Boston YMHA Hecht House

              6.
Senior- Lounge - The main hall lounge was open on Thursday evenings 7:30 to
10:00 P.M. and the drop-in-lounge (Room 2A) was open Tuesday evening and Sunday
afternoon.
Attendance on Thursdays was usually 50-75 with many stopping in after club
meetings.    There was no formal program generally,  although spontaneously there
night be singing and novelty dances.
The drop-in-lounge was poorly attended.    The room was poorly lit,  noisey
from the adjoining game room and furnishings were inadequate.    Lounge furniture
never was bought despite the valid expectations of the seniors.    The Titans in
May 1956 donated $86.00 to be used towards such furniture.    This amount has been
paid to Hecht House, and the House was to supplement the amount to furnish the
room.    This project should be completed.
There may be a need for some programing in the lounge in addition to the
general socialization.    A lounge committee of the Council may help initiate this
with the lounge worker.    The lounge served effectively as a place where seniors
could go and socialize.    It also served the "floaters" who came to the agency for
no other purpose and related to staff only through a sensitive lounge worker.    His
counseling and close contact with what might otherwise have been a very disruptive
element was of great value.
Senior-Collegiate Program Committee - This committee of the Board of Director*
was completely reorganized and met on the second Wednesday of each month from
December- through April.    Philip Briss was chairman.    The committee started from
scratch and developed nicely.    Goals were set, but not realized.    However, a lot
of thinking and education took place, and the coming year- may see fruition of their
desires,
Oame Room - A combination hang-out and pool room, the game room leaves much
to be desired.    Workers need much more supervision than was forthcoming if this is
to be a worthwhile area.    Control is not enough. A game room worker should help non-
affiliates become integrated into the club program.    He should initiate tourneys
and new games.    Through his relationships he should counsel those who need it and
bring concerns to his supervisor.
At best our- game room was of minimal effectiveness in these terms.    It needs
more attention of the staff worker.
Recommendations
1. Continued effort to strengthen the club pr-ogram.    There was definite improvement thie past year-.    Such groups as Princes o;2 Syracuse definitely need
guidance.    The best tool to aid clubs is through regular supervision of leaders,
2. Integrating more agency users into the council so that there will be
stronger support of council projects.
3. Results of the JCA teen-age study should be reviewed, and followed through
on.    The continued decrease of teen-age membership has slowed down,  but continues.
Ths paucity of females may point to part of the problem.