The Devils Lake world., 1921-05-11

" UN / H. ~
News From The
Community Work r..
From the County Work Department
first came the plan BY which Associa-
tion work could be done in rural COM
munities without the necessity o1
erecting, building. Personally, Meth
Cd and organization were the BIG
factors. In 1909 an application Of this
principle along with an adaptation of
the method, was made in community
Of $4,000 population.
For . number Of years previous
to this experiment it had been = fixed
policy Of the International Commit
tee, and, 50 far rs can be ascertain
ed; of the State and Provincial in any
city where sufficient funds could not
be secured to erect a suitable build
ing. The experiment, though some
what at variance with this policy, was
inaugurated by the State Committee
in a Southwestern city. This city,
which had been without any form of
Association organization or work; was
thought not to be ready for a build
ing campaign for a few years, but
there was a demand on the part Of
some Of the best citizens for an As
sociation program, particularly in be-
half of the boys Of the community.
A provisional committee, composed
of leading business men, with repre-
sentation on the State Committee, was
effected. A secretary experienced in
Boys Work was secured, funds to COW
er the budget were raised, and As
sociation work without q building or
rooms except the Secretary's office
was begun.
The Secretary and volunteer work
ers associated with him found q wide
open door or opportunity for work
with boys in cooperation with the
Home, the Church, the School, and
other agencies. of the community. At
its inception the experiment was called
"Non-equipment Work" because Of the
absence of any Association building.
Later it was known as "Institution
Work." Probably the reason for this
was that the Secretary promoted the
program of the Association largely
through other institutions. Later the
term Community Boys Work" came
into usage. In more recent years the
word "Boys" has been omitted and
the term Community Young Mems
Christian Association Work" adopted
and generally accepted.
The experiment developed a plan
of Association work, fruitful in results,
on an expenditure of money which
most cities of 5000 population and
over find it possible to provide. The
success Of the work brought forth
further demonstrations and adapta-
tions Of the plan. It was soon recog-
nized that the principle on which Com
munity Work was being built was
scientifically sound, for it took cogniz-
ance Of the fundamental agencies in
the community and endeavored actual
ly to supplement and not to compete
with them. Consequently, the Associ-
alton existed in the community large
ly as a correlating and cooperating
force, assisting in increasing and ex-
tending the efficiency Of the Home,
the Church, the School, and the Muni-
cipality. Its program because of ita
religious emphasis, along with it's SOC.
ial expression, met with a ready res
ponse on the part Of the clergymen
and laymen.
Originally Community Association
Work was thought Of as being prim.
arily suited to small unorganized
cities, but time demonstrated that il
was also applicable to the larger
cities, and likely to have = great dev.
elopment there. In 1913 Chicago es.
tablished the first department Of Com.
munity. Work in district Of large
city and later organized three others
The demonstrations in Chicago ha,
been duplicated in other cities thru.
out the country.
10 serve the entire city adequately
including those sections not beine
reached through a building program
many boards Of directors are nov
thinking in terms Of branches am
departments on the Community basis
in addition to branches with build
ings. There also seems to be tend
ency in some cities where Communit.
Work is being promoted, to erect al
Association Community building. Thi
is due to lack Of adequate availabl
equipment to conduct such activitie
as will permit the community to Civ
expression to it's better self.
The recognition that Communit
Work has received during the pas
few years does not Of necessity sue
gest that there should be less en-
phasis on the work of the Young Men
Christian Association in building
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