The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-27
ENDS YEAR WITH RESERVE
Combellack Files Annual Report Of Boys Club
Regrets Depression Holds Up Work on Proposed New Baildng-An Departments Show Flourishing
 Growth Chase Again Heads Organization

| They are still in the field and are ! playing winning ball which bids to rival their last winning period.
 l Swimming and life saving classes were carried on throughout the summer. and many passed the nee essary tests for their life saving awards. The pool is open all year round. excepting for the periods of emptying and cleaning, and the weekly water tests at the city labo- ratory shows our pool to be in 'ex- cellent condition at all times.
 | Social
 This year we are giving added at tention to our social activities. Nat urally disappointed in not obtaining at this time what we had set our hearts upon-a new addition with large lobby and added room-we have had to remodel our building to obtain substitute for our other plans. We tore out several petitions between bedrooms adjacent to our lobby and office and combined these large rooms into one lounge room and lobby. We are very much pleased with the results of the workmen. They have done nobly and we feel that the lobby is very ntting substitute for what we de- sired in our new addition.
 l am hoping that in the future we will be able to obtain a room or assembly hall to show our movies. The only space large enough for this is our gymnasium, but to use this would mean to curtail activ- ities in this department. Of course. we have made room for this, but I will admit that it is real crowded. We are fortunate in not requiring an enclosed booth, as the pictures | D rn nf tHn fok, -non-inf1ammabl and recurring no booth. But we do hope for a better hall for this showing of movies has taken hold of our youth and we feel that with proper selec- tion and added educational features. they can be of great help to the boy. our library, game room, pool room, social and vocational clubs were never as active as they are at the present time. How the boy takes hold of club life when he can call himself a member of the Bull dogs, the Hawks, or any other group. They parade around their emblems with just pride and strive to live up to its teachings. We have | organized them with great care to insure their permanency and the greatest amount of good to the boy. To show the degree of initiative and self-reliance club gives to one. l would like to relate an incl. dent which occurred a while ago. Having been gathered together and told that to create and keep up in | terest one should have something to do at all times. and asked what they wished in connection with their clubs, they formed a committee to present their wishes. They sugges- ed several worth while ideas, but standing out was their desire for a summer camp. I have always felt that a camp had it's limitations, especially where one must rent the land. One cannot build for perma- nency, and it often left much to be desired. They suggested the poss- bilities of camp on land adjacent to my own home and owned by me They were so enthusiastic about using this land that even though they were made to realize the ef- fort and work in clearing the land, they have formed a committee to inspect and start as soon as possi- ble. I shall devote my full efforts to helping them in their wishes. and hope 1t meets with the approv- al of all. We do need greater program in the summer, and I feel that 1t can be met with a camp of this kind.
 The game room still occupies its place in the club. giving the boys untold enjoyment Games pur- chased and used are of very fine quality. giving to some of the boys privilege they would never be able to have in games purchased for their own homes.
 | Home
 | One can readily see that the fit- | ting out of building and the cOn- ducting of an institution requires q constant expenditure of money. It has always been a great pleasure to me to he able to say that we have lived within cur income and have been able to make the necessary changes. repairs or replacements without cramping LIS too much. Rut