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Mutual Work

Improvement Era, vol. 15, no. 1, November 1911, p. 95

Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations

Mutual Work Leaders in Athletics and Field Sports. Salt Lake City, Utah. Oct. 11, 1911. To the General Board of Y. M. M. I. A., Dear Bretheren : — It is apparent that one of the most urgent needs of our M. I. A. work is leaders, trained in athletics and field sports. This line of work under proper supervision would become a great moral factor in our community, and would result in helping many young men to nobler and better lives, but without proper guidance and trained leader- ship, it may become more harmful than helpful. To meet this situation the Deseret Gymnasium has offered to give a brief Normal Course, consisting of 100 lessons as follows: Anthropometry, 10 lessons; administration and methods, 10 lessons; gymnastic dancing, 20 lessons; Calisthenics and marching, 20 lessons; gymnastics and games, 20 lessons; athletics, basket ball, base ball, volley ball and tennis, 20 lessons. The students would have five recitation periods daily, and clinical work could be done in our general classes in the Gymnasium. Special lectures and round-table discussions would also be arranged. A fee of five dollars would be charged each student for this course. Your committee are of the opinion that if proper men be selected to take this work, it will greatly promote rational sports and physical train- ing in the wards and stakes of Zion. They therefore respectfully submit the following recommendations: First. That each ward be asked to send one or more representatives to this class, and that each stake be asked to send at least one representa- tive to take this work. Second. That the course be given during the months from November 20 to December 20, and from January 20 to -February 20, and that in stakes and wards where suitable volunteers are not available, good capable men should be called by the local authorities to come and take the course recommended. L. R. Martineau, Chariman, Hyrum M. Smith, B. F. Grant, Oscar A. Kirkham, B. S. Hinckley. Committee on Athletics, Field Sports, Outdoor Activities and Em- ployment. We approve of this report, and recommend that it be carried out by the authorities of the wards and stakes. Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, B. H. Roberts, Superintendencv and the General Board of the Y. M. M. I. A. Checking up the Work, The duty of a stake superintendent of a Young Men's Mutual Im- provement Association to his ward officers is to instruct, direct, and