The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-10-10
CAMPAIGNS CONDUCTED BY THE
CHAPTER.

The first campaign undertaken fol
the Red Cross was that Of June 1917.
Up until that time the chapter had
been dependent upon the chapter
share Of membership dues, which were
exceedingly small in number, upon
the proceeds of benefit dances ant
bridge parties, and various donations
from business firms and individuals
The money had been wisely OK
pended, but here, as all over the Unit
ed States, the needs were multiplying
beyond any small financing efforts
In our first campaign attempt, a COM
bine was entered with the Y. M. C.
a., which at that time was launching
a drive for funds to be locally expend-
ed. The campaign opened Tuesday
June 18th, and closed Thursday 21st.
The campaign directors we're Mr.. R.
n. Cunningham. general chairman
and Mr., j. NJ. Jacobs, vice chairman
The canvass was handled by teams;
six teams Of men workers, and two Of
women workers. The amount set Ia
be secured was $4,000. 90. The
amount actually raised was $2s,325. rs
of this amount the Red Cross received
1851. IL. according to an agreement
made before the drive began.
The second campaign followed In
November and was a membership
campaign, under the craftsmanship OF
Mrs. Edwin Robinson, who was the
chairman of the Chapter Extension
Committee. This was the first drive
engineered and executed solely by the
chapter. 1t was the first attempt al
organizing both city and county for
concerted effort inNwork Of this ma
ture.
The organization for action began as
early as July, preceding the time sci
in November. BY the time the day ar
rived for the actual launching Of the
campaign, a membership bureau had
been established in every lodge,
church, manufacturing plant, business
establishment, mine, and beneficiary
association, in the city. and out into
the county as far as it was possible.
The result of this preliminary work
began to show up In September and
August, when two hundred new names
were enrolled, followed in October. By
the enrolling Of five hundred more.
making a total Of seven hundred new
members before the drive was actually
entered upon. The enrolment preced-
ing August was about seven hundred,
The campaign had to be an eduea-
tive one from the foundation up. The
speakers had to be supplied with facts
on which to base their appeals, and
these had to be compiled by the chair
man, and typed for distribution, as no
literature was issued for this purpose
by the National Red Cross. 1t was es.
pecially difficult to keep the publicity
going with such meager supply Of In
formation. In after campaigns, there
was an abundance OF posters and liter
AZURE, with such striking attractions
and stirring facts, that the labor was
half done upon their presentation.
The campaign opened In earnest up
on November 5th, 1917, with head
quarters in the Fleming Building, on
Adams street. The personnel Of the
committee; County Chairman, Mrs.
Edwin Robinson; City Chairman, j.
NJ. Hartley, Vice City Chairman, Mr.,
G. q. Smith; Executive Secretary and
Treasurer, Mr.. G. W. Evans; Chair
man Of Speakers Bureau, Mr.. A. q,
Martini There were two cooperative
city committees, one Of women ana
one of men, which did splendid. and
effective work. The publicity was
handled BY Mr.. B. 3. Meredith. an
able newspaper man IS
When the campaign closed, after a
wonderful effort put forth by the
committee members and volunteer
workers, the result was as follows;
annual memberships, 1926; Junior
memberships, life memberships IL,
altlt lrinn. man laI.- Kim q a ard I'M