The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-03-09
VIM Is
The :" W

The question is asked many times
What is the "Y"? What does it
do? What do the secretaries do?
Is 1t q need OF the community? In
as few words as possible We will
attempt to answer these questions
by telling of some or the things the
association does. Its supreme OBJ
ject is to relate men to Jesus, Christ,
by teaching them through its var
ious activities the way OF life o. the
Master.
When we say ~" We naturally
think first OF the building. TO be
sure IL is much used During the
year fror; twelve TO fifteen different
organizations, not related in any
way to the w. have made use OF
it's club rooms. Add 10 these, the
Senior Hi Y Club, Junior Hi Club,
four Radio clubs, Junior and Midget
clubs, two Night School clubs, the
"Y" orchestra--each meeting once
a week. II Is a popular place for
committee meetings. The Sunday
School league basketball games are
all played on the gym floor, as well
as the Church To,ley- ball games,
one third OF the City league games
and numerous others with visiting
teams.
1t is hardly necessary to add that
one small building DOES NOT meet
the need Of both men and boys In
: ,uunity of this size. Many do
n .tllze the problem confronting
l.. al ~" in trying to carry on
pros. am Tor both boys and men in
a building hardly large enough to
care for one group properly. Every
available space Is being used for
lockers and there is a large waiting
list. The men need a Department
OF their own-and the boys are en-
titled to the same. Young men do
not frequent the building only for
their gym work because they have
nothing they can call their own. In
January 1922 the membership to-
tailed 433-January /, 1928, it had
reached 519 and this came without
a membership campaign. During
the year 1850 non members used
the showers and pool and an av-
erage Of two transient per week
were cared for in the dormitory.
ed to be a hotel OF an old mems
home II is intended to furnish a
clean comfortable, pleasant home
for young men away from home. A
place where they can find COM
partnership of the right kind. Every
fall from forty to sixty men apply
for rooms VINO have to be turned
away and to this number We can
add several who come each month
during the year.
The "Y" Kitchen and Association
hall are busy places. From two to
four suppers are served there each
week-Hi Y clubs, educational
clubs, directors meetings, etc.
The Effective Speaking club is
popular one this year with twelve
members, none to be classed as
light weights. Two men are in
business letters and reports class
men who are top notchers in bust
ness and still climbing.
The best known phase of "Y"
work is probably that of the physi-
cal department. More men are us
ing the gym this year than ever be-
fore-100 daily average. The hand
ball courts are in constant
use. During the month of Decem-
Der alone 1850 men used the gym,
exercise rooms and hand ball
courts in classes, tournaments, etc.
Preparations are on the way for the
big Circus" in March. Come and
see what is being done.
Four teams are contesting in the
volley ball tournament and the
semi finals in the hand ball tourn-
ament will soon be played. The
first and second teams are planning
on attending the Northwestern Vol
ley ball tournament in st. Paul in
May.
The City Basketball league sur
wives after meeting with many
bumps and the Loyola and st. Johns
teams are leading.
But the number of activities
carried on within the four walls Of
the building are but small part of
the work Of the "Y". Every part
of the City is now being reached
though the Extension work of the
Boys Department. Boys are being
given the opportunity for whole
some recreation. One hundred
boys, not members Of the "Y' are
taking part in Community Boys
clubs. The work means much to
them-they are determined to be-
come members. Where are we 60
ing to put them?
Practically all Of the boys clubs
WOiO Va 6ohiAO0 IliOo6u tuO oSuOOios
Special assemblies have been called
whenever necessary. Basketball,
kittenball. soccorball have been
conducted by the boys secretary,
500 boys have taken part. 165 boys
were in the grade school track meet
last spring. Club tests, asid5 from
emphasizing the physical, have to
do with school attendance, promo
ton, home reading, attitude, etc.
The teachers arc very appreciative.
These clubs make use of the "Y" to
complete their club tests with an
average Of 100 non members using
pool and shower each month. Dur
ing the summer free swims for city
boys totalled sixty per week for a
period OF twelve weeks.
Perhaps the group of most i'm
portance in club activities is the
Hi Y understanding for clean ath-
letics, clean speech, clean scholar
ship and clean living. It's members
number fifty-the outstanding lead
ers in the High school and they
largely determine the moral tone of
the entire school. Because Of the
splendid work of this club during
the past three years. your local
High school has a reputation all
over the state of having the clean
est and best bunch of athletes to be
lund. They look up to Mankato
for clean sportsmansnip. In De-
- Il n. n