The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-04-08
CIVIC BETTERMENT
CLUB ORGANIZED
The Officers and Committee
Chairmen.
STARTS WITH A FUND OF 500
What the Movement Stands For The
Membership, Etc.


This movement was the outcome
of considerable discussion and agi
tation The Ladies Auxiliary o
the Anti-Saloon League considered
taking up the matter some time ago
but decided that IA separate organi
cation was necessary for effective
handling of the work. II is, how
ever. to the zeal. energy and public
spirit of Miss Janetta h. Fitzhugf
that the meeting was principally due
and il was therefore most fitting
that she should preside.
objects Sought.
In an informal, earnest. practical
talk Miss Fitzhugh laid before
those assembled something OF the
scope and the possibilities OF the
contemplated organization, in i'm
proving sanitary conditions and Sc
checking tuberculosis and other pre-
ventable diseases, in urging and OBJ
tanning greater cleanliness and beau
ty on our streets and In private
premises. and In distributing litera
ture and disseminating Information
that shall enable our citizens tC
work in an intelligent and effective
way toward higher ideals of civic
cleanliness, health and beauty.
The Officers.
The organization was then eff
fected with the following officers:
President. Miss Janetta r. Fitz-
hugh.
LIST Vice-President. Mrs. Maurice
Hirsh.
End vlce-President Mrs. Henry
Gibson.
Recording Secretary. Mrs G. X
Swift.
Corresponding Secretary, Miss
Kate Mander.
Treasurer. Mrs L. II. Russell
Special lines of work were then
developed. and after some explana'
ton of the general nature and bear
ling OF these departments the follow
| ing chairmen were announced, Wht
will In future select their commit
/ tees:
Education. Miss Kate Mander.
Sanitation. Mrs NJ. l.. Chesley.
Membership. Miss Eliza Roy.
Republication. Mrs. J. W. Adams
Legislative. Mrs. J. b. Ficklen
Press. Miss Vivian Conway.
Reciprocity and Information, Mrs
Victor Moon.
With these committees should al
so be enumerated the executive com
mittee. to be composed OF the Of
| Ulcers and chairmen OF departments
The names OF fifty-two members
were then enrolled and this number
has since grown to So.
The Men.
An animated discussion ensued
as TO the status Of gentlemen In
the organization a small but
earnest minority favored inviting
them to full and active membership
but a considerable majority felt thai
the ideal of the club was that II
should be municipal sisterhood 70
deal with problems Of civic house
keeping. and so to supplement the
work the men are already doing III
business and political circles, ana
therefore, it was deemed adVisaole'
both from consideration for the gen
tlemen themselves, and in view Oh
the nature of work planned by the
organization, to reserve active mem
bership and committee work for the
ladies' while welcoming the advice
and cooperation of all public-spirit-
ed citizens and endeavoring to Sc
cure the enrolment as honorary
members Of all gentlemen Interested
I in this movement.
During the course OF the meeting
Mr.. Alex Berger addressed the Ia
dies. telling them something OF the
work of civic betterment clubs, no
tably in Lincoln, Neb-. where he hao
been familiar with this work.
The annual dues were fixed at 81
cents. these dues to be paid at inc
next meeting.
The Name.
The choice of name was the las'
matter to claim attention, and Dc
Civic Betterment Club" was flnaiiS
adopted
Fund For Prizes.
At the close of the meeting, too
late for many to learn H. al
announcement was made tha'
through the generosity of Mr.. Der
ger a fund of 500 was in mana lo
be given out in prizes for well-kep'
and beautified premises on proper
ty not over $4,000 in value. The
terms of these awards Will be an
nounced later by the Beautificatior
Committee. o,,,
The new organization thus OIL
cered and launched will meet th'
4th Wednesday of this month a.
the same place and hour.
In the meantime the execu
tive committee will meet at the
home of Mr.. j. Conway Chichester
next Wednesday at 4 p. m.
It's Possibilities.
So the feeling OF an aroused civic
consciousness and a common desire
for the progress and advancement o
our. city has taken a definite ant
organize form, and although diff
culties may be before the Civic Bet
terment Club, yet all truly loyal anC
Intelligent citizens must be impress
ed by the great possibilities of tn
united effort of such an earnest EN-
thusiastic company of women "a
those who met Wednesday. repre-
senting no special circle or neigh
borhood. but all meeting on TIT
truly patriotic ground Of a common
desire for an improved Freder
icksburg.
peace hath her victories, no les
renowned than war; and surely WI
may see in such a movement a
this the signs of a three-fold peace
full triumph OF the forces OF cieanii
ness over dirt, health over disease
} and beauty over ugliness in the cit
to which we all give love and alieg'
ance.
The Membership
Besides the officers and chairmel
OF committees the following name
have been enrolled.
Mrs. o. H. Sherman, Miss
( Ulman, Miss Hattie Kaufman, Mrs
Sam Woodbridge, Miss Elizabet
Eckenrode. Mrs. Alex Purcell. Mrs
/ B. ]. Marshall, Miss Annie Copen
haVer. Miss Margaret Shepherd Mrs