/rf t^ \> Si3*^o^w«^ MAY 20 19in o COMMUNITY WORK OF THE YOUNG MEN^S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (REVISED EDITION) / FRANK H. T. RITCHIE Community Secretary International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations With an Introduction by ERNEST R. GROVES Professor of Sociology New Hampshire State College 124 East 28th Street, New York 1917 Copyright, 1917, by The International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations CONTENTS PAeir Preface v Introduction vii I. History 1 II. The Field 6 III. The Objectives 11 IV. The Underlying Principles 1£ V. Types of Community Association Work 16 VI. Leadership Needed 20 VII. Preliminary Steps in Organizing a Community Young Men's Christian Association 83 VIII. Organization Visualized 28 IX. Suggestive Program of Committee Service. ... 33 X. The Need of a Balanced Program 50 XI. Suggestions for a Board of Directors 53 XII. Visitation Centers 60 XIII. Approved and Adopted Resolutions 64 XIV. Kindred Organizations 70 XV. Bibliography 83 Appendix — Constitution and By-Laws 93 PREFACE Our rapidly changing and complex civilization has resulted in a multiplicity of organizations. Any pro- gressive rehgious movement which is striving to meet the needs of boys and young men, and to be a constant and growing factor in the extension of the Kingdom, finds it necessary from time to time to re-define its objectives clearly and to re-state its policy. The rapid development of Young Men's Christian Association work, along with the experience that has come as a result of the various experimentations in the United States and Canada, has made necessary the publishing of this second edition of the Hand-Book on Community Association Work. The material contained in the following pages is the result of many conferences and nine years of study and observation of the underlying principles and methods of organization of the Community Young Men's Chris- tian Association work. INTRODUCTION This is a significant book. It reveals one of the largest opportunities for service that has been given the Young Men's Christian Association. This organ- ization, that undertakes so many lines of efficient Christian service, defines in the following pages its program for community work, a form of activity which promises a contribution of very great social value. Surely no kind of effort contains more social promise than this which puts emphasis upon community cooperation and the conservation of community re- sources. The movement of the social sciences is toward the larger recognition of the importance of the com- munity life for the individual. We do not live our lives apart from others. This fact is the basis in our day of all serious, sane social thinking. From every point where science attempts to interpret human experience, we are obtaining knowledge that discloses more definitely and more impressively the relation between individual career and community conditions. It is in childhood especially that we find the pre- dominance of community influence, and childhood is the destiny determining period of life. It is indeed a happy fact that an organization so successful in technique as the Young Men's Christian Association keeps close to modern thought and modern needs, and is therefore well prepared to assume such a constructive and fundamental program of service as community work demands, for the reader of this book vii viii INTRODUCTION will not fail to realize the skill and social penetration that community leadership requires. The task of such leadership is difficult and exacting, as is to be expected in a ministration where the opportunities for service are so tremendous. As the author clearly states, the success of the community program depends upon a wise use of community resources. No attempt is made to usurp social functions that belong to existing insti- tutions such as the home, the school, or the church. The emphasis is upon social correlation and coopera- tion, and who doubts that this is the hopeful way toward happier social conditions? The community program idea looks forward. It has greater contact with the future than the past. The community leader has taken a strategic stand out on the frontier of social service. He belongs to the new era in Christian effort which is now so rapidly replacing the period that from personal experience we have all known so well, when individual welfare dis- connected from community needs appeared as the objective. It is now treason against modern knowledge to fail to realize that "to give ideals and spiritual impulse to individuals is good; to do this and also to help direct and spiritualize social forces is better." In this splendid sentiment the author reveals his conviction which permeates the work and insures for it a very great usefulness. Ernest R. Groves. July, 1917 HISTORY From the County Work Department first came the plan by which Association work could be done in rural communities without the necessity of erecting a build- ing. Personality, method, and organization were the big factors. In 1909 an application of this principle, along with an adaptation of the methods, was made in a community of 12,000 population. For a number of years previous to this experiment it had been a fixed policy of the International Committee, and, so far as can be ascertained, of the State and Pro- vincial Committees, to discourage the organization of Associations in any city where sufficient funds could not be secured to erect a suitable building. The experi- ment, though somewhat at variance with this policy, was inaugurated by the State Committee in a South* western city. This city, which had been without any form of Association organization or work, was thought not to be ready for a building campaign for a few years, but there was a demand on the part of some of the best citizens for an Association program, particularly in be- half of the boys of the community. A provisional committee, composed of leading busi- ness men, with representation on the State Committee, was effected A Secretary experienced in Boys' Work was secured, funds to cover the budget were raised, and Association work without a building or rooms, except the Secretary's office, was begun. J 2 HISTORY The Secretary and volunteer workers associated with him found a wide-open door of opportunity for work with boys in cooperation with the Home, the Church, the School, and other agencies of the community. At its inception the experiment was called * 'Non-equip- ment Work," because of the absence of any Association building. Later it was known as "Institution Work.'* Probably the reason for this was that the Secretary promoted the program of the Association largely through other institutions. Later the term "Com- munity Boys' Work" came into usage. In more recent years the word "Boys" has been omitted and the term "Community Young Men's Christian Association Work" adopted and generally accepted. The experiment developed a plan of Association work, fruitful in results, on an expenditure of money which most cities of 5,000 population and over find it possible to provide. The success of the work brought forth further demonstrations and adaptations of the plan. It was soon recognized that the principle on which Community Work was being built was scientifi- cally sound, for it took cognizance of the fundamental agencies in the community and endeavored actually to supplement and not to compete with them. Conse- quently, the Association existed in the community largely as a correlating and cooperating force, assisting in increasing and extending the efficiency of the Home, the Church, the School, and the Municipality. Its program, because of its religious emphasis, along with its social expression, met with a ready response on the part of clergymen and laymen. Originally Conamunity Association Work was thought HISTORY 3 of as being primarily suited to small unorganized cities, but time demonstrated that it was also applicable to the larger cities, and likely to have a great develop- ment there. In 1913 Chicago established the first department for Community Work in a district of a large city, and later organized three others. The demonstration in Chicago has been duplicated in other large cities throughout the country. To serve the entire city adequately, including those sections not being reached through a building program, many boards of directors are now thinking in terms of branches and departments on the Community basis, in -addition to branches with buildings. There also seems to be a tendency in some cities where Community Work is being promoted, to erect an Association Community building. This is due to a lack of adequate available equipment to conduct such activities as will permit the community to give expression to its better self. The building is owned by the Young Men's Christian Association. (See Chapter V, "Types of Community Work," fourth type.) The recognition that Community Work has received during the past few years does not of necessity suggest that there should be less emphasis on the work of the Young Men's Christian Association in buildings. Ex- perience is demonstrating that each type of work has its definite place in a well-rounded Association pro- gram. Associations with buildings are increasingly in- cluding Community Work in their city- wide program; on the other hand, it is not uncommon for Associations on the Community Work basis to erect, in connection with their program, standard city buildings and, in 4 HISTORY some instances, Community buildings; while in other centers the indications are, on account of local con- ditions, that the Association without a building of its own may indefinitely prosecute a vigorous Community Work. These more recent developments of Associa- tion work are another indication of the tendency of the Association to occupy its field fully, and of the vitality and flexibility of the whole movement. II THE FIELD The accompanying table is an analytical study of the unoccupied field in the United States, which is a constant challenge to the Young Men's Christian As- sociation. The map on page 8 visualizes the six hundred and fifty-nine unorganized communities of five thousand population and over. On other pages Community Work in a large city field is made graphic by showing in solid black the districts organized in Chicago, Denver, and Newark, and in lighter shading the organizable districts. These maps illustrate the policy of these cities and indicate how adequately a city may be served through supple- menting the building work by organizing Community Associations in designated sections. These are a few of the cities that have established branch Associations on the Community basis, and have adopted a long term Community policy. Some of these organizations may culminate in buildings, while others will remain on the Community basis. Who can estimate the tremendous impact for Chris- tian manhood that will be made on the life of the nation, when these fields are fully occupied by the Association operating either with buildings or on the Community basis, and each supplementing the other! The time has arrived when the Church and the Young Men's Christian Association must not be con- tent with carrying on a defensive warfare against or- 5 6 THE FIELD ganized sin, or even with holding their own. If Christ is all that we claim He is, we should sustain an aggres- sive campaign, which shall make for permanent progress in the direction of a realization of the coming of the Kingdom of God in society as well as in the hearts and lives of boys and men. 1 2 a O I Centers Building y basis 1 "S "8 So O c4 Ef §" oo> *s •a a. .903 "o a t3 6 ed CO 6 a If d, . d (22 §■ -2 g i=> e« C _> HO 5,000- 6,000 220 187 33 1,185,445 1,021,184 164,261 6,000- 7,000 135 110 25 872,439 709,171 163,268 7,000- 8,000 99 65 34 735,759 483,858 251,901 8,000- 9,000 96 67 29 812,484 570,427 242,057 9,000- 10,000 79 49 30 745,193 463,771 281,422 10,000- 11,000 56 31 25 585,217 322,609 262,608 11,000- 12,000 53 29 24 607,655 334,262 273,393 12,000- 13,000 40 22 18 503,656 276,725 226,931 13,000- 14,000 31 17 14 417,555 228,482 189,073 14,000- 15,000 34 17 17 494,446 246,683 247,763 15,000- 20,000 95 28 67 1,639,451 484,244 1,155,207 20,000- 25,000 55 14 41 1,253,719 316,718 937,001 25,000- 50,000 121 20 101 4,109,835 604,972 3,504,863 50,000- 75,000 38 2 36 2,321,035 122,405 2,198,630 75,000-100,000 22 1 21 1,916,060 82,331 1,833,729 Over 100,000 50 50 20,311,651 20,311,651 Total 1124 659 565 38,511,600 6,267,842 32,243,758 Note: Although 565 centers are organized, many of those fields are by no means fully occupied. In addition to overtaking the unorganized centers, we must in many of our large cities supplement the work in buildings with from one to twenty Com- munity Organizations, in order to occupy the field adequately and to meet the needs. To do this, it is estimated that about one thousand Community Secretaries will be needed. Chart Showing Number of Places of 5,000 Population and over Without a Young Men's Christian Association ^m fooCte° Percentage of places without an Association 5 to 6 85% 6 to 7 82% 7 to 8 66% 8 to 9 70% 9 to 10 62% 10 to 11 55% 11 to 12 55% 12 to 13 55% 13 to 14 55% 14 to 15 50% 15 to 20 30% 20 to 25 25% 25 to 50 17% 50 to 75 5% 75 to 100 5% over 100 Percentage of number of places without a Young Men's Christian Association. Percentage of number of places with a Young Men's Christian Association. ■«-> (»i 3 O -d ^ ■«-> ^-> '^ '$ CO CO C a> .2 4^ bb CO *o .9 t3 4) 00 CO < 2 'd 'a CO 'd .2 4; ^ d '■5 ■t-> d a a .5 ^ CO 4^ >> u CO < > CO d 03 a 4-> d id .s *d to u •M OJ CO c3 "3 d a fl .2 -d > ^ CO CO o3 ,4 *M < CO .2 .2i CO (1) '3 a *E QQ K^ 43 0) >> *d a 'd d a 4> .2 a 0) bo d d 1 >> •4-> -d 4J ^ ^ .9 *3 H >^ H ■1 PRESENT COMMUNIPf BRANCH 1X1 COLORED BRANCH ^PROPOSED BRANCH Map op Denver Showing sections covered and to be covered Ill OBJECTIVES The objectives of Community Young Men's Chris- tian Association Work are dealt with at some length in Chapter IV, on "Underlying Principles" and Chapter X on "The Need of a Balanced Program." Briefly, these objectives are: First. To bring individual boys and men to a per- sonal knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Saviour, to lead them to dedicate their lives to Him, and to train them as His disciples in active service for others. Second. To relate the Association program to the churches of the community and to enlist boys and men in active church membership. Third. To stimulate in the community a program of activities for the welfare and uplifting of boy life in all that stands for the highest manhood. Fourth. To include in this program such practical steps toward eliminating causes of evil as may be in harmony with our objectives, and not to be content merely with alleviating the results of evil. Fifth. To cooperate with other agencies working to Christianize community life. Sixth. To supplement and strengthen the Home, the Church, the School, and the Municipality in their relations to the social, recreational, educational, moral, and spiritual life of the community. 11 IV UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES The adolescent boy is not an isolated individual, but an inseparable part of the family and society. You cannot in any large way help or harm one without helping or harming the other. The causes which operate to produce unfavorable conditions surrounding human life and its development are many. Environ- ment, parenthood, and childhood are all factors con- tributing to the boy's physical, intellectual, and spirit- ual life. When you approach the boy and girl problem you touch the center from which radiate the threads that are woven into the very woof and warp of the social fabric. Therefore, it is good strategy for the Young Men's Christian Association to consider all the elements that make or mar both the boy himself and the family and society of which he is a part. The danger is that we shall think only in terms of a program of activities, forgetting that many of the tendencies and characteristics which we wish were not the boy's, are traceable to these early factors of environ- ment and parenthood. Consequently, to concentrate on activities to the neglect of a program which deals with causes of deficient character is to fail to take advantage of the available forces which may be sources of power and to harness them to a character-building program. The tendency of the Association in the past has been largely to take the boy at the adolescent period and provide a place where he might go for inspiration, 12 UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 13 training, and wholesome recreation. When we con- template Community Association Work, we are brought face to face with the tremendous factor of environment in character building, and, without relaxing our efforts in dealing directly with the adolescent boy and his activities, we are discovering that we have become vitally concerned over the kind of parents he has, what are his home, his church, and his school, his play life, his mental and physical endowment, and the prepara- tion he is now receiving for the critical stages that are ahead of him. The Community Young Men's Christian Association recognizes that the boy problem is fundamentally in- volved in the social, economic, and religious problems of the age, and any program which attempts to lay 14 UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES siege to the citadel of boyhood must take cognizance of these factors and reckon with them. To give ideals and spiritual impetus to individuals is good; to do this, and also to help direct and spiritualize social forces, is better. We want, if possible, to improve our chances of helping the boy actively, when he is at the susceptible period of life. Community Association Work, in other words, is teaching us to look upon the life of the community as a whole. It asks us to become intelligent concerning conditions surrounding child life and the laws govern- ing its development. We are obliged to become stu- dents of the social and religious problems of our time. The touchstone of them all is the life of the child. Almost, if not every question involved, grows out of the necessity of protecting his birth and de- velopment. After all is said and done, the Home, the Church, the School, and the Municipality are the agencies which eventually must meet the needs of the boy life of any community, if they are to be met in a permanent, constructive, and comprehensive way. The recognition of this fact on the part of these agencies is rapidly growing, and is strikingly illustrated in the tendency of the times to make wider use of the school buildings and public parks and vacant lots for play purposes. It does not need a prophet to predict that the day is near when these things will be actualized in an increasing number of communities. For the Young Men's Christian Association per- manently to take over the tasks which properly fall within the province of these institutions, because they Groups in an Unsocialized Community Common Ground Unused tionlli Political Partyl Political Part^] Nobody boosts our Community This chart presents the situation in a community where there is no united community action. Each institution works for itself and the general field is quite unoccupied. (Chart furnished by Richard Henry Edwards.) Groups in a Socialized Community Common Ground Developed Church X Church n Social Club Lodgel WomenV] kGroup Trade Assocla^ tion] Political Party I Political Party II, Everybody boosts our Community This chart presents a community whose institutions are united in a great community program. Each institution brings its par- ticular contribution to the general good and a wide field of joint activity results. (Chart furnished by Richard Henry Edwards.) UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES 15 are not rendering the needed service, is to postpone the day when they will be effective. Substitution, either of responsibility or activity, weakens the insti- tutions which ought to do the work. It is far better to strengthen these organizations, to inspire them to as- sume their tasks, and to help them to meet the situation. It is well for us to remember that historically we have homes and schools because of children. The child brought these institutions into being. They exist for him. We are enthroning children today, not only in the name of what they are, but in the name of what, by right treatment, they may become and may cause the race to become. The method used is to establish a local Young Men's Christian Association on the Community basis. The Secretary has a conveniently located office as head- quarters. He bends much of his effort in cooperating with the organizations working for the betterment of the community and the uplifting of character, reducing to the minimum duplication and overlapping, and hastening the day when the Home, the Church, the School, and the Municipality will render their maxi- mum service to the community. This calls for leader- ship which must anticipate the future of the com- munity and organize and stimulate forces which will mold the city physically as well as morally for the sake of the boy. The Community Young Men's Chris- tian Association aims to be primarily a correlating and unifying dynamic religious force, with a social welfare purpose, vitalizing, socializing, and spiritualizing the forces and agencies at work in the interests of boys and young men. TYPES OF COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION WORK With the many forms of Young Men's Christian Association work for men and boys now being con- ducted outside of Association buildings, it seems de- sirable that at the outset we avoid confusion and dififerentiate between Extension Work and Community Work. Community Work is a form of Association work suited to a field where, for local reasons, a standard city building is not at the present time feasible or desirable. It is very largely a work with and through the existing helpful agencies in the community, such as the Home, the Church, and the School. It co- operates with these and similar agencies by provid- ing, under the general supervision of a Board of Direc- tors or Committee of Management, a trained Asso- ciation Secretary, whose efforts are directed toward making more efficient the work of these several agencies for boys and young men. Its emphasis is on helping these agencies with their special work, rather than on doing the work directly under its own auspices and in its own name, although it does not exclude the latter. Its secretarial staff is therefore small, one or two men as a rule being sufficient, and its equipment usually consists of a few rooms for office work and committee meetings. To a very large extent the Community Association occupies a distinct and entirely different field in' the community from that occupied by a City 16 TYPES OF COMMUNITY WORK 17 or Railroad Association or branch with a standard building. Neither, therefore, in any sense, takes the place of the other. Community Work is not a sub- stitute for work with a standard Association building. Extension Work differs from Community Work in that the former is the projection of certain activities of the Association under its own name and auspices, out from the building into centers of its field where par- ticular groups of boys and men can be reached. Com- munity Work, on the other hand, is the Association inspiring and serving the existing agencies of a com- munity in their own work with boys and young men, helping them, each under its own auspices and in its own name, to greater efficiency, and doing no work under Association auspices which can be as well pro- moted through other existing agencies. Community Work may be successfully conducted under the following conditions: First. In towns and cities of at least 5,000 popu- lation icithout a Young Men's Christian Association building, where there is: (a.) Sufficiently strong evangeli- cal leadership, of men who are vitally interested in the movement and are willing to give it their continued effort and support. It is desirable that the initiative for organization should come from this source, (b.) A generally favorable attitude on the part of the com- munity toward the Association, (c.) The assurance of sufficient financial backing for the salary and the ex- penses of a Secretary, for two years or more in ad- vance. The principal factor in this form of Association work is the Secretary, who must be a man of unques- tioned Christian character, especially trained, and pos- 18 TYPES OF COMMUNITY WORK sessing in a marked degree capacity to work with and through others. Second. In fields where the Association with a stan- dard city building desires to organize Community work in uncovered sections. The Community Association in such instances becomes a branch or department of the central or metropolitan Association, the Community Secretary working without a building, but having an office in the district in which he serves. Third. In cities where there are standard Associa- tion buildings, but where it is impractical, on account of a limited population or inadequate financial resources, to divide the city into sections and organize branches or departments on the Community plan, and yet where a real need exists for a program which is comprehensive enough to include the boys and young men regardless of membership. In such a city a Community Secretary and a Secretary for building activities are secured. Each must intelligently and efficiently supplement the other in a program of this character. Fourth. In small cities, or districts of large cities, where there is a need for Association equipment, but where local conditions are such that the standard type of city building does not adequately meet the local re- quirements. For such centers the Association com- munity building is gradually coming into use. The equipment is owned by the Association and operated for the benefit of the community rather than for a membership. Boys and young men are enlisted in groups through churches, schools, factories, etc., and in some in- stances, unattached groups are formed under efficient TYPES OF COMMUNITY WORK 19 leadership, and these use the building at stated times for definite activities. A fee is paid directly into the group treasury, and each group in turn pays for the use of the building. Thus the Association building becomes a Community center, under religious leader- ship. Fifth. In a city or the district of a large city on the metropolitan basis, where the ultimate aim is an Asso- ciation building or branch building, and where the community work is conducted to unite the forces of the community and prepare the way for an Association building. The coming of the building should in no way restrict the community program. Each should supplement the other. VI LEADERSHIP NEEDED Leadership is such a vital factor in a Community program that it is necessary to emphasize its impor- tance. A comprehensive program can never be real- ized unless masterful Christian leadership is provided. The Secretary must be a man of natural leadership, of organizing ability, of attractive and acceptable per- sonal qualities, of maturity and conviction. He must be a man of deep spiritual life, and at the same time be alive to the social, economic, and religious problems of the day and a student of them. He should be a man of previous Association experience, particularly in work with boys, and familiar with the operation of a well- equipped building. It is assumed that he will have had actual experience as a worker in the church and Sunday school. He should be a college graduate or its equivalent. This is most essential, because of the wider applications of the problems of education in- volved and because, without this broader education, the Secretary's own resources will in time be exhausted and he will be unable to command or make effective the leadership of other men. For the conducting of activities the greater knowl- edge and experience he can have of physical training, athletics, meets and play festivals, pageants, and all kinds of special affairs, the better. This high grade secretarial leadership, however, in no way lessens the responsibility of the layman. To 20 LEADERSHIP NEEDED 21 allow the Secretary to carry the work on his shoulders means a circumscribed and restricted program from the start. The Secretary should not be called because of his capacity to do many things personally, but pri- marily because of his ability to interest, enlist, and organize others in service. The success of the Com- munity program is dependent upon the Secretary's ability to multiply himself through others, and the committeemen's willingness to assume a definite share of the responsibility. The greatest temptation which comes to a Com- munity Secretary in his work is the tendency to yield to the pressure which is so often brought to bear upon him by those who are over-zealous for immediate results and who have not thought through the ultimate aim of the Community program. It comes, for instance, in the form of a suggestion to conduct an Association Father and Son Banquet, or an athletic meet, or per- sonally to organize groups of boys who are without leadership. All of these are good, but to yield to the good may be robbing the community of the best, for the good in this instance does not directly strengthen the church and other organizations in their endeavor to meet the needs of the boys and men. The more effective thing for the Secretary to do is to encourage and assist all of the churches in the community to con- duct a Father and Son Banquet, to give the Sunday schools and the public schools a vision of their oppor- tunity for character building through athletic meets, play festivals, etc., and to help them to make their vision an actuality. The investment of time in study- ing conditions and discovering the organizations best 22 LEADERSHIP NEEDED qualified to serve the various groups, and then in as- sisting these organizations to enHst and train leaders who will in turn assume the responsibility for hundreds of boys and men, is a fundamentally correct policy. To yield to this temptation is to build the work around an individual and to fail to build the spirit and principles of the Young Men's Christian Association into the very fabric of the institutions of the commu- nity, which is the primary mission of the Association. The Right Reverend Charles H. Brent, Bishop of the Philippine Islands, so admirably portrays the type of leadership needed in Community Work that we make no apology for quoting him at length: '*A Leader is one who goes before, who keeps in advance of the crowd without detaching himself from the crowd, but so influencing them as to attach them to his ideal self. Obviously, and by necessity, he is a social personage who has the power of enabling other people to see what he sees, to feel what he feels, to desire what he desires. He contracts the crowd into the span of his own personality. He converts them into a composite second self. Not only does the Leader contract the crowd into himself, but he ex- pands himself into the crowd until they feel him entering their being at every opening. He seeks out their undeveloped capacity and makes it hunger for self-expression. He becomes to them what motive is to personality.*' This is the kind of leadership which will multiply itself in a community until the very community is throbbing with new impulses whose expression in definite action will hasten the coming of the Kingdom. VII PRELIMINARY STEPS IN ORGANIZING A COMMUNITY YOUNG MEN'S CHRIS- TIAN ASSOCIATION First. Whenever a group of representative men in a city or town desire to establish a Community Young Men's Christian Association, the first step should be to communicate with the State Committee, if there be one, otherwise with the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. In Canada in- quiry should be made of the Canadian National Council. Second. There should be selected one key man around whom such a project may rally. This man should be so carefully selected that later he may well become the permanent chairman of the completed or- ganization. In this way there will be a constant focal point to the whole scheme. Third. There should be a small preliminary com- mittee appointed by this key man, this committee to act as an executive to take the necessary pre- liminary steps. This committee should be composed of from five to fifteen energetic Christian business and professional men, who should first come together in a parlor conference to discuss the project thoroughly with the State or International Secretary and outline the procedure. This group, through the various church representatives in its membership, should confer with the pastors individually regarding the project and secure their cooperation. 23 24 STEPS IN ORGANIZING Fourth. The preliminary committee should call a conference to which are invited representative citizens. At this gathering the new project should be thoroughly explained, the plans indorsed, and sanction given to promote the work. Fifth. The nomination and election of the Pro- visional Committee should result from this conference. Such a provisional committee generally will include the preliminary committee as well as other interested citizens. It should be authorized to carry out the project. Sixth. At this point the Provisional Committee should make a survey of the field, calling in local or outside persons qualified to make a study of social and religious conditions existing in the city. Such a study should reveal the number, kind, and location of constructive and destructive forces in the community, to what extent these forces and agencies are meeting the needs of the youth of the community, or how they are destroying character and injuring public welfare, and in what way the contemplated Community Young Men's Christian Association may supplement existing effort along constructive lines. Seventh. Thorough publicity should be given the project, to prepare the community for a financial campaign, and for this purpose a Publicity Committee should be appointed by the Provisional Committee. The educational side of the campaign is most important. Neglect of this seriously cripples the larger development of the work. Eighth. The first definite task of the Provisional Committee will be the conducting of the financial STEPS IN ORGANIZING 25 campaign. Experience has shown that it is generally very- unwise to combine financially with any other organiza- tions. The financial constituency should be kept al- ways on an individual basis. Plans for financial campaigns will vary according to different fields, but the universal practice is to hold a campaign before the Secretary is called, so that he may be free from the beginning to give his best thought and time to an in- tensive study of the field and the program of activi- ties. The budget should be large enough to provide for a thoroughly qualified Secretary, efficiently equipped headquarters, effective advertising, and items for home and foreign extension work. In an ordinary com- munity from $3,500 to $5,500 will be needed annually, and it is recommended that this be raised two to three years in advance. This gives sufficient time to dem- onstrate the program before again approaching the public for funds. The actual time given to soliciting funds should be short — not over three days in a com- munity from 5,000 to 50,000 population and not over five days in a district of a large city. The shrinkage in the subscriptions is generally eight per cent. When the Community Association has been established, future budgets should be raised, covering the needs of the organization for two or three years, as was done in the initial campaign. 26 STEPS IN ORGANIZING We herewith Hst a working budget: Suggested budget exclusive of salary for Community Asso- ciations in places where the population ranges from 5,000 to 20,000: Stenographic Service. . . Rent 300 Janitor Service 50 Light 25 Library 35 Stationery and Office Sup- plies 75 Office Equipment 75 Postage 75 Printing 100 Telephone 40 Conferences 150 Camps 100 Special Demonstrations . . 125 Subscription to State Committee 100 Subscription to Interna- tional Committee 100 Miscellaneous 100 $1,700 Suggested budget exclusive of salary for Community Asso- ciations in districts of large cities: Stenographic Service $600 Rent 400 Library 25 Stationery and Office Sup- plies 150 Office Equipment 75 Postage 150 Printing 150 Telephone 100 Conferences 150 Camps 50 Subscription to State Committee 50 Subscription to Interna- tional Committee 50 Subscription to Local or City Board 50 Miscellaneous 150 $2,150 In addition to the total in the above budget, allow- ance should be made for shrinkage and an additional amount for the expenses of the campaign. Note: Short-term Community campaigns have been well worked out and details regarding same can be obtained from State Committees or the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations. Ninth. Following the financial campaign, the Pro- visional Committee should, with the advice of the representatives of the supervisory agency on the field, create a permanent organization and elect a Board of Directors. The finance campaign and other preceding STEPS IN ORGANIZING 27 steps will have revealed the men most to be relied upon. The new Board should be representative of the evangelical churches of the community, and each man should thoroughly understand the basis of member- ship in the Young Men's Christian Association. (See By-Laws in Appendix.) Tenth, At the first meeting of the Board of Direc- tors constitution and by-laws should be adopted and oflScers elected. (See Constitution and By-Laws.) Eleventh. The Board of Directors should secure as its executive a competent Community Secretary. Twelfth. An active membership, as a voting body and a service group, should be early cultivated and enlisted by the Community Secretary. VIII ORGANIZATION VISUALIZED Attention is called especially to the diagrams in con- nection with this chapter. Careful study should be given to the question of organization, by laymen as well as by the Secretary, if the work is to begin to ap- proximate its ideals. The committees are organized on the basis of cooperation with the constructive agencies. Where Community Work is conducted in conjunction with the building, the form of organization differs somewhat. The qualifications for committeemen and methods for appointing committees are covered in the by-laws. Special tasks for the special committees are indicated in Chapter IX. As the Community Young Men's Christian Associa- tion has no privileges of its own to offer, and its efforts are largely given to enlisting boys and men in altruistic tasks, it has found it advantageous to have a service membership as indicated on page 97. Only service members who meet the requirements as stated in the constitution are entitled to vote or sit on the Board of Directors. (See Constitution, Article II, Section 2.) 28 EDUCATION . AND PROMOTION s O r u or z u I o r d W) a> d d CQ d ^ .ti -d m o rOt: §^ 1 T — It W 4Z]< o NOIlOWOilcI ONV N0IJVDna3 saiHi^noNi AinvciloiNnw ^ooH^5 HDdnHD awoH Young Men's Christian Association Mr Tin« been admitted to "SERVICE MEMBERSHIP" io this Association in accordance with his declaration on the reverse side of this ticket. This membership is continuous on the annual renewal of this decla- ration. A new ticket will be issued January first each year. Tickets are not transferable and must be shown when required. There ia no charge for this membership. The deposit made for the ticket and badge is retamable any time on their sarrender. SERVICE MEMBERSHIP Seeretarjr No Dated Young Men's Christian Association SERVICE MEMBERSHIP DECLARATION OP PURPOSE I hereby declare that as a member o( the Young Men's Christian Association I will seek by my inward life and outward conduct and through co-operative efforts with others, to make effee* tive in the community the standards of character set forth in the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Name. Address. Witness Reproduction of a Membership Ticket which is used by some of the Community Associations IX SUGGESTIVE PROGRAM OF COMMITTEE SERVICE The activities listed in this chapter are intended to be suggestive as to some of the many ways in which the various committees may render service. No fixed classification is possible, as many of the activities can just as logically be classified under the School as under the Municipality, or the Home as the Church, etc. If the chapter gives the reader a working basis and di- rects his thought to concrete things that may be pro- moted, its mission will be fulfilled. For additional de- tails regarding activities herein suggested, reference may be made to the following books, magazines, and pamphlets : A complete file of Association Boys, 1902-1911. American Youth, 1912 to date. Secondary Division Leaflets, five in all, published by the International Sunday School Association. "A Plan of Building and Extension Work Among Employed Boys." '*How Volunteer Leaders Can Help the Industrial Boy." "Among Industrial Workers." *'Volunteer Social Service by College Men." "Secondary Schoolboys' Christian Movement Sc- ries." For additional information consult the Bibliography in Chapter XV. 33 34 COMMITTEE SERVICE Finances The Finance Committee should charge itself espe- cially with the following duties: 1. Raising the budget. 2. Establishing a system for financial records. 3. Auditing bills. 4. Collecting subscriptions. It is imperative that this be promptly done, and it is unwise to expect the Secretary to do it. His time and influence should be used in other ways. Cooperation With the Home "At the center of community life the world over, among all races of men, there stands the Family. It determines the character of community life. The He- brew nation developing out of the family of Abraham is a summary of social development. The human family grows out of smaller families. Scattered in lonely regions, in solitary mountain huts and forest cabins; crowded together on Chinese river boats, or in New York tenements; living in the primitive condition of African jungles, or in the high development of an American suburb, all families have in them the possi- bility of contributing to world life. Those who would Christianize the communities of the world must raise family life to its highest terms." ^ To this end the Community program endeavors to reinforce the home through a program of service. Here are some of the things which might well be pro- • moted by the Committee on Cooperation with the Home: 1 "Christianizing Community Life," Ward — Edwards, p. 18. COMMITTEE SERVICE 35 1. Home visitation systematically worked out by all churches; cover entire city. 2. Sending Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners to poor families. Entire district organized so that no family will be overlooked, and no duplication will occur. Opportunities here for churches and charity organizations to do real team work. 3. Establishing a home for homeless boys with Christian woman as House Mother. Not more than ten boys in a home is advisable. The family idea is to be constantly kept in the forefront. The Home must not be institutionalized. 4. Promotion of group socials in the homes of the community or district, thus affording an opportunity for some boys to see real home life. 5. Parents' Conferences for consideration of boys* rooms, boys' vacations, etc. 6. Sending the names of the mothers of young chil- dren to Children's Bureau at Washington, D. C, for pamphlets on infant care, etc. 7. Encouraging the reading by parents of books on sex education, home training of boys, etc. 8. Remembering the birthdays of the boys with a post card or letter. The Secretary might well have a card index in his office of every teen age boy in the district or community. 9. Encouraging thrift among boys by systematic- ally promoting a program for money saving. Local banks will cooperate in this. See pamphlets pub- lished by National W. C. T. U, on School Savings Banks, 36 COMMITTEE SERVICE 10. Parents Meetings, e. g. (a) Fathers' conferences. (b) Mothers' conferences. (c) Joint conferences of mothers and fathers. (d) Mass meeting of parents followed by series of group conferences. 11. Father and Son Banquets. 12. Mother and Daughter Banquets. Sometimes both may be held on the same evening in separate buildings or rooms, groups meeting after banquets are over for social evening. This emphasizes the family aspect. 13. Home garden growing contest. 14. Chicken raising contest. 15. Corn raising contest. 16. Interesting school officials to furnish a class room in the school building as a typical hoys' room, open to the public for inspection. Series of talks might be given in connection with the plan. 17. Promoting neighborhood entertainments consist- ing of songs, motion pictures, illustrated talks, games, amateur dramatics, etc. The plan should be to en- courage the families of the neighborhood to participate in these social gatherings. 18. Home game tournaments, such as chess, check- ers, etc. Cooperation With the Church The Community Young Men's Christian Association is an expression of the Church in the specialized field of work with boys and men, in that, first, its control is in the hands of members in good standing of evangeli- cal churches; second, that one of its principal aims is COMMITTEE SERVICE 37 to lead boys and young men into vital active church membership and regular attendance upon church ser- vices; third, that it seeks to raise up and train workers and leaders for the churches; fourth, that it aims to develop among its Christian members loyalty to the principles, teaching, and program of their respective communions, and to cherish the spirit of Christian brotherhood with reference to all communions. There is, too, a growing conviction that the leaders of Chris- tian forces to a larger degree than heretofore, must be community-minded men if the Church is to con- tinue to be a dynamic force in spiritualizing the com- munity. "The effort to Christianize community life requires the operation of Government. All the great social re- forms — the abolition of child labor, the reduction of infant mortality, the protection of children from vice, the improvement of education, the abolition of pov- erty — every one of them involves government action. Efficiency in government is an indispensable tool for social progress. But it must be another kind of effi- ciency than is commonly admired. It must be effi- ciency in caring for all the interests of all the people, in giving expression to the common vital desires of the whole community. Such a government is the people doing together in all justice and brotherhood the things they cannot do apart." ^ The Church may be a great contributing force to this end. Many things have been accomplished for Commu- nity betterment when the Church and the Association "Christianizing Community Life," Ward — ^Edwards. 38 COMMITTEE SERVICE have pooled their strength and influence. A few of these are indicated. A. Boy: 1. Cooperation in estabhshing organized groups and classes in the Sunday school. 2. Bible Teachers' Training Classes for older boys. 3. Series of older boys' religious meetings. 4. Older Boys' Conferences: (a) Local. (b) District. (c) State. 5. Boys' Sunday, when older boys will attend church in a body; pews reserved for them; special sermon. 6. Father and Son Sunday. 7. Song services at hospitals conducted by boys themselves. 8. Older Boys' Watch Night Services, New Year's Eve. These should be well planned and decision mak- ing in character. 9. Systematic interviewing of boys regarding their Christian life. 10. Inter church summer camps: (a) Long term. (b) Week end. (c) Over night. 11. Cooperation in establishing interchurch leagues. 12. Interchurch field meets. 13. Making possible a program of physical work for all churches. 14. Outings and hikes, recreational and educa- tional. COMMITTEE SERVICE 39 15. Gypsy trips and educational tour for one week or more. 16. Kite flying contests. 17. Pet shows — an opportunity for boys to exhibit their rabbits, dogs, birds, white mice, etc. 18. Art exhibit and contest. 19. Hobby day exhibit. 20. The American Standard Program and the Boy Scout Movement, as well as other movements for boys in churches. 21. Interesting boys in the erection of a scout cabin which makes good headquarters for over-night trips. 22. Bird house contests. 23. Interchurch stags. 24. Interchurch swimming contests. 25. Interchurch older boys' retreat. 26. Promotion of attendance at older boys' confer- ences. B. Adult: 1. Promoting men's Bible classes. It might be well to encourage courses dealing with social problems from the Christ viewpoint. 2. Federating men's Bible classes. This federation should be a force for righteousness in the commu- nity. 3. A community -wide survey to include — (a) Religious census, (b) The constructive character-building agen- cies. (c) Agencies that are detrimental to character building. 40 COMMITTEE SERVICE (d) The community from a physical hygienic standpoint. 4. Training courses in principles and methods of teaching, etc., for adult workers with boys, both de- nominational and interdenominational. 5. A training class for policemen, where boy life and leadership among boys may be studied; a unique op- portunity to help make the policeman a social worker in an unofficial capacity. 6. Undenominational mass meetings for men. Character of meetings : (a) Social service emphasis from the Christ standpoint. (b) Evangelistic. 7. Organizing the strong Christian men for a "Cam- paign of Friendship" in which boys in the community will be interviewed personally along Christian char- acter building lines and decisions for Christ secured. This might well be an annual campaign. Where the community is small every boy could be interviewed. 8. Making possible a well-defined program of work in the interest of the wage-earning boy. 9. Organizing among employed boys "Find Your- self* campaigns. The purpose of these campaigns is to help boys to discover their vocational bent, and how they can best serve humanity through their vocation. See American Youths June, 1915. For special material write C. C. Robinson, International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations, 124 East 28th Street, New York, N. Y. 10. Campaign to enlist boys to go to college. 11. Vacation Bible schools. COMMITTEE SERVICE 41 12. Training courses for scout masters. 13. Discovering and enlisting Big Brothers for work with needy boys. 14. Cooperation in Juvenile Probation work. 15. An educational community-wide campaign for personal and social hygiene. 16. An educational community -wide campaign in the interests of — (a) City planning. (b) Wider use of the schools. (c) Playgrounds. 17. Preparing and publishing a codification of state laws relating to children. 18. Cooperation with moving picture theaters in help- ing to make them a larger educational and moral factor in the community. ^ 19. A series of high-class entertainments. This is greatly needed, especially in small communities. 20. Bringing to the community state, national, and international experts from various organizations on spe- cial phases of community life. 21. Special Campaigns: (a) Anti-Tuberculosis. (b) The House Fly Pest. (c) Alcohol and Efficiency. (d) Anti-Cigarette. (e) Safety First. 22. A newsboy organization. (Character building prime object.) 23. Father's Day. 24. Mother's Day. 25. Campaign to teach every boy to swim. 42 COMMITTEE SERVICE 26. Interchurch field meet. 27. Deputation of Gospel Teams composed of the church laymen or young people of the several churches. These teams can conduct religious services in the smaller churches of the outlying districts of the community, as well as special meetings for boys. 28. Participation in National Recruiting Program, to enlist older boys for service and church membership. Older Boys' Cabinet The Cabinet is composed of selected older boys. (See diagram of organization on page 29.) It shoujd hold regular monthly meetings, discuss from the boys' stand- point the problems arising in the schools and churches of the community at large, and make such recommen- dations to the Board of Directors as will help to meet the existing needs. Each boy on the Cabinet should be asked to become thoroughly conversant with some definite phase or problem of boy life, thus making it possible at the Cabinet meetings to get a comprehen- sive opinion regarding these problems. Cooperation With the School There are at present over 20,000,000 boys and girls receiving instruction in the public and high schools of the United States. They are taught by 580,058 teach- ers, and the annual expense for their instruction is about $556,000,000. These figures are significant of the fact that the people have a tremendous faith in the public school and its possible fulfilment of their earnest desire to give their sons and daughters a chance in life. It is gratifying to note that of late years there has o ■*-> ctf N a a be >. o ■*-i a C/3 o S Xi ti o oj OJ > ri (-< 4-< BJ 4^ o r/1 0; -ill U o O kl O M X) >i s o ff! PQ ^