Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-09-14
Welfare Department
Opens Club Season

recently established through the
consolidation OF the civic and
home economies and pure food de-
partments, was held yesterday at
the Masonic temple parlors. in
augurating the fall club season in
the city. The chairman of the
consolidated departments, Mrs. K.
T. Anderson, presided at the con-
closing the seasons work of the
old department at which Mrs. c. E
Sharpe officiated.
Mrs. Anderson in taking the
chair said as follows:
TO our retiring chairman, Mrs.
G. Z. Sharpe, we wish to express
a word of sincerest appreciation
for her faithfulness and untiring
efforts in behalf of the civic de-
partment, and l personally regret
that with her energy, experience
and enthusiasm she has not seen
her sway clear TO continue at the
head of this newly welded city well
fare department, an office which l
now assume with no little diff
dence.
Our object as set forth in our
constitution presents such a large
and important program that one
may well tremble to enter upon
the accomplishment of ali that is
mapped out for US to do-'to in
crease interest in the welfare of
the citizens of Rock Islaod, to en-
lisc their aid in lettering living
conditions, to work for a clean,
healthful and beautiful city, to
cooperate with all organizations
interested in the betterment Of
civic and home conditions and
with the federal, state and city
governments in the enforcement of
all good laws pertaining to this
end A great deal has been &C
cOmpIished by the two depart
ments working separately in the
past, surely the consolidated de-
partment must do no less.
You have chosen those whom
you desired to be the executive
board Of this department and in
so doing have indicated your conf
dence in them, and it is now also
up to you to stand by them. Let
US have at all times friendly mu-
tual cooperation and we can &C
cOmplish anything we set out to
do; but without cooperation ali
our efforts are only wasted
energy,
Your executive board stands
ready at all times to receive any
suggestions or friendly construc-
tive criticism that will tend to i'm
prove the department and in re
turn we ask for your patience with
such unintentiOnaI mistakes as
may occur.
These are busy times and with
all the extra demands the different
organizations make upon our time,
it is a great temptation to neglect
our ordinary clubs and societies.
But this should not be-we should
endeavor to be women of more
than one idea at a time, to be
many sided if I may so express it
for there is a long time coming
after the war is over and it is Just
as important to keep business a.
home going as usual to keep the
home fires burning as it is to do
the more spectacular duties that
the stress of war creates.
We expect to have good pro-
grams at each of our meetings but
in order that they may be success
full we must have a good attend
ance of enthusiastic, active mem
bers, remem Dering that enthusiasm
begets enthusiasm, and that con-
Yersely Indifference, manifested by
nOn-attendance, can kill the Invest
program. So l beg of you, make
duty of it to be regular in your at
tendance upon the department
meetings and to take an active
part, and thus working together
we can make practical, personal
application of the little sentiment
which our wOman's club has
adopted as a sort of club motto,
From diverse spheres, Tor mutual
helpfulness, and a united effort fer
the right a sentiment which after
all resolves itself into that essen
tial element of successful club
life-frst. last and always, COOP
Grafton"
This inaugural pretty we'll de-
fines the work that the CITY well
fare department is to take I'D dur
ing the coming season and the year
promises to be full of interest and
enthusiasm. The attendance yes
terday was large and this augurs
well for the future of tie depart
ment.
Mrs. c. E. Sharpe in her report
for the year that has just closed
reviewed very briefly the large
amount of work that has been car
ried on under her direction, calling
special attention to the soldier
welfare activities that the depart
ment has undertaken. This has
been no small duty and has been
carried through to a very success
full issue up to the time the WORK
was taken over by the Fosdick
commission. She spoke OF the SUP
port the department has given to
all big things that have come I'M
IN the city, the part the depart
ment played in the local option
campaign, and federal and other
activities in which it has been ac-
lively engaged.
She spoke OF the Fairgrounds
work that has been carried on
very successfully under the depart
ment direction and referred briefly
TO other important works that have
been accomplished.
Reports We're given of the wears
work by the secretary, Mrs. Homer
r. Hinkley; treasurer, Mrs. c A.
Schoessel, who reported a balance
of $4,000 on hand; the auditing
committee, Mrs. c. 0. Woodruff