Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1920-05-14
GOOD OF COMMUNITY SERVICE
Ideals and Purposes Are In Evidence
Now That Initial Organization
10 Completed.

Soon after the organization of the
American Legion an official order
went out from the headquarters OF War
Camp Community Service 10 It's field
workers. Assistance and good will
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" e.
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
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 manlfesting 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
plans for q civic center and community
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 mem
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
discussions 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 sOciabllity resulting from these
meetings is showing good results.
In less pretentiOus but nevertheless
practical ways the Legion Is working
with Community Service In other
~
Is giving free use of its ballroom each
Saturday night to the girls clubs. In
Fredericksburg, Virginia. II helped in
the production of minstrel show In
Chelsea Michigan. the post Is opening
Its club rooms for general Community
Service In its request for the use Of
the armory for recreational program.
A recreational and social program
that is often community wide has been
continued by the American Legion In
many communities where the War
Camp Community Service ceased to
exist after the rehabilitation Of the
soldier. In cases where the soldiers
club or hospitality house" WAS vacated
by the government the American
Legion went in and began "carry
on" movement. This was true In Dal-
las, Texas. where the American
Legion. together with the Rainbow,
36th and Goth divisions. assumed the
responsibility Of running the soldier
club. In Junction City, Kansas. the
Legion has practically full charge Of
the Community House and Its program.
The numerous occasions on which
Community Service has been able to
assist In programs given by the various
local posts serve as other examples Of
the cooperation between the two or
ganizations. From coaching the chorus
Of minstrel show TO the arrangement
Of an entire evening. orchestra to
speakers, the Community Service
workers have willingly put themselves
at the beck and call Of the Legion. In
Hackensack. New Jersey. the oppor-
tunity Of helping IN a musical enter
tainment led to the possibility Of form
Ing a glee club of the Legion men and
the colored post Of Englewood. New
Jersey. has asked the help of Com
munity Service In arranging a years
program Of activities. The community
council Of Chelsea, Michigan. is CO.
operating with the Legion In conduct.
Ing two weekly dancing classes. fol-
lowed by a community dance. The
Legion club rooms In Houston. Texas.