Evening star., 1936-11-10
Y. M. C. A. Employment
Agency Asks No Fees

To the Editor Of The star:
In The Evening Star Of November 9
appeared = letter headed Protests Y.
NJ. G. A. Plan for Employment Agencies" !"
signed by William A. Brown. The writer
implied that through this employment
service. the local Y. M. C. A. was sailing
under false colors. He did not specific.
ally mention the Washington Y. M. C. A.,
but used as illustration the Y. M. G. A.
in such centers rs Kansas City, Mo-, and
other large cities" where he said . man
seeking employment would not even be
sent out for al interview for employment
unless he had paid q fee.
The Washington Young Mems Chris
tian Association does not, nor does It
intend to, charge fee of any sort for
the registration OF unemployed, for inter-
= viewA or placements with employers 1t
has been our policy, and will continue
to be- to serve all young men. regardless
OF membership, or On-memberShip, who
apply for service or aid through our
service and employment departments.
In 1885 the employment department had
1895 interviews with young men seeking
employment: 489 interviews were arr
ranged between applicants and employ
ers and 236 positions filled. For this
service no fees OF any kind were charged
or received.
The writer In his letter evidently re-
ferred to the Y. M. G.. A. program Of
vocational guidance and counseling serv-
Ice which has recently been developed
and in which the association has the
cooperation OF q host Of business men
and representatives of such organizations
as the public high schools, the District Of
Columbia Public Employment Service.
the National Youth Administration In
the District of Columbia. the Kiwanis
Club Guidance Committee and the Ro-
tary Club Boys Work Committee. Under
this system. which Is known as q
planned guidance for youth" weekly
lectures are given by experts in the
vocational and professional fields, coun-
selors are provided to help youth to
select the kind OF vocation or profession
they want to follow. Where youth has
already made q decision counselor Is
provided to discuss with him the kind of
education he needs to properly I'LL the
position. All of this and q complete out
line of the plan was covered in the news
article which appeared In The Evening
Star on Thursday. October 20. This
activity Is an extension OF the service
Of the employment department OF this
association and for this service no fees
Of any kind are charged.
The writer also points out that the
Y. NJ. c. A. should not pose as n char
liable organization. The Y. M. G. A.
has never posed as dispenser Of charity,
although during these depression years
hundreds Of young men have been given
free lodging in our dormitories for such
periods as were needed TO help them TO
make economic adjustments In many
instances, needed articles of clothing also
were furnished, which were secured from
members and residents Of our dormi-
tories. Free memberships also have been
given to numerous young men and boys.
The writer also questions our right to
claim credit as q character building Or
ganizatiOn. The Washington association
has been in existence for "a years. and
on this point the record speaks for itself.
During its entire existence this associa-
ton has not swerved from its stated OBJ
ject-the improvement of the spiritual,
mental, social and physical condition of
young men and boys. The emphasis
through all these activities is the build
ing of Christian character. The Y. M.
C.. A., through its various activities, pro-
vides opportunities that lead to higher
standards of living, serves as training
center for good citizenship. combats
juvenile delinquency and crime and in
stills those high ideals Of social respon-
sibility which enables men to fill places
of leadership in the community. To
participate in such program. SPAS men
and boys enter its portals every day and
find opportunity for wholesome activity
in one or more of 563 clubs and groups
In the association.
L. w. DEGAST.
General Secretary.