The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-08-15

Association and volunteer leader | of a games class) are all deserv- ing of special mention. They did excellent work and lost no time.
 Service Clubs
 The Quota Club found itself un- able to contribute any money this l year, but are in hopes that they | may again help to carry on the South End.
 The Reciprocity CSlub members have never failed in their interest and support, since 1928.
 The Coronas Club members pay for the four junior leaders who have helped Mrs Skahan handle her large classes at the south end.
 The Lions Club, whose major activity was the support of the work of the Girls Club contributed $50 at Christmas and special thanks is due them because for 1s34-19S5 their money will run the Brooklyn Community Center.
 Every Christmas since 1925 has found member of the Elks Club at our door with a generous check to be used to buy candy, and ice cream for our children's Christmas party.
 Those of us who are responsible for the leadership of recreationall organizations and who have been studying social and economic trends have come to realize that large attendance figures and long explanations of how much good we think We are doing are not ade- quate reasons for the continuance of any organization. The truth is, that while any social welfare or- ganization should reach as many boys and girls, men and women as it is possible to so do, the time has arrived when we must give depend able and we'll founded reasons for every item on our program. Patent medicine is no substitute for the we'll considered prescription of al physician who has studied his pa tient and knows what will benefit him the most. Catch all pro- grams" are as useless in recrea- tion as are patent remedies in the field of health.
 With this in mind the program of the Girls Club has consistently tried to offer classes that are not only attractive to girls and women, but in addition they must be prac- tical enough to make the prospec- tive homemaker more competent in this highly specialized and most important job. In planning the program for other years and for next year l have the same objectives in mind: l. The need in our community. 2. The extent to which our classes will influence the girls now and later on in their homes. Par alleling this Is the ever growing influence for good that these girls will exercise in our city. believe that our program should tend, not alone towards the we'll being of our girls, but always toward the public | welfare. For example = homes made gayer and more beautiful I means attempts to beautify the un- attractive spots in the community | and thus the circle ever widens.
 3. AS much fun as we can | crowd into the hours here. I be- lieve in this since the greater num- Der of us are confronted "by the solemn enterprise of going to work to get the money to get the food to get the strength to go to work to get the money to get the food" 4. To continue to merit the sym pathetic understanding and cooper ation of public officers, social agen- cies, the school department and the press.
 How effective this has been in the past Is manifested in large and ever growing membership.
 My opinions are set down. here because in the last analysis the re- O fNn 0t h ffVr tIo <~& the Girls Club Is mine - yet to my staff members and to them alone goes all the credit for what be- lieve to be a years work we'll done. know of no other group who give more unselfishly of time and skill than they do. We have no quar. | rels nor dissension and life at Leavenworth House is very peace. full and pleasant. We are grateful to the board for our pleasant sur- roundings and for the thoughtful ness which makes 1t a home and not a supervised institution. In conclusion believe the Girls Club to be the finest kind of in. surance against the so easily ac- quired habit of resting all the time | and leaving the work for others. We do our best to emphasize sim cerity, honesty, courage, hard work and simplicity. If we are truthful, we must tell our girls that honesty, goodness and happiness are not ready-made and that nothing is ] worth having unless it Is worth i working for. After all, adult edu- cation has its place and is import ant, but in this connection am reminded of what my grandfather said once - even the weariest river finds its way to the sea. Our greatest duty 1t has always seemed to me Is to help and to train children.
 Respectfully submitted,
 l Kathleen Crowley,