Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-05-07
COMMUNITY VISION
BY ORGANIZATION
RED CROSS WORK FOR BETTER
MENT OF COMMUNITY LIFE
HAS BEEN ALONG LINES OF
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

How the spirit and breadth Of the
peace program of the American Red
Cross is touching countryside America
and helping solve problems of rural
life is revealed in accounts received
at National Headquarters relative to
the establishment of Red Cross SER
vice in rural communities.
An example of how community
vision has come to one county and
has knit together it's community pro-
jects is illustrated by the introduc-
tton of Home Service in Iowa county,
Wisconsin. One Of the first steps
undertaken by the Red Cross for the
betterment of community life in this
county has been along the lines Of
community organization. whereby
disinterested, disorganized townships
have been organized to meet ON
common ground, to work together
with a unified purpose. The awaken
ing of community spirit has been
brought about largely by means of
frequent community meetings in diff
ferent towns. Bringing people to-
gether in this way has resulted in q
realization Of their common needs
and the desire to work out their
mutual problems together.
The better understanding which
has grown out Of these community
gatherings has effected the establish-
ment of social centers in various
towns whereby social interest and
benefit are afforded the people dur
ing the long winter evenings, (these
often include combined lecture and
musical entertainment courses; the
establishment of circulating libraries,
schools of instruction in neighborhood
groups. of restroom in the larger
towns; supervised Fairgrounds for
the children; and the planning and
working out of recreational programs
for the year, are among the projects
which have been discussed and are
getting under way.
Iowa county, of which Dodgeville
Is the county seat, covers 750 square
miles. consists of ID townships and
has a population of $4,000. It is a
purely rural community. During the
war Home Service was established in
Dodgeville SO that assistance might
be given all the families of soldiers
and sailors in the county. The feel
ing of the citizens throughout the
county in regard to Home Service
is we'll expressed in the statement of
a citizen in Dodgeville that, This
was the dawn of a new and glorious
day for the rural community, through
which has come the realization of
the needs and possibilities of rural
life"
This realization on the part Of
citizens resulted in obtaining a train
led secretary to carry on Home Ser
vice on peace-time basis. The
needs, seen through the eyes of the
citizens themselves, were presented
to the secretary upon her arrival.
and with the viewpoint Of social
worker she has adapted programs
to meet the varied needs.
Recreation is In great demand. and
an extensive program in this connec-
tion has been arranged for the year
Each one of talent in the county
has been singled out and listed. The
program will be progressive and the
entertainments transferred from one
branch to another. Thus not only
recreational needs will be taken care
of, but the community spirit will be
awakened and unity of purpose in
sured. The citizens have grasped
the need of rest-rooms. In one town
this need was called to the attention
of the Commercial Club with the
result that within two weeks one
Of it's well-to-do citizens offered a
site for building, free Of cost to
the people. the property being valued
ut $4,000.
In. addition to these activities
which many communities have al
ready accomplished, communities
have made definite plans for such
undertakings as the erection Of new
school buildings. extension of tht
school year with campaign for bet
liter attendance. the establishment o
community centers, lecture clubs
,parent and teacher associations, ant
many similar activities.