The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-05-08
GOOD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
Now That initial Organization
Is Completed.

Camp Community Service TO its field
workers. Assistance and good viii
were to be given to the American
Legion In all localities. On its side
the Legion had already expressed its
attitude toward the fast developing
program of community service by the
following clause In its constitution
ito inculcate a sense of individual obi
cation to the community, state and
nation"
When the American Legion began
its drive for membership and sought
to establish posts. the accumulated ex-
perience of War Camp Community
Service with soldier and sailor needs
proved helpful. The services Of nine
organizers of proved ability were
placed at the Legion's disposal. AS
necessity demanded, offices, clubs and
information booths became centers for
the campaign. The swift advance of
the organizers as post after post was
established showed that common ideals
and a common purpose constituted a
great prOpelling power in this drive
for members. And now that initial
organization has been completed. these
same common ideals and purposes are
evident.
The friendliness Of the American
Legion for Community Service has re-
Gently been manifesting itself in vari-
GUS ways. In Fayetteville. N. c., the
Legion is pledging funds for the 1920
program of a community club and three
officers of the local post are working
on the general Community Service
committee. The entire community
work in another place was continued
at the suggestion and with the backing
Of the Legion. The Girls Community
Service League members are being
asked to discuss with the local post
and the leading men of the town the
building of community house. One
of the Legion members In Freeport,
Long Island, is so interested in the
Community Service program that he is
devoting a great deal of time and eff
fort to engage the public in extensive
house. In several places community
council" Of Legion members has been
appointed as special committee to
work with Community Service. Wher-
ever the girls groups are continuing
activities the American Legion men,
bers are the popular guests at dances
and parties.
In Nassau-Queens county. New York,
the girls clubs are successfully work
ing out with the Legion community
forums and social evenings. The forum
often lead to warm debates
on national and international topics.
The ex-soldier is keen to discuss cur
rent events and the girls are prepared |
to cope with several up-to-the-minute |
subjects. The patriotic stimulation |
and sociability resulting from these
meetings is showing good results.
In less pretentious but nevertheless |
practical ways the Legion is working |
with Community Service In other
places. For example In Baltimore it
Is giving free use Of its ballroom each |
Saturday night to the girls clubs. In |
Fredericksburg. Virginia. 1t helped In
the production of minstrel show; in
Chelsea. Michigan. the post is opening |
It's club rooms for general Community
Service In its request for the use of
he armory for recreational program.
A recreatiOnal and social program
hat is often community wide has been
by the American Legion in
many communities where the War
Camp Community Service ceased to
Exist after the rehabilitation Of the
,oldier. In cases where the soldiers
Tub or hospitality house" was vacated
~ the government the American
legion went In and began a "carry
m" movement. This was true In Dali
as, Texas, where the American
legion. together with the Rainbow,
9th and Goth divisions, assumed the
# running the soldier
Tub. In Junction City, Kansas, the
legion has practically full charge of
he Community House and its program.
The numerous occasions on which
Service has been able to
ssist In programs given by the various
peal posts serve as other examples of
he cooperation between the two or.
From coaching the chorus
4 minstrel show to the arrangement
( an entire evening. orchestra to
peakers. the Community Service
'orkers have willingly put themselves !
t the beck and call Of the Legion. In
Iackensack. New Jersey. the oppor-
unity Of helping In musical enter
linment led to the possibility of FORM
lg a glee club Of the Legion men and '
ne colored post Of Englewood. New 1
ersey. has asked the help of Com
unity Service In arranging a years I
rogram Of activities The community g,
ounctl OF Chelsea. Michigan. is CO. {
perating with the Legion in conduct
* two weekly dancing classes. fol-
wed by community dance. The
eglon club rooms in Houston. Texas.
ere renovated and redecorated with (
lie help Of Community Service. s
In many places the Community Serv-
TO COMBINE SMALLER POSTS.