Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1915-11-19
Montgomery County Community
Conference Organized.

On Friday, November 18th, in the head
quarters Of the Montsomery County Muse
UNI. at Rockville, Maryland, was organized
the Montgomery County Community Con-
ference comprising The Montgomery County
Federation of Home and School Associa-
tons. The Montgomery County Federation
of Womens Clubs, The subordinate oranges
OF Montgomery county affiliated with the
Pomona Grange Of Montgomery County,
The Farmers Convention of MONTGOMERY
County, The Montgomery County Medical
Society, The Social Service League of
Montgomery County, Nd, The Montgomery
County Agricultural Society. The Just Gov
eminent League, The Equal Suffrage
League of Montgomery County. The Anti
Saloon League, and the Women's Christian
Temperance Union of Montgomery County.
The object of the organization, in the
language of its constitution, is the fed
Grafton of the several independent, nom
partisan. non-sectarian organizations which
now exist, or which may hereafter be Or
ganized in Montgomery County. Nd. in
such manner that such organizations may,
through their legally constituted represent
tatives, hold periodical sessions or confer
ences for the public discussion of Ques-
tons of community interest; and that the
aforesaid organizations may be enabled to
act comparatively for the development of
better economic. social and moral condi-
tons throughout the county, and, indi-
rectly. throughout the State.
IN effect the Conference should con-
stitute civic form for the development of
Community spirit; for the discussion of
Community needs; and for the crystalliza-
ton of an intelligent public opinion look
ing to the solution of community problems.
Specifically. it shall be the aim of the
Conference to study the subjects of educa-
ten, recreation, sanitation, organization,
cooperation. communication, transporta-
ton, production and marketing of agricul-
tural products, and to encourage the utili-
cation of all agencies calculated to pro-
mote civic betterment and the develop
ment of community life."
The governing board of the Community
Conference consists of Council composed
of two representatives from each of the
organizations affiliated with the Confer
ence. This Council is authorized to elect
President, a Vice-President, and a Sec
retary-Treasurer, and to appoint such COM
mittees as may be needed to carry on the
work of the Conference.
The Council is empowered to arrange for
periodical sessions or conferences in which
matters of interest to the community at
large will be discussed from all points of
view. These conferences are not only
open to the public, but the members of the
various organizations comprising the Con-
ference, as we'll as "all other persons in
terested in the welfare of Montgomery
County, are invited and authorized to take
part in the proceedings of the Conference.
The first meeting of the Conference is
set for Friday. December 10th, full particu-
lars of the program to be published later.
A very interesting and valuable feature
of the constitution is the clause establish
ing permanent committee on organiza-
ton. composed of one representative from
each of the affiliated bodies. whose especial
duty is to study the various sections of
the county with view to ascertaining
the needs of the several districts for
more or better organizations than at pres
ent exist. The idea emphasized is that
every community should have some form
of organization for the adequate expression
of the community life. The committee on
organization will endeavor to study this
problem and aid in its solution.
The organization of the Montgomery
County Community Conference represents
the elimination of a movement begun
during the past summer. by Mrs. Merritt
o. Chance, chairman of the Civics Com
mittee of the Montgomery County Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs, and other interested
persons, with view of establishing q closer
and more harmonious cooperation among
the various federated organizations of the
county. each of which has been working
for praiseworthy ends. but independently
and often at cross purposes with the others.
After consultation with the Division of
Rural Economics and Sociology at the
Maryland Agricultural College, prelimi-
nary organization was effected and call
was issued for a meeting at the Court
House in Rockville on Monday, July 26th.
1915. To this meeting all the leading
county organizations were invited to send
representatives with view of effecting a
permanent organization. This call was
signed by Mrs. Merritt o. Chance, chair
man, DIR. Claiborne H. Mannar. Mr.. E. E.
Stevens. Judge Stanton j. Peele, Mrs
Harry J. Armstrong. Mrs. Henry J. Finley,
Mrs. W. c. Brooke. Mrs j. W. Jones, Mrs.
II. S. Parsons, Mrs. L. |. Hays. and Mrs.
j. Harry Cunningham. Secretary.
The Conference at Rockville was attended
by representatives of the Federation of
Women's Clubs. The Social Service League,
The Federation Of Home and School Asso-
Citations, The Medical Society. The Aeri-
cultural Society, The Anti-Saloon League,
The Just Government League. The Wom-
ems Christian Temperance Union, The
County School Board, and The Equal Suf-
frage Association. AS the representatives
had not been formally delegated by their
respective organizations. and as several of
the prominent organizations Of the county
were not represented. the Conference au-
thoriZed the chairman, Mrs Chance. 10
appoint committee to draw up consti-
tuition to be submitted for adoption at a
subsequent meeting Of formally chosen
delegates from the organizations invited
to form the Community Conference. This
committee requested Prof. E. B. Bombereer.
Dean Of Rural Economics and Sociology of
the MARYLAND Agricultural Colleoe. 10 nre