The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-01-07
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND Development.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT.
All over the country communities facing the
problem as to whether the community service which
was so large part of the wartime program will
be continued Some inland cities and those which
are not SO situated as to present need for such
service associated with their development, have
brought their activities to a close But In nearly
every instance where community service has been
part Of the recreational hours of the service
the need has been proven great to justify the
continuation OF the community service program
This does not necessarily mean that the peace
time program must be a direct adjunct to the
creation Of the soldiers and sailors; but community
service demonstrates conclusively the need for
greater activity for ALL
Both Jacksonville and Pensacola are now con-
sidering the advisability Of continuing the commu-
nifty service. which did much for these two cities
during the world Both Pensacola and Jack
sonvne are working for the future development
Of the ports as well as the development of commu-
nifty spirit Both realize that much of the develop
ment which comes to any city depends whether
or not city Is pleasant place to make home.
We are very apt to think Of city building as some
thing entirely outside the home-circle But this is
not so. To build any community we must first
make the atmosphere home atmosphere. That is
what the community service helps to do.
Just as the nation and state have a real existence
so the community has a real existence with a soul
and personality of its The individual has need
OF employment in order that he may conscientiousy
serve his interests The community needs some
thing to do as a community 1t must have material
interests and promote them if it is to be healthy
ana normal
Civic ideness is quite as much to be feared as any
other sort. If any members of a community
conscientIousy enlisted in the work of community
building the threat civic ideness vanishes. 1t is
the civic idler rather than the worker who is the
destructive knocker.
Community service creates personal touch among
the individuals of the community. 1t mpresses up
them the strength and Importance OF cooperation
We must realize that the individual constitutes the
community, and to get the proper response from the
community, must get it from the individual
The organized wartime community taught the
it initiates all of the members OF the community in
to the comradeship of those who serve.
Community service a cooperative agency will
assist any group organization In the community
to perfect any moeement that they might start,
that is for the good Of the community.
Community service should never be for a set
period. 1t cannot last as a temporary arrangement
but it should become part Of the community and
work hand in hand with the different clubs organ
izatons and institutions within the community. We
must impress the importance of service the true
and larger meaning.
Individual responsibility has become the familiar
spirit of the millions and its account wiiis-
pers Stacker" into the of those who would
forget that peace time service is debt that
conscience and patriotism must pay.