New Britain herald., 1926-04-14
FAYORS NEW BUILDING
 FOR Y. W. ACTIVITIES
General Secretary Makes Recommendations to
 Directors Board

Recommending broadening the
 cndcavora of the association, Miss
 Jean Wardropc, general secretary
 of the !. W, c. A., made com
 Drahcnsivc report of activities for
 the year ending iu March, 1926, to
 the board Of directors today. Sho
 favored the construction of 8 new
 home which vii. provide better
 dormtory anu social facilities 10 all
 low the association to take the place
 in the life of New Britain woman-
 hood, which, she believes, it de-
 Serves.
 Miss Wardrope's report was as
 follows:
 "I shall try 10 give you this morn
 ing q brief survey of the work in all departments.
 Tn making our annual report to he national board last month, tAa following figures We're CC tHYi'U,}r;
 X total registration irs clubs of 3t4 which includes Business Girls, Girl
 INt'Ntl NSo eAll|L Iil|l hONl lk4 N'ih i''
 These clubs are not only for recrca- tion but stimulate fellowship among the girls, emphasized occa- @ioNally by attendance at confer cnCcS. Thirty-one girls and sec ret9 Yies attended such conferences.
 'ln classes our records show the astonishing registration of 670. in cluding health classes, swimming. dressmakiug, hanucrafts, current events, Bible classes and other groups more or less informal,
 "A careful analysis Of member ship was made, showing that our 39I active members come from all groups in the city, among them teachers, stenOgraphers, bookkcep- CTS and general office workers, in- dustrial girls, dressmakers, fore women, nurses, doctors, lawyers dental hygienists, church workers. librarians and, of course, large number of women in the homes. Recently local newspaper pub 'iShcd Iigurcs indicating over 500 women in professional services in the city, over 1000 in clerical work, over 5000 in the industrial oCcupa- tions and over zoo in domestic and personal service. It is from these groups that our membership ought to come and until we succeed in lining up q very much larger pro. portion of the girls actively engaged tu the city's business I do not feel that the '. w. C. A. can be the force it should be in the lives of these girls,
 At the same time it should be borne in mind that we no longer require membership for the privi- leges of the Y. w. Membership is now based on a real desire on the part of the joiner to enter the association ranks and participate in the actual life and work of the asso- and this naturally means membership. The proposed personal basis Of membership which is to be presented for a second vote at our convention in Milwaukee next week will, if adopted hy the local association, make still more definite and personal the appeal of mem bership, because it permits assocta- tions 10 establish inc following declaration as test for active 'T desire 10 enter the Christian fellowship of the associa- ton. will Loyalty endeavor to up- hold the purpose in p1y own life and through my membership in the asso- This opens active mcm- hcrshir to all girls, regardless Of church affiliations or church mem- bcrship.
 Our housing facilities are in- adequate, both for the accommo- dalton of those who come to the main building for classes, clubs etc, and for those who want liv- ing quarters. We provided rooms for 222 girls and women last year. Al present our dormitory houses 37 girls, less than last year since more and more the demand Is for single rooms and not double rooms. II is no longer quite fitting that the Y. W. c. A. should re- strict its housing 10 the underpaid 1 girl who needs protection. While l we must take care of her, we also [ have an obligation 10 the many | girls and women who have chosen 'arcers in the business and profes- l sional world and who are quite 1 able and willing 70 pay for com i 'orta5le quarters At present our l
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