Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-31
CLOSING YEAR HAS BEEN ONE OF
SERVICE RENDERED BY Y. M. G. A.,
BOTH BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
BY o. J. STIRRATT.
General Secretary.

Inc past IL months IN The ROCK
Island Young Mems Christian ASSOC
citation have been months of SER
vice. not only to those who have
made up the associations member
ship. but also to that much larger
group OF men and boys outside who
do not hold memberships in the or
ganization.
All departments, Jan. /. 1919,
we're manned with strong secre-
taries in charge. and the year open
ed with a full program OF assoeia-
ton activities in all phases of the
work. These activities continued
throughout the year with a greater
or less degree OF interest and in
tensity.
Many changes have taken place
In the secretarial force these past
IL months VI. A. Clevett, who for
the last eight years has served the
association as its physical director.
resigned Aug. l to accept a similar
position with the association at
Butte. Mont Sidney Gordon. as
sistant physical director. was then
placed In charge of the physical de-
partment and held that position un-
al Willie n. Wood. former physi-
cal director at Moline. accepted the
position as Mr.. Clevett's successor,
taking up his duties Nov. /.
Lundgren Resigns.
Harold r. Lundgren resigned
from the boys secretaryship Oct.
| I to enter the law school at Yale,
and was replaced by Sidney Cor
/ don Nov. /. W. X. Allan resigned
Sept. as membership secretary
and this vacancy was filled Nov.
by a. ID. Hermann, who Is acting as
membership and activities secre-
tary for the association at the
present time.
The associations cafeteria, which
for a number of months during
| i9tS-1919 was operated under Jap
anese management on a commission
basis. was taken over by the asso-
citation JCE- / with Mrs. Frances
KOlls as the active director. The
cafeteria has remained exceedingly
popular throughout the entire yeaE.
and did much towards creating and
maintaining homelike atmosphere
about the building, furnishing ac-
commodations, not only to the men
who live in the associations dormi-
tory, but to the public generally
who have found it extremely con-
veuient to take their meals there.
Considerable new equipment was
added in the cafeteria during the
year which has helped materially in
handling the patronage, which has
daily eaten at this popular eating
place.
Take % Subscriptions
Right OF way" week last Febru-
airy was observed for association
men. the official magazine of the
association. when % subscriptions
were secured. This effort was fol
lowed up the latter part of April
by more concentrated effort when
Lieutenant Wayland c. Brooks was
with the association for two days
Sixty additional subscriptions were
q. secured at this time.
The physical department of ths
association has remained strong
throughout the year. The hot days
= OF last summer were made more
endurable for hundreds of men and
boys of the city by the use of tht
bathing facilities afforded by thu
} association. Interest in class anC
| gym work continued exceptionally
= strong the past year and more
3 classes and athletic leagues are II
process or in process of organiza
/. tion than in any previous year.
! The association proved itself 4;
l real social center through the pas
r IL months. The various rooms o
4 the building such as the lobby, as
!. sembfy room and banquet room
: were thrown open . various com
= mittees and organizations for thei
= use whenever needed
r Help Other Boys.
v Much extension work was accom-
|. plished for the boys Of the city out
: side of the membership. by givini
II 10 them at stated times the freedom
Of the gym. swimming pool an
1 shower baths. Last June a 10 days
s swimming program was conducte
e in the interests OF boys and meT
j. regardless of membership. teachin
e all those who wished to learn hoy
E to swim. thus enabling them {
,