Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-05-08


endar year, unless IL be continued Nv
election of the Central Committee az
official notification thereof
RED CROSS EMERGENCY RELlss
COMMITTEE
500. /. Principles and Special Nett
ods-In it's Red Cross relief work n.
institutional member will be expected IA
conform to. such rules and methods a.
the Red Cross may adopt II is ey
rules and methods shall be IN entire A.
cord with charity organization prime.
pies.
At the same time. it is important /,
member keep clearly in mind that 4,
work is distinctively part VI ths
American Red Cross: that. as such. r
is dealing with people ordnay lN inde.
pendent who, being thrown int" suddef
need by calamity, are naturally YER
sensitive upon the subject of receiving
charity. Such people often look upoS
the emergency relief work of the Red
Cross as a different thing and do M
feel embarrassed by receiving its help
This feeling must be recognized unde-
such conditions as we are considering
1t should, therefore, be made clear 10
all that the institutional member is the
American Red Cross. and nothing else
while it is engaged in Red Cross work
Furthermore, trained workers from
the institutional member. when engaged
in this capacity. must go as Red Cross
workers. using the special Red Gross
methods and not otherwise. They must
exercise great tact in dealing with per-
sons affected by disaster. In conduct
ing interviews. taking down statements
and filing out records, only the most
elementary and necessary facts should
he required during the period Of excite
ment and stress. if there is any indica.
ton that it is distressing TO the person
concerned Additional information can
80 L,-1 10 81.
work progresses. OF course, the ne
cessary facts should be obtained for e.
ficent work, but the experienced worker
will choose the time and means and
save the feelings of overwruuSAt pee.
pie.
SOL. 2. Personnel OF Commits
The Emergency Relief Committee, Z
should be borne in mind. is commit
tee which constantly should be capable
of immediate and effective acton, %
that responsibility shall he coupled al.
ways with the power to meet u For
this reason. it should preferably cor.
sist of a nucleus of members. whlci
may he enlarged as need requires
he generally familiar with relief meas
ures and accustomed 10 work o.
gether. II is preferable to regard ms
standing committee as a nucleus to be
augmented to meet any special need
In dealing with disaster, one or NE
first acts of the committee should he o
elect as members. those persons IN ut
community. who are hest capable
dealing with the particular situation ard
most helpful in producing commu0ll
action.
II would seem desirable that tho mayr
OF the city, eX-ofiicio, should be either
honorary member of the committee
honorary chairman. so as TO assn
constant and satisfactory relations y;
tween the committee and the munlciH
government. 1t will not he amiss
have influential business or CIVIC M
carnations represented on the commit
tee, preferably not eX othcio, but az
members chosen for efficiency.
The Red Cross Emergency ReR
members of the local chapter of he
Red Cross. These may be the char
man and the secretary. who by reason
of their office become eX-officio memperS
or other, members designated for TINS
purpose by the chapter.
500. 3. Chairman and secrstary-
The Committee should have n Chairman
and Secretary. their duties to be those
which ordinarily devolve upon such o.
ficers. Both of them, but especially NE
Chairman. should be chosen. If possible
for their knowledge and ability in deal
ing with problems of relief and re-
Mobilization.
treasurer Of the local chapter OF ue
Red Cross a member ex-officio OF hs
Emergency Relief Committee. But
whether he be member or not ~ =.
should serve as treasurer OF the reHei
funds. These funds should be paid gu!
by the treasurer, upon vouchers signeo
by the Director and approved by desls,
mated officer Of the committee
chapter treasurer is not available lo'
this service the Committee should ap
point it's own treasurer.
5o4. 5. Director-The chief ex
ecutive officer of the institutional mem.
Al
qualified to act as Director, for 1t Is .,
Importance that whoever directs snouias
have had experience in the technique ..
relief administration and be familiis,
with the resources Of the commun NUM-.
and with approved principles and me men.
DDS of procedure. While the COMMITTEE
should have a permanent executive OF
ficer. it should always be free to az,
point a special director, If necessary "
secure the qualifications needed to dea
with any particular disaster.
SOS. 6. Relief Funds and supplies
The institutional member is not re-
quired to collect funds or supplies
either directly or through its emergency
relief committee. Such funds may De
provided by the Red Cross through ~
National or it's Chapter organizatnr,
In experience they have frequently been
collected by a Mayors or a citizeGs
committee. turned over to the Red Cross
Emergency Relief Committee of the IN
Stitutional Member. and disburSed upn.
its voucher. Unless there he in l1f
community an efficient Red Cross chap
ter whose chairman can confer IN
mediately with the municipal officers O
citizens. it is suggested that the Cnai.
man of the Emergency Relief Comm,
tee call at once, upon the municipal =.
CIVIC bodies. and newspapers, likely
collect relief. and arrange to have sue i.,
relief collected for disbursement undsi.
the authority and by the accreditgsu
methods Of the Red Cross The aa
vance of funds for immediate rurpo:sssss
Emergency Relief Committee from gen.
erous individuals, subject to repayment
from collections subsequently, made -,
sos. 2. Emergency outft-Upon 10
a s;onl of sppontment the ms, igst ~
emergency outfit of family calas
blanks. Red Cross flag and other equip
ment necessary to meet the requre
ments of Red Cross work.
IN TIME OF DISASTER
5o7. l. Director General to be MOE.
fed Immediately-When disastef
comes. a representative Of the Depart
ment of Civilian Relief will usually PRIV
ceed at once to the scene for the puI,
pose of assisting i'm the organization o.
relief. If his services are needed. and o.
assuming whatever measure of author,
1ty the circumstance may warrant bu,
when an institutional member is pre-
pared adequately to meet all the De.
mands of the emergency. ii will be trnss
purpose of the Department to lend U,
national authority to the support 9,
mat member In the accomplishment o.
its task.
Immediately upon the occurrence Of
disaster within the designated territory
or an institutional members, the Esn'
Der is expected to telephone or tcs
graph the fact to the Director GeneiS
OF Civliian Relief, giving at the Ssg