Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08
ANNUAL REPORT
AMERICAN
NATIONAL RED CROSS
A r c 40
December 10, 1916
367. REPORT OF THE ACTING
CHAIRMAN
Mr., Eliot Wadsworth

the American Red Cross has been
ment uSder 'G the san as
vided by the revised Bylaws passed at
the annual meeting of December s. 1915.
two wHaa the Of
civilian Relief. Of which Mr.. Ernest r
Bicknell is Director General, and the
of X Kean Medcs Of Gdres
u. s. A. is the Director General. This
arrangement proved most successful
been de eaf 10 eaqfy on woe
past Year. The Department of Military s
Relief has been particularly valuable in
tary preparedness by the Society. Full
reports of both of, these departments
win be by their heir
not be discussed at this time.
1853. Membership = The increase in
membership during the past twelve
strained every facility of the organiza
ton. The great increase from approx
mn.aatelly 225oo lDecember /. 1919, to
in part to general awakening in the
interest of the people of this country
in Red Cross work and in part to active
campaigns for new members which have
been carried on in certain. parts of the
country with most gratifying results.
rhs in meG Gbeater to Ne% 19 s
Campaigns in Philadelphia, Cleveland,
Chicago, Boston. Washington. and San
Francisco have brought us thousands of
served to extend the knowledge of the
Red Cross in those communities.
The number Of chapters has increased
keeping up a sufficiently close relation
ship between the Washington Office and
he CHAPTERS became consequently
Executive Committee decided to create
a special organization for handling all
chapter and membership matters. maxi
rectly under the supervision of the
Chairman. Formerly all such work was
f pa,idf for by H 5hs s of Civilian
Director of Chapters. viii! personally
take share er of us all i mepm a and
Mr.. c. J. O'Connor. formerly Assistant
Director General of the Department of
Civilian Relief; who. in that capacity,
to these matters. Mr.. OConnor's title
will be Assistant Director of Chapters
Mr. Harvey J. Hill continues. as Di-
will be associated with Mr.. Wells in
this work.
For the further increasing of our
officers to carry on during the coming
year an active campaign throughout the
country The Divisions will be MAIN
sponsible principally for the chapter
ACTIVITIES in their several districts.
aes. ftnances-Financial operations
or the year nave been on very large
scale. due especially to the following
causes the amounts of money handled
in European War relief; the large sums
FUNDS raised to care for the families of
soldiers who went to the Mexican Dor
S der: ana the great increase in our mem
discussed in other. reports. I will not
en saa now to give any details.
cuted with the greatest activity pos
sioie IN view Of the limited funds at
our disposal Contributions, large and
numbers Of people. Many are desig
mated for, certain purposes and have
been used for these purposes or for
tions given: Undesignated funds have
been expended where it seemed to the
Officers that the greatest good could be
among the many societies and commit
ees ha in hh sv e9t Sn by
wishes to send help to Europe. but we
act as transmitting agent for organ
dowment. We have. during the first
eleven e months Of this year: received
ties of supplies have been received from
Red Cross chapters and many other or
CARNATIONS. Contributions of cash have
varied from large amounts given for
special purposes by the Rockefeller
Foundation. to few postage stamps
sent in anonymously, One group of i've
for the first few months Of the wear and
are now giving $4,000 a month.
The needs for relief in Europe, both
stantly called to our attention bv nri-
Naia 0Exanaxafion2 and individually as