The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-22

Bessemer. May 2.-(Special.) )-The fol- lowing annual report has been submitted to the board of directors of the Young Mems Christian association by R. l. Coons, secretary: We are unable to give accUrate statistics of the number or. boys apd men reached through our asso- ciatioD last year as our work has been or such a varied nature that many of the ser<ices rendered are hard to include in tlIss report.
 Among some of the things accomplished during the year are: We ran our nlghp school until the unsettled conditions compelled us to close down. During the four months that the school ran we gave courses in auto-mechanics. bookkeeping, shorthand, typewriting. public speaklns' mechanical drawing, electrical engineer ing. algebra, and arithmetic. All of the instructors were college graduates Text books, tools and other material were fui- nished all ex-service men free. All of the courses were free to ex-service men. Besides. the men enrolled and boys in various courses, we also enrolled mum her of young ladies in the commercial courses.
 we have promoted 46 religious meet ngs with a total attendance of approx timately 5000 men and boys, Fourteen of these meetings were held on sunday afternoons at the Grand theatre. The
  Central Foundry and L. s. C. l. Pipe and Foundry company.
 We have organized three high school clubs that stand for clean speech, clean living, clean scholarship, and for con tagious Christian character. Two of tho clubs are for the boys, the other for girls. All of them led by men and women of the highest type All members of the three Hi-Y clubs are members of the evangelical churches except two.
 Tn addition to the above clubs we have organized a club for older boys who are out of school. The boys have named this club Kirota, club. and it is doing much for the working boys of our city.
 During last year we have built and equipped three splendid tennis courts. They are filled with tennis players both in the mornings and afternoons. We have financed the tennis courts without using any Young Mems Christian asso- ciat ton funds.
 we have organized nine Boy Scout troops during the last year We have secured a fine leadership for the troops, All of the troops organized are now ac- tive except one,
 We have promoted a summer camp for the boys of Bessemer and vicinity. All funds expended by the camp committee have been raised by the secretary and the COnlnllll66. The camp Has llol Coo- the Young Mems Christian association a single dollar Last summer we had at Camp Chippewa about 200 boys at a cost of s2.5o per week. Since March F we have had an average of about 50 boys at camp each weekend.
 We have organized and equipped a boys band. The Young Mems Christian association band fills a long-felt need in our city We now have membership of 22 boys and we have seven boys who will come into the band next month. Money to pay for few instruments and all of the uniforms has been raised by the boys and your secretary.
 we have organized fife, drum ana buge corps.
 We have co-operated with the homes, schools, and juvenile courts in every way possible.
 Many boys and youg men have been personal problem interviews.
 Your secretary has kept books, han iled all collections for our building funds and has mailed all notices as well as the receipts of the treasurer. This has con sumed one-half our time.
 You might be interested in knowing that we sold 5000 worth of dirt and clay from the excavations for our build- ng."