The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-25
35OMembers OfLocal Boys Club
NoU Serving With Armed Forces
Wartime Program in Eff
feet; F. S. Chase Reflect
ed at 56th Annual Meet

ed president of the Boys Club Of
Waterbury at the annual meeting
of the directors last evening. A re-
sumo of activities highlighted the
wartime session of one of Water
bury's most popular institutions.
Incidentally it was the Seth annual
meeting of the organization.
During the past year the Boys
Club, an affiliate of the Commun-
ity Chest, took part in many pro-
grams designed to prepare young
men for service with the Armed
forces. 1t also cooperated with the
Connecticut State Guard.
The report of Superintendent
William M. johnson also indicated
that despite scores of young men
responding to the colors the clubs
membership reached 1888 during
the past year. The clubs honor roll
now includes nearly $50 names.
Other officers. and the directors,
also reelected are: Vice-p president,
Mark L. Sperry, Jr., treasurer, Ro-
bert H. Leach; secretary, Ernest
! a. A11ucl sui, dLlO Z. 1GOWld11u
Chase, Edward B. Tracy and Fran
els Mcdonald. Attorney Edward T.
Carmody was named as incorpora-
tor to succeed his father the late
! Terrence F. Carmody.
VIM. NJ. johnson was reappoint-
ed superintendent.
Annual Report-1943
In submitting this tifty-f1fth an
nual report of the Boys Club of
Waterbury, we record many changes
in the general aspect of our usual
life. This past year we have been
subjected to rationing program
regarding foods, we have found
equipment and repairs more diff
cult to obtain and replace, we miss
many of the young men who have
been members for years, We have
had many changes in personnel
all the result Of present day condi-
tons caused by the war. But we
still maintain our basic function
of providing an institution wherein
a boy may spend his leisure hours
under supervised and trained lead
erShip. Although our problems have
multiplied due to the many chang
es, our basic program still functions
| strong and each cog in our organi-
cation is fully aware of his part to-
ward building our youth to a fuller
and better manhood.
| Although we have lost many of
our members to the armed forces,
our enrolment during the past
year numbered 1888 members.
Losses were chiefly in the older
group. Our Honor Roll has about
$50 names of members inscribed
upon it and is growing larger with
each newly indicted group leaving
the city. We keep in touch with
these boys through our club news
paper, the ECHO, resulting In testi-
monials of loyalty to the club that
they called their own during most
of their school life. One says it
brings that ole breath of home
Thanks million" Another says,
Your paper shows me where other
boys in the service are located"
Their expressions have created a
greater value in the paper and have
! given the editors a real urge to
satisfy their longings for news of
home. Yesterday they were our
! BOYS-today, our men in the serv-
tce-our future in their hands.
We are ever increasingly aware
Of the basic requirements to the
successful operations of a group
the value of competent leadership
in the forefront and the develop
ment of a program to hold the
interested. With these in mind, our
physical department, which is the
local point of activity in the club,
has sponsored a program to serve
all ages and to cover all periods
Of the day. Although the groups
are smaller in attendance due to
| factors such as even young boys
finding work to do for which they
are paid, the time and effort to-
ward the development of those in
attendance has not decreased but
more effort is made in carrying out
our program. These daily programs
have definite play interest for the
boys enjoyment. They are enrolled
in teams and point system for
competitive interest Is used. Ac-
tivity covers basketball, indoor base
ball, football, track, volley ball,
soccer, indoor hockey and impro-
vised competitive games.
The loss of the older boys to the
armed forces has necessitated a
realignment of the time devoted to
our individual groups. Formerly the
evenings were devoted exclusively
to the working boy and high school
boy, except for game rooms and
class rooms. We are now giving
evening time to the older grammar
school boys. During the past year
an eight team basketball Victory
League for Intermediates and Sen
iors completed full winter schedule
of one evening a week; the Liberty
League composed of the younger
Intermediates and older Juniors of
proven ability made up of four
teams carried on another evening;
the Pioneer League OF Juniors or
boys not as proficient on the gym
was active on another day. Movies
were a weekly offering on Wednes-
day evenings and a Varsity Night
wherein our Junior and Senior Var
sity teams played to our member
ship and outside spectators leaving
one night per week for our senior
groups. Even this evening was shar-
ed with older Intermediates and
group clubs using the facilities for
games Of their own.
Special programs conducted at
various periods of the year include
a Pre-service Training program for
high school boys near induction age
covering elementary gymnastics and
tumbling. calisthenics, military
swimming tests, Commando obstacle
courses and marching and military
drills supervised by officers of the
Connected State Guard.
Also, Victory Volunteer program
Of strength and health tests.
| Participation In the New England