The Spokane woman. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1921-1935, 1927-02-24
BY Pauline Suing Bloom.

she was small girl, is the way the friends of
Jessie Neill Burger comment her election as
president of the Board of Directors For she is the
second generation of Nes to "carry on" her
mother Mrs r. X. Neill, and her aunt, Mrs j. H.
Neil have been "Y" workers since the days that
the institution began struggle for existence and
they have had large share in the building of
fine and permanent institution as Spokane now
enjoys.
Having been brought up at the ~" though it
means being parked in swimming classes while
mother attended board meetings, is quite won
derful thing for assuming presidency of
the institution for not only does Mrs Burger bring
a womans knowledge of administrative problems
to her office, but she understands so thoroughly
the attitude of girls in their relation to the "Y"
that the keynote of her administration Is mot
working for girls but with girls" l do not look at
the "Y" a service institution. Its scope is much
bigger" she said.
Mrs Burger is just finishing her second term as
president of the American Association of Univer-
sity Women, and she recently elected vice
president of the state branch of the A. A. u. w.
which is to work with the Northwest regional di-
rector in the national program of making strong
branches stronger and weak branches strong
There are 10 branches in the state of Washington
and the Spokane branch is of the strong
branches Fear was expressed last year when the
dues were raised from $150 to So, but matter
of fact there paid members this year
than there last for this time of the year.
Today the A. A. u w. has 245 paid members and
more enthusiastic group than ever in the past.
While the A. A. U. W. rest camp at Twin Lakes
is the center of activities of the local group the
members are working with the national body in the
interest of the establishment of feowships in col
leges that girls with talent may continue their
work unhampered. Today there Rockefeller
feowships in colleges going to waste because
there are no women with sufficient graduate work
to qualify for them, Mrs. Burger said.
During Mrs. Burgers presidency too, the local
branch has paid large share of its quota toward
the purchase price of the national club house of
University Women in Washington, d. c.
Everyone in Spokane is familiar with the ad-
vantages given working mothers and their chill
dren at the summer rest camp. For the last two
years the cottages have been filled to capacity
throughout the season with women who perhaps
never before have known the luxury of sitting down
to meal without having to give thought to its
preparation and more than that, struggle for the
wherewithal to buy the food that their children
might eat
In financing the camp Mrs. Burger has had good
training for the larger job handed her with the
presidency of the "Y" Board. She announced that
her reign would be "debtpayng" one even before
she formally installed in office. The budget
for the work of the "Y" is more than $4,000. All
the $4,000 which the Community Chest pro-
vides must be raised by the organization. At the
present time the hotel is selfsupportng, Mrs. Bur-
ger states, but the cafeteria, the plunge and the
employment bureau and other features not, and
the work of the "Y is limited in scope for lack of
funds.
Some wonderful work has been done by the
employment secretary, Mrs. Burger believes. Dur
ing the last year she has interviewed more than
1000 girls and 300 have been placed in suitable,
permanent positions. The secretary maintains a
follow up service that girls are never left in
places where they msfits.
Mrs Burger hopes that large sum will be raised
this year through membership drive which will
be conducted with Mrs. George H. Goble chair
Mrs. Goble and her committee of workers
will seek educated membership meaning that