Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-02-06
FOUR VERMONT GIRLS
EN- ROUTE TO FRANCE
Burlington, Rutland, Bennington
and Montpelier Send Repre-
senatives Chosen by Women's
Clubs for work in Leave Areas
Under Direction of Y. M. G. A.

Miss Dorothy Votey of this city, Miss
Charlotte G. Chaffee of Rutland, Miss
Harris of Bennington and Miss Helena
Lowe of Montpelier have sailed for
France on the "Coronia" for work in
the leave areas in France under the
direction of the Y. NJ. G. A. They will
land at Bordeaux.
These young ladies were chosen by
the Federation of Woman's clubs in
Vermont for this work. Some months
ago the declarations all over the coun
try collected a sum of money which
was to he spent for furlough houses
to take the place of hostess houses in
France. This work in Vermont was in
charge of Mrs oliver c. Ashton of Rut
land, State chairman of the Vermont
division of the War Victory commits
sion of the Federation of Woman's
clubs. Later, because all recreation
work was given over to General PERISH
ing, whatever the General federation
did must be under the supervision of
the Y NJ. G.. A., so several conferences
were held to decide what would be the
proper use of the furlough money.
1t was suggested that the General
Federation send a unit of 102 women
overseas, TO be composed of two wom-
en- from every State in the Union and
four older women to supervise the
unit Their work was to be in the leave
areas. the need for which is as neces-
sary now as during the war.
The qualifications for these women
were very rigid for besides being
| physically strong they had to have ac-
complishments so they would be useful
in entertaining or wherever they were
needed. A board meeting was held at
select
ing the young women to go. They
| were chosen on their own merits alone.
Miss Dorothy Notey and Miss Charlotte
| Chaffee were chosen to represent YER
mont and were summoned to a confer
once in New York from January % and
! 30. Later 1T was found that one of the
western States had not sent it's two girls
! and so two more were chosen from YER
mont, Miss Harris of Bennington and
Miss Helena Lowe of Montpelier They
also attended the four days conference
| in New York.
! Miss Votey, in letter to her father,
Dean ]. w. Votey of the college of en-
gineering, University of Vermont, wrote
that she had never met such wonder
full lot of girls in her life, and that the
conference had been most interesting
She also wrote that it was rather try
allowed to go to France. for, although
the girls went through rigid examina-
tons and had to furnish all kinds OF
recommendations they were not select
ed from those sent to the conference
until it was all over. On Wednesday
however, she was notified that she was
among those to sail and a week earlier
than was expected.
Miss Votey is a graduate of the Uni
versity of Vermont in the class of 1915
and is a member of the Phi Beta Kappa
and Kappa Alpha fraternities. She wa:
very popular with her college and class
mates and is well qualified for the worl
she is to do. Another sister, Constance
has been overseas for some time. Sh'
went first as a secretary in base hospita
No located at Bordeaux and is nov
secretary to the commanding officer a
the hospital.