The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-17
Concerning Women
Clubs

the liberty of including the clubs not
yet federated as well as those al
ready accredited members Of the state
federation. For II is the wish and hope
OF the federation that every womans
club in the state shall become a part
Of 1t. and the chief object OF this let
ter is TO incite, "a far az possible, the
cooperation CT every earnest woman
in Virginia, through the club medium.
in the inssiring effort for universal
betterment.
I'VE would like to see one or more
women's clubs in every community, in
the cities. the towns. the villages. and,
above all. in every country neighbor-
hood each OF these clubs a member
of the Virginia federation. and through
IL an integral part OF the general fed
Grafton. With its thousands OF clubs
and nearly a million club women.
| There IS impetus and inspiration i'll
| the mere thought Of being united In
| sisterly bonds of mutual work and as
| piration with a million earnest, cul-
tured women; in having the privilege
| Of corresponds nee with them; Of meet
| ing them at conventions and hiennials;
and In uniting with them in thought and
IN effort for the good OF humanity and
| the betterment OF our own neighbor-
| hoods.
| 1t is this last thought which most
| appeals 10 me, though all our clubs
| are not forced into hctterment work.
| Some OF them elect to remain almost
| purely cultural or even social-this
privilege being granted them without
question IL they so prefer. Still. 1
cannot help replying TO the frequent
| question, What is our club TO get by
| joining the fcderation?' about fol-
lows: You VIII gain much, but. better
| still, YOU can give r,uch. You will add
| Your members your brains, your
| earnestness, your influence to that of
| others and so give greater force to
| our united efforts You will become
one with the co~operated woma nhood
| OF Virginia, planning and praying to-
| gether for the noblest development
| and highest good of her people. 1
cannot understand how any earnest
woman. and especially how any
ganization OF thinking women. can pos
sibly decline so big an opportunity
for usefulness ard ms piration. For
| il is not all service ask of the
| clubs who fedcrate with us; we do
| have much to give them in return, NOT
| only Of Inspiration, but Of direct help.
''As l said IN the first sentence Of
| this letter. We especially desire the
| duuitlcH Oh ClupS VI country WO.Ntll,
! and would like 10 see organized a wo-
mans club in every country neigh
| borhood. Our reason for this is two
fold. First. We feel that our sisters in
the country need especially the inter-
est and diversion OF something out
| side their homes. That il would rest
them, help them and divert them from
their often too serious and duty bur
dencd lives to be banded together for
some object or mutual interest. For
the study Of literature, OF music. OF
art. pernaPs With household economics
and civ!cs added for the more prac-
| teal help these would be- and TO en-
able those who study them to be in
telliycntly prepared tor service to their
communities. while making brighter
and broader their own lives. We de
sire also to add To our federation
these organizations OF country women
| because We feel we need thu sane out
look ard the fixed principles Of our
sisters whose convictions and princi-
pies have nut been weakened By con-
slant contact with the more worldly
atmosphere of the cities We need,
too. their practical ideas their COM
mon sense. and their simpler view OF
lifc's needs and society's requirements.
| Before | conclude, | wish to tell
the clubs little OF what the fedora
, ton has accomplished since our con-
vention, May !. not a great DEAL OF
coui Sc, because most OF our clubs take
holiday during the summer months
However three new clubs have joined
us. and two or three more expect to
do SO in the early fall. Several or
the chairmen OF the committees
have kept active all through the
hot weeks and have laid wise
plans for later achievement Not
able among these are the Keystone
correspondent, and the public health.
press. education, home economics and
industrial education chairmen The
) Keystone has published two letters
from our correspondent. one in each
issue since May our press chairman
!, publishes frequent items and monthly
bulletins In The Times Dispatch and
other state papers; our public health
and home economies chairmen are or
: SaniHing their committees and plan
ming their work as 70 extend its
scope while our education chairman
is working quietly and steadily 10 for
ward the one special object set before
that committee. Other chairmen are
! doubtless as actively ut work, but L
, have heard only from iho:e above
named.
Meantime, the biggest achievement.
so far, Of the Federation. that or rural
school fairs, through the tireless fos-
torinG OF our industrial educational
committee is likely to continue to he
, our greatest success. The plans for
tho Industrial exhibit collected from
these fairs this fall 10 be held In
, Lymchburg IN November under the
/ auspices Of the industrial committee
OF the State federation during the
meeting OF the state Educational As-
ISOLATION ami Of the federation coun-
Gil III that city, are being rapdIy ma
! tur=d WITH promise OF d most success
! full exhibit.
''Gfhpr counties h5cDplipp n