Vocations and Industries

Vocations and Industries BY CLAUDE RICHARDS, OF THE GENERAL BOARD Y. M. M. I. A. What Shall I Do? That is the cry of M. I. A. Vocation Counselors and Supervisors, everywhere. The question is answered in the following outline, which is submitted to them for careful study and consideration: A. Ward Vocation Counselor 1. Dedicate a definite portion of your time to this work, and make your program. For example: a. Sunday. On this day I will study my subject, plan my work, and do what I can to let others know of this great move- ment, and solicit their favor and co-operation. b. One certain night each week I will spend with the boys in helping to shape their careers. 2. Follow General Board Committee. a. Letters and instructions. b. Articles and publications. c Y. M. M. I. A. Hand Book. 3. Read Carefully. a. Magazine articles. b. Best Vocational books. Refer to Handbook, p. 37, for Committee's recommendations. 4. Learn also by experience. a. Direct contact with men and boys. b. See the vocations in action. Make a special study of the voca- tions that may be followed in our own communities. c. Use pencil and paper to record your observations and thoughts. d. Correspond and converse with others in this line of work. 5. Attend Meetings. a. Regular Association meetings. b. Stake Vocational meetings. c. Vocational Lectures, etc. 6. Application to the Boy. a. Make a list of the boys in your Ward from twelve to twenty. b. Provide for your own use a 5-cent notebook for each boy. In it write all the observations and items of information con- cerning each boy that may assist you to render expert voca- tional guidance. Study each boy from the start — his likes and dislikes — his weak and strong points — his tendencies and aptitudes. Write the results. In time you will get to- gether a history and write up that will be invaluable. Refer to Parson's "How to Choose a Vocation," chapter 4, and reference to vocations and efficiency, chapter 6 for ques- tions to ask the boy. c. As a direct and effective introduction of our Vocational work to the boy, take these preliminary steps: 1. Secure letter No. 1 from the General Board Committee. 2. Make a canvass in accordance with that letter. Visit every boy. Ask him if he has chosen his Vocation. Report each boy's answer to the General Board Committee. Place this

VOCATIONS AND INDUSTRIES 51 and any other information you may acquire upon your first visit in your notebook. Regard all information as con- fidential. 3. Copies of two letters will then be sent to you. One of these is for the boy who has chosen his vocation, and the other is for the boy who has not chosen his vocation. De- liver these letters personally to the boys. At each visit stimulate the desire for specializing and record items in your notebook. d. Keep clearly in mind the main outline of our work, namely: 1. The necessity of Specializing. 2. How to prepare for Specializing. 3. Conditions leading to Success. 4. How to choose a Vocation. 5. The Vocations of today. 6. Avocations of Men. Prepare to take each step in this outline with the boy, either indi- vidually or collectively. Both ways may be used to advantage. In d' aling with Item "4," so far as the application of the item to each boy is concerned, individual work only should be done when it comes to ihe point of applying the information concerning the individual boy 1 1 the formula for choosing a vocation. It is likely that the General Board Committee will furnish you with further advice as to how to take these steps and the exact details of tl e ground to be covered. e. Explain our work and secure the active support and co-oper- ation of 1. Parents. 2. Bishopric. 3. Seventies and Elders. 4. School Teachers. f. Use every available opportunity to deliver your message. 1. Meetings. a. Parents' Class. b. Bishop's Meeting. c. M. I. A. d. Priesthood Meetings. 2. In the home. 3. On the street and in other places. B. Stake Vocational Supervisor 1. Get the Spirit of the Movement and keep it. a. By spending a part of Sunday and at least one certain night every week at this work. b. By following General Board Committee. 1. Letters and Instructions. 2. Articles and Publications. 3. Y. M. M. I. A. Handbook. c. By reading. 1. Magazine articles. 2. Best Vocational books. (See list, p. 37, Handbook.) d. Uearn also by experience. 1. Direct contact with men and boys. 2. See the Vocations in action, making a close study of the vocations that may be followed in your own localities. 3. Use pencil and paper to record your thoughts and observa- tions.

52 IMPROVEMENT ERA 4. Correspond and converse with others in this line of work. 5. Attend Y. M. M. I. A. Meetings. 2. See that the best Counselor is selected in each Ward. We have access to the Seventies. The President of the Ward Associa- tion should act temporarily until the Ward Counselor is se- lected. 3. Hold monthly Stake Meetings for all Ward Counselors. a. Select a permanent Secretary for these meetings. b. Follow a definite order of business. We recommend — 1. Singing and prayer at opening and closing, unless your meeting is a part of the Stake Priesthood Meeting. 2. Minutes. 3. Reports. 4. Instructions. a. From General Board Committee. b. Local. 5. Special order. Select a subject (some phase of our work, an article, a book review, etc.) for each meeting. Appoint a speaker for extended preparation. Encourage general preparation and discussion. 6. Problems and Suggestions. 7. Miscellaneous. 4. Field Work. a. Visit and check up each ward at least four times each year; once at the beginning, again at the middle; later at close of Mutual and finally during the summer for contest and other summer work. Vocational work should extend throughout the summer. b. Keep an accurate record of each ward and all features of your work. Notes are valuable. c. At times, for your own good and experience, get in actual con- tact with the boy. d. Keep in close touch with — 1. Every Ward President. 2. Superintendency of Y. M. M. I. A. 3. Presidency of the Stake. 4. Bishops' Meetings at Stake House. 5. Parents and others. HOMEWARD BOUND FROM THE "HIKE"