The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-19
WILM q
RED FEATHER |[l II
BY ADAM W. SMITH
YMCA Director

its time and thought and energy
on it's own welfare and problems
Such an association would be
less than a YMCA. The purpose
and idea back of all YMCA plans
and efforts cannot be confined
to organizational walls or limit
ed by membership boundaries.
A local YMCA has no struc-
tural or official connection with
any other organization in the
community. 1t is an independ-
ent agency with its own chart
err, constitution, Board of Direct
ors and Trustees, its own mem
bership and can determine its
own policy.
From the day it was organic
ed YMCA has had a close and
intimate connection with the
churches of the community.
That early relationship did much
to establish the young organiza-
ton and from that day to this
there has been an intimate and
helpful relationship with the
churches.
Over the years from 1880 to
1947 the YMCA has joined hands
with civic groups and partici-
pated in community enterprises,
assisted with special projects
and given leadership and back
ing to the extension of program
to neighborhood and needy
groups.
Today the working arrange
ments, contacts and cooperative
efforts with community mstitu-
ton and groups are many and
varied. The YMCA continues to
be closely related to the church
es, and has ties with the Com
munity Chest, youth agencies,
Ministerial Association, recraa-
tional social welfare and educa-
tional groups.
There are areas where the
Young Mems Christian associa-
ton can cooperate heartily
where it can stand shoulder to
shoulder with those who have
like concerns and hopes. There
can be no aloofness when there
are common tasks to be faced
in the life of a city.
Charles, age Is, was referred
to the YMCA by a grammar
school principal, as a boy who
needed membership in a social
group. In his family he is starv-
ed of affection and is continu-
ously nagged and accused of
wrong acts. He comes from "a
large family. His parents are
neurotic and shiftless and har-
monious relations between moth
err and father is lacking. There
is no discipline in the home.
Since Charles was referred to
the YMCA and given a Worthy
Boys Membership, he has at
tended regularly three times a
week, participating in gymna-
SUM and swimming classes,
hikes and trips and lobby
games.
Charles home life was not
normal and was anything but
pleasant, and it was felt that
the great need in his life was
wholesome group experience out
side the family. He was there
fore introduced as a memner of
the Gray Club and subsequent
ly became its president by rea-
son of his keen initiative and
ambition, and his natural lead
ership ability among the boys of
his own age at school.
Finding the YMCA interested
in his future has frightened his
outlook on life, which his expert
ences at home had made
decidedly pessimistic. He feels
much more encouraged than be-
fore, and is making progress in
his adjustments outside the
home. His school work has i'm
proved and he has a brighter
outlook on the world.
The purpose of the YMCA
should never become a relic, a
keepsake something to be
brought out on special oc-
casions, but ever be the mott
waiting influence and force, a
base and a guide.