New Britain herald., 1917-11-08
NEW BRITAIN RED CROSS '
 NEEDS $40,OOO A YEAR

in the western section for the greater convenience of workers and this win- ter for the first time We start 8 de- partment to make surgical dressings. Reports from the relief work have ap- peared from time to time in the press and these, with Mrs. Russell's report tonight will indicate the response that our women have made, Individually, by churches and by organizations and the statistics, better than any words of mine, will convey the importance of the stream of garments that we are able to keep flowing to the caAters of distribution. .5s.4t '.+s.
 Before the war the National Red Cross had an organization that seemed designed to make it as ,dff1cealk as pos sible for the chapters and for g. time the pressure was too great presume, to attempt . reorganization. but re- gently several changes have been made to meet the new conditions, and I am glad to report that my belief in their certain coming has naved us a great deal Of clerical work The stigma of too much Fred tape. can now be positively deMed with a clear conscience. Chief among these changes is a. total decentralization of book keeping. We no longer, as a chap ter, have any direct relations with Washington but only with the Atlantic division. 8ss e,''. ..
 Another important change is that each chapter now records and keeps it's own membership records and has nothing to report to the parent body except it's finances on a standard form.
 There has been prepared at Wash ington a general form of bylaws which agrees substantially with the organization form this chapter has. always worked under. I recommend that these bylaws be adopted at this meeting. t-
 ''The national body is very insistent that all chapters prepare for home service, that is, the care of the de- pendent families of soldiers, by. direct relief and to see that their riGAtA tln- der the new national insurance act are properly understood and foIlowed up. &tf.t
 Although we have had no one to look after this I have satisfied my self through the Charity Organiza- ton that we have had no such prob lem here yet and it Is now recom- mended by the State Council of De- fence that chapters cooperate with the organized charity of. their city in this work for which there may soon be need. I, therefore. intend to sug- gest to the executive committee that we immediately appoint a committee for this work and place their services at the disposal of the Charity Organ ization who are in a position to know at once all cases of this nature.
 ''It seems only right and proper that h4 h4 tao representative of the actual relief work. We do not wish to burden the ladies with the administrative end of the chapter but such an arrangement would. believe, be mutually helpful.
 '.If Washington had sent any official infor1natibn asto Jtlst bow much of the war fund had been spent end noF what this would be a proper place to make public the facts but it is; ap- parently too early.
 "It is also too early to make any predictions as to the next camr2ign.
 Your executive committee by placing a definite limit on monthly expenses is prepared to finance the relief work at the present rate until next June. Then, or more probably before, we must be prepared for an- other money campaign and I hope that the same workers will attack the task with the same spirit and with new enthusiasm born of the great success last June. The sum to be raised looked to us a mountain then for we had mot been used to giving on war scale; it ought to be easier next time. '.,.
 "Respectfully submitted,
 "W. F. BROOKS. ~
 Treasurer's Report.
 The annual report of the treasurer, R. R. Healey. follows: ,"-
 "I hereby submit the annual report of the New Britain Chapter Ameri- can Red Cross: ...s {
 Receipts.
 Balance on hand Nov. 1st,'
 1916 craftsmanship. 137.49 Received from campaign
 conducted during last
 week of May ........ .. 15, 297.38 Other memberships received
 during the year ........ 4772.s5 Small gifts 536.25 Esther Stanley
 i Chapter, D. A.
 SAP