The Meeker herald., 1918-11-02
CHAPTERS TOLD OF
RED CROSS WORK
Annual Meetings Listen to Re-
port Made by 0rganiza-
tons War Council.
oNE.FoURTH OF couNTRYs
POPULATION Is ENROLLED
Estimated That Approximately Eight
Million Women Are Engaged In Can.
teen Work and the Production OF
Relief suppiies-vast Sums Elk.
pended.

Red Cross chapters throughout the
country held their annual meetings
October %. ut which the following
message from the War Council was
reud:
To the Chapters Of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings TO
the chapters of tho American Red
Cross on the occasion OF their annual
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings go congrat,ila-
tons on the great work Of the chapters
during the pnst ycnr and, above all
things, on the wonderful spirit Of sac.
rltice and patriotism which has per-
vaded tliut work.
The strength u the Red Cross rests
upon Its chapters. They are It's b,ne
and sinew. They supply It's funds.
they supply Its men and women, they
supply It's enthusiasm. Let MS. then,
review together the Red Cross story
Of the past year.
Some idea OF the size TO which your
Red Cross family has grown may he
gathered from the following facts:
On May /. 1917, just before the ap-
pointInent Of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 4sdl94 mem
bers working through 49, chapters.
On July ~. 1918. the organization
numbered 2O.84s, 1903 annual members.
besides S.OO.OOO members of the
Junior Red Cross-n total enrolment
of over One.fourth the population Of
the United States.
Since the beginning Of the war you
Of the chapters have cO-operated with
the War Council In conducting two war
fund drives aud one membership drive.
In addition 10 the campaign on behalf
OF the Junior Red Cross.
The total actual collections TO date
from the first war fund have amounted
to more than Sl1b,OOO.OOO. The sub
scriptions TO the second war fund
amounted 10 upwards Of $l78,OO0!O0O.
From membership dues the collec-
tons have amounted to approximately
&24.5OO,OOO.
Splendid Work Done BY Women.
To the FORGING must be added That
very large contribution Of materials
snd time given by the millions Of wom-
en- throughout the country In surgical
dressings. In knitted articles. In hos
pital and refugee garments. in canteen
work. and the other activities the chap
tiers hive been called upon 10 perform.
II Is estimated that approximately
S,0OO.OOO women arc engaged In can
teen work md the production OF relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up To July ]. 1918.
American Red Cross chapters, through
their wOrkrOOms, had produced:
i.O.12O refugee garments.
7,l23.G21 hospital supplies.
lU,1SC.4S0 hospital garments.
lO,134.5O1 knitted articles.
192.74s.1O7 surgical dressings.
A total Of pol d.. s:}S nrticles-of an
estimated aggregate value Of ut least
$44.O0O.O0O.
These articles We're largely the
product OF wOmen's hands, md. by the
same token. infinitely more precious
than could have been the output Of
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating room of the hos
pitnIs. to homeless or needy refugees,
ind carrying comfort 10 our own boys
In the field. convey message Of love
from the women Of this country entire
ly distinct from the grrnt money value
attaching to their hnndiwork.
Money Spent In Work.
by the terms under which the first
Red Cross war fund was raised. the
chapters were entitled to retain - per
cent Of the amount collected. in order
defrny local expenses. to carry on their
home service work. to purchase ma
terIals to be utilized In chapter produc-
tlon and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain nrnrly
S29.OOO,0O0. As matter of fact. their
about S2:.OOO,OOO.
Out Of collections from annual mem
berships. the chapters have retained
about S11.OOOOOO.
From this total sum. therefore. Of S:i3.-
OOO,OOO retained by the chapters. they
have met all the Oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and in add.
ton have provided for use by national
headquarters products valued. na
stated above, at upwards Of $44.OD.-
GOO.
The chapters have In effect returned
to the War Council. not alone the $:E3.-
100000 retained out Of the war fund
membership dues but. In vnlue Of