the community
wide plan under the direction of the
local town association which includes
such things as social gatherings,
father and son banquets. educational
trips, community wide athletic meets
and numerous other things that
might be undertaken in a given COM
r1unity.
The third line of activity promoted
by the County Young Mems Chris
tan Association has to do with the
county wide agencies and includes
such things as county older boys con-
ferences, athletic meets which bring
in representatives from all sections,
dramatic leagues, rural church con-
ferences, county camps for boys. base
ball leagues for boys and young men,
health campaigns and numerous other
things which might be undertaken.
So broad and varied are the activi-
ties and is the field of the county Y.
NJ. c. A. that it is almost impossible
To describe the same in brief article.
The committee in this county has
studied the thing sufficiently to be
thoroughly convinced that there is
more constructive work to be done
for the men and boys than will hardly
| be possible for one man to engineer,
| yet it feels that the work must be be-