Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-15
Y. NJ. c. A. Opportunities

Shall Alexandria have a fully
equipped and adequately housed Y. NJ
C.. A.? That is the question which
will be discussed at the conference
h;"h the executive committee of the
"Y" has called for this Thursday
evening at 8 o'clock at the Chamber
of Commerce, and upon which every
citizen Of Alexandria who is interest
ed in the city's development and i'm
provement, and who has the welfare
of its men and youth at heart should
come and express himself.
Less than two years ago the Alex
andria Y. NJ. c. a. was organized
and since that time has been in
augurating work along distinctly
community lines. While up to this
time many real needs of the commun-
ity have been met and genuine serv-
ice rendered, particularly to the boys
Of the city, the board of directors has
confidently looked forward to the day
when Alexandria might have fully
equipped Y. NJ. c. A. building with
a much needed gymnasium, swimming
pool and other recreational facilities.
Would it not be 4 matter of pride if
we might see in prominent location
in our town q building reared for the
purpose of serving the men and boys
of the city, which might give notice
to those who pass this way that Alex
andria is no longer behind other cities
of its size in this respect and which
might stand as monument of this
generations interest in the welfare of
the men and boys who are to stand
at the head of the city's affairs in the
future. AS some one has so aptly said
if the men of today do their duty
by the boys of today, it goes without
saying that those same boys will
carry on the work for the next gen.
Grafton.
Many prominent AleXandrians who
have the city's welfare deeply at
heart will be present at this meeting
and have been asked to speak. Every
man, young and old, who is interested
in the Y. NJ. c. A. as it now exists
or as it might be developed in the
community, is urged to attend this
meeting. No one will be asked to con-
tribute or to pledge a contribution
at this time, but each one present
will be asked to do three things,-to
listen to brief statement of what
the Y. NJ. c. A. has accomplished
since its organization, to hear dis
cussion of what might be accomplish
ed in the years to come, and to give
others the benefit of their own opin-
ion on the subject.
Every day fresh testimony Of the
value of the "T" work in Alexandria
is being heard One Of the visiting
nurses Of the city said recently: "If
only people realized more Just what
all this work is meaning N the homes
which | am constantly visiting. It
is showing more and more all the
time. The fathers and mothers are
talking about it and the boys and
girls are enthusiastic over the new
opportunities which have come into
their lives. 1t certainly IS beginning
to tell Every one should back this
work for it is without doubt the most
worth while that has ever been at
tempted in Alexandria"
Mrs. Olive Jones Whitmer, who
until recently was working in Alex
andria under the InterGepartmental
Bureau Of Social Hygiene and who.
it is safe to say, knows the moral
conditions of our young people better
than anv one else, said in speaking
of the "Y' work: This is the kind
of work which should be pushed and
encouraged in a community. 1t is far
better to support organizations which
do such valuable preventive work and
which keep our boys and girls from
going wrong than to get them right
again after they have gone wrong.
DO everything possible to keep it 60
ing"
Members of the Chamber of Com
mcrcc. city council, school board
and all others to whom the affairs
of the city's management are en-
trusted should feel it duty to at
'end this conference and give full,
free and frank expression to their
opinions of the value of the Y. NJ. C.
\. in this community and it's future
usefulness in the community.
II.