The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-02-22

Last evening the directors Of the
club met in their annual meeting
and heard the reading Of the 51st
annual report covering the activities
Of the past year. It marked the
fourth annual report Of Superin-
tendent William j. johnson, who
succeeded the late Nicholas Com
oellack in 1886.
The report not only reviewed the
work in character building, but
pointed out the interest manifested
in various activities. A financial
statement was also issued showing
a decline in ordinary revenue, but
an increase in the balance on
hand" for the commencement of
the new year.
Mr.. Chase Elected
Frederick S. Chase was reelected
president. Due to his confinement
in the Waterbury hospital with in
juries suffered In, q recent auto ac-
cident, Mr.. Chase was obliged to
send his greetings by proxy. Others
chosen were: Mark L. Sperry, Jr.
vice-president; Robert II. Leach
treasurer; j. Gregory Lynch, secre-
tary; william j. Larkin, E. Rowland
Chase and Earnest A. Anderson
members Of the board Of directors.
superintendent review of the
year follows:
Annual Rep0rt-19S9
In presenting an annual report Of
character or citizenship building
agencies, 1t is impossible to measure
or record the best achievement Of
these agencies-that Of the leader
ship and direction afforded those
members considered underprivileged
or from homes that do not sense the
need Of social-mindedness amongst
the people of a community. It does
not offer a very accurate yardstick
to determine the value achieved.
The number of members enrolled,
the activities conducted, the assist
ance from educated leaders, the
money spent only suggests the
means of guiding the boys into the
practice of good-citizenship. Only
from the facts Of studies made in
communities where an agency en-
tered to develop programs for the
idle has 1t been definitely shown
the great value Of supervised leisure
time activity. After functioning sue
cessfully for many years, this same
agency is accepted as part Of the
neighborhood equipment and rarely
Is 1t given true measurement OF
its value inasmuch as 1t offers moth
ing purely tangible. But, the need Of
these social, recreational and edu-
cational organizations can be noted
from the programs developed gov
ernmentally whether city, state or
national in promoting leisure time
activities.
Future Citizens
It has been truly said that a boy
Is the person who is to carry on
what you have started. He Is to sit
where you are sitting, and attend
to things which you think so i'm
portant, when you are gone. You
may adopt all the policies you
please, but how they will be carried
out depends upon him. He will take
over seats in Congress, assume con-
troll of cities, states and empires,
He will take your place in churches,
schools, universities, corporations
councils and prisons. ALI your work
will be judged and praised and con-
demned by him. The future and
destiny Of humanity are in his
hands, so 1t might be well to pay
him a little attention now.
. Statements such as this have
come from some Of the most influ-
entail mel in the country. It is
the reason why most Boys Clubs
are headed and controlled by a
city,s most prominent men. They
have recognized the value Of char
acter- building agency in a commu-
nifty and have devoted great deal
Of their time and effort to see that
It carried on its work successfully
Just what has the Boys Club to
offer a gro7ing boy In the commu-
nifty? We must first recognize that
it Is leisure-time agency and does
not conflict with the school, but
supplements its work by providing
supervised recreation after school
hours. We find that a boys life is
wrapped up chiefly in play, an out
let for his Astounding energy often
pent up during school hours. This
play can be had in the street or
alley under harmful supervision or
inside under proper supervision. A
gymnasium is the modern indoor
playground and II supervised by a
trained leader provides the boy with
his natural outlet Of energy In a
pleasant, desirable way. The fact
that this gymnasium Is q voluntary