Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-11-05
MONEY WELL SPENT

It would be a mistake to suppose that the money
subscribed TO the War Camp Community Recreation Fund
u to be devoted solely or even chiefly to the promotion
of athletic sports among the soldiers. Such sports are
essential to the wsll-being Of the men. and they will have
a large place on the program. But the list of activities
to be provided for is a very comprehensive one. A bull
letin just issued by the general committee in charge of
tho work classics the work roughly "a follows:
A-Crsating ana maintaining = strong COM
mtttee in each of the war-camp communities,
with many anxtliaries. to protect the soldier
from exploitation and to make hin feel At home
in the community.
Directing and maintaining club andre
creahonal buildings. lodging houses, comfort sta
tons, swimming pools, etc.
C-Employins one or more trained COM
mpnity organizers In each community adjacent
to the camp.
@securins accommodations for visiting
relatives, thus making their comfort and safety
All Of these activities arc to be conducted outside the
camps, arrangements for work within the camp being in
charge Of other agencies.
If these headings ere studied it will be fqud that they
include practically everything Nthat can be done for the
promotion OF the soldiers welfare. The bulletin also lists
a number Of committees through which the work is
carried on. and mentions specific activities in charge of
each committee. A few of these activities. taken at ran
dom. are:
Organized church work in many forms: teaching
lansuages ana trades; arranging Tor social gatherings
under the auspices Of Masons, Elks, etc. A long list Of
Items relating to the organization of the girls of the com,
munity into patriotic clubs, holding receptions. and care
or women visitors; collecting complete information con-
corning the individual. soldiers. their home addresses,
names of home friends, ETC.: supplying information to
soldiers concerning the local community, it's activities and
Its places OF interest; arranging for musical instruction,
community singing, band concerts, ETC.; conducting mus
ical and dramatic entertainments; celebration of public
holidays and days commemorating important events. pro-
viding for athletic sports and physical exercises: caring
for i'll and respondent soldiers and those under arrest;
arranging for auto rides through city and country: hold
ing public receptions to incoming soldiers; enlisting men,
beers OF the community in entertainment Of soldiers in
their homes on stated occasions.
The above are merely samples from a long list. The
program is based on the conviction that the soldier is a
rational human being and that he needs rational treat
home. The purpose Of the whole program is to supply,
as completely as possible, the surroundings which will
make him an efficient soldier and a good citizen, and
which will cause his period OF camp training to be a
period Of healthy growth and development.
Reader. your son, or your friends son, is one of a
group Of perhaps $4,000 men collected in a little city
some three miles by five in area, with q Des Moines, or a
Charlotte. or . Houston near by. He ia young and full
Of life. eager and ardent, with the spirit Of adventure
strong within him. He has been taken from his ordin-
airy life and ito surroundings and placed In contact with
a great local community whose activities are profoundly
disturbed by the presence Of himself and his companions,
and which, unaidsd, cannot adjust itself properly to the
new conditions. The government, through the recreation
commission, seeks to make these communities safe ana
wholesome for him. It will cost in the neighborhood Of
three dollars a man. Is your ron or your friends son
worth the expenditure
Very Well, them 49,