The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-01-24

peal for funds to offset decreased revenue due to reduction in membership fees.
 Frederick $. Chase was chosen president; Julius E. Smith, vice. .Dresldent; Robert II. Leach. treas- urer; William J., Larkin, Jr, sec- retary; Nicholas J. Combellack, managing director; directors. r. $. Chase, J. E. smith, W. j. Larkln, R. II. Leach, Truman $. Lewis, Dr sCombellack is entering upon his 43rd year as managing director or isuperintendent of the Boys Club.
 The varied activities of some 1,- 300 youngsters, members of the Or- ganization, are described in his an- .nual report, which reads as fol- lows:
 M ANNUAL REPORT-1032 N In presenting our 44th annual report covering the year 1032, we are forced to show substantial drop in finances. It is evidently needless to state the outside forces ihnt have contributed to make this lcduction in our financial status. Hut l am pleased 10 mention that
  fJ3oys' Club, have always been Able to show balance In our fav- or at the end of the year. And with Gontinued support from our friends l expect to continue as before In Keeping our books on the right side of the ledger,
 " It follows as q natural event that standards must be maintained in periods of small returns to the same extent and oven more than when returns are high. This must be done to insure ones place in this competitive world--to obtain onc's share of business ono must exert additional energy In holding their place in tho new. And this means but one thing--a proportion- ntely increased expenditure 10 ob- tain tho same or lower receipts and only in volume can one hold their old line of profits. This has been truo in the Boys Club aJ In other lines and to continue to hold our pntronaRe in the departments which give us our returns we have been forced to cut rates and at the same time eXpend more to attract tho trade.
 But am pleased to stnte that no eurtailmcnt waS made in the cn- orgy devoted 10 the welfare of tho boys md that our mem berBhip hnS held up to It's former place and we forecnst e higher membership than ever before. This iB largely due to q reduction in rates to our smaller boys prompted by the knowledge thnt many find it hard to even pro. euro the small 25 cents needed t0 make them full members of the club. Reductions have been made 5n other departments. Pool played in senior game room has been ro- ducod by half, but we find that tables are now going continuously because of tho small charge. Pool played In junior game room has no charge attached to it. but we are hard put to lt to find time to acc commodate all.
 We stressed last year tho need for BtrlcteM economy and thrift, but have found that conditions this year have in no way changed. We have found it necessary to carry rOomers and boardors along with tho hope that they will in tho fu- lure Do able to reimburse ns. We have carried and are carrying others from whom we can expect no definite return in tho future bc- cause of the length of time thnt they have been unemployed.
 n our dining room and bed rooms have always been conducted on the American plan --, requiring our guests to take both board and room. This was changed 10 allow Us 10 rent our idle rooms. With Factories working but two and three days week and boys wages As low as $500 at times, our guests have found it nccesscry to Subsist on less meal per week. This has in- creased the demands for rooms bnly and with tho number Of rooms given over 10 unemployed, VIC have managed to keep most of our dor jnltory rooms occupied. This has .hlso shown q decreased income From the dining room. To offset this we have reduced our help in the dining room and kitchen from six employees to four. This loaveS two in each department, but they work together to keep up the efil- ciency of these departments.
 We have found it necessary to double the duties of others thus Eliminating help necessary in form pr yeprs. Instead of hiring young hnan for the game room. we are using q very able boy who has been doing tho upstairs Janitor work hnd we are using unemployed boys sn other departments helping out ps they can. In all fairness to the conduct and income from our din- 3ng room. let me call attention to | thc fact that most of our employees Arc employed on q wage plus board | DnsIs. Tn other words our kitchen | And dining room help, janItors, ehainbcrmnldH. and store clerk arc | Ali given meals which are not | charged against tho dining room, Therefore to compare the cost of funnInC the dining room ngainst | lli..a ifinanaa IA ffnfnlr owing fo fhia |