South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-02-05
Civic
Federation
News

for the community centers Of South
Bend
The community center movement.
which has been in progress here for
several years, resulted in 1915 in the
organization of a Federation Of Civic
Clubs. commonly known as the Civic
federation Since that time interest
has increased steadily: new groups
have been organized in various parts
OF the city until now there are 10
schools in which there exists either
community center or a parent
teachers club or both. All Of these
organizations are affiliated in the
Civic federation.
At its January meeting a resolu-
ton was passed stating that since
this is a movement of much impor-
lance 10 the community, and since so
many persons nave become inter-
ested in it and connected with it,,
there was justification for the APP
pointing of a committee TO attempt
10 secure special reservation of
space for Center" news. This COM
mittee was able to report courteous
treatment and satisfactory response
from the editors of South Bends
papers.
All those who are interested in
news pertaining to the "centers,
either as regards the literary pro-
grams. the gymnasium classes or
other social functions. will find the
announcements and reports under
this head.
The Civic federation held it's Feb
ruary meeting on Monday night in
the municipal recreation committee s
offices.
Reports were made by various
centers in whose meetings the mat
ter OF a coliseum" has been dis
cussed, the practically unanimous
consensus of opinion being that
there should be a coliseum erected
without delay and that it should be
erected somewhere near the heart
of the city.
A discussion Of some length fol-
lowed as TO whether the Civic fed
Grafton would undertake to conduct
the Fourth of July municipal picnic
in 1919. All the delegates seemed to
believe that the task should be
undertaken. but IL was the unani-
NOUS opinion that there should be
stronger support from the city than
has ever been given before. The
federation is willing to undertake the
task and to do the work, but does
not feel that 1t should attempt to
entirely finance the proposition. The
president was instructed TO appoint
/ 81 committee which should devise
plans and submit same to the March
meeting of the federation.
Mrs. G. w. Phillips, president Of
the Women's Civic league. invited
the centers represented in this meet
ing TO send delegates to a meeting
which IS TO be held on Feb. 13 for
the formation of a county fedora
ton of clubs. The invitation was ac-
copied.
a report was made to the fedora
ton by members who were in the
meeting of Jan. so in which Pres
Erskine OF the Studeb9ker corpora
ton presented the plans of that COM
many for expansion in South Bend
and outlined the duties of the city
| in connection Herewith. After con-
I siderable discussion the following
resolution was passed.:
THE Civic federation unqualified
w endorses and supports the resolu-
tons adopted in the meeting or Jan.
so when Mr.. Erskine, president or
the Studebaker corporation, outlined
the plans for expansion of that con-
Germ and called attention to South
Bends responsibilities and oppor-
tunities arising therefrom. The fed
Grafton stands ready and willing TO
help carry out the spirit and letter
thereof. and herewith submits list
of the officers of each Of the social
centers and a committee specially
appointed from each center for the
purpose of executing said resolu-
tions: and il is further resolved that
a COPY OF these resolutions be sent
to Mr.. Erskine, president Of the
Studebaker corporation. to the
Chamber of Commerce and to the 10
cal press"
The object OF presenting the
names OF officers and special COM
mittee to the Chamber OF Commerce
is that these people may be made
available for services in any way
deemed advisable by the Chamber
of Commerce committee which is
working on the project.
A unique feature OF the evening
was the meeting of the social secre-
taries of the centers There are now
Il Of these in the city. This group
met at the call OF the municipal rec
reation director for the discussion
OF the problems and plans incident
70 their work. They were addressed
( by L. NJ. Hammerschmidt. chairman
of the municipal recreation commit
tee. on the Functions and Oppor-
! tunities OF Social Secretaries" and
adjourned AZ s p. m. 10 join the
, Civic federation meeting which was
then i'm progress.