Woman's enterprise., 1922-09-01
COMMUNITY SERVICE
COMES TO this CITY
"sah'zer here to Assist in Develop.
Velopment of COMMUNICATIVE
Program of Leisure Time
Activities.

"A program of wholesome recreation
Tor everybody in the community is
ABOUT to be established. Several
months ago through the initial efforts
OF the Civic Association arrangements
were made with the national Com
munlty Service to send an organizer
ana assistants to Baton Rouge. The
splendid work being done in other
louisiana cities and elsewhere created
strong desire for the movement here
John f. Mitchell, community or
ganizer, Of San Antonio, arrived in
the city several days ago and met
Monday with the temporary commit
tee appointed during the visit of Mr..
Randall, advance representative. Mr..
Mitchell organized the Community
Service in Shreveport, Monroe and
Lake Charles, and is said to be one of
the most experienced and able organ
lzers in the service of the national
association.
The meeting Monday was presided
over by 7. L. Small, chairman Of the
temporary committee. 1t was decided
by the committee that as Community
Service is representative Of all the
people in the community its organiz-
alton should be effected at general
meeting to which all citizens will b.
invited. Mr.. Mitchell outlined the
various divisions Of activity, physical
and social recreation, community mu-
sic, educational dramatics, story-ten.
ing and play, and citizenship, all Of a
communicable character, and sug-
gested community music, with special
reference to community and group
sings and training school for song
leadership and community chorus as
the initial activities. He laid special
stress on physical and social recrea-
ton, including a training school for
play leaders, Fairgrounds under train
ed leaders, physical education in the
schools, inter-group athletic activi-
ties, social mixers for grown-ups, and
other. forms of. recreation for adults,
young people and children, but his
experience was that a we'll balanced
and constructive program could best
be carried out by leading up to the
play and athletic features Of the work,
especially as it is desirable to have
the recreation organizer here while
the schools are in session. 1t is hoped
to have music organizer here with
in a week or ten days.
Mr.. Mitchell stated to representa-
tive of the Woman's Enterprise last
Wednesday that he was much pleased
to find so many facilities in Baton
Rouge for a comprehensive program
of leisure time activities. He said
that wonderful opportunities are af-
forded by Victory Park, the Com
munty Club, the Woman's Club build
ing, the ball park, the University
grounds, the parked portion of North
Boulevard, the swimming pool and
University Lake. Either the lake or
the Mississippi river are almost ideal
for a water pageant or for the opera
"All At Sea-" He said that he was
most favorably impressed with the
talent here, especially along musical
lines. But more p fairgrounds are
needed, with better equipment anc
with trained leaders to direct the play
Community Service will train pla!
and game leaders, song leaders, ant
later on dramatic leaders.
Mr.. Mitchell said that Communlt!
Service is probably the biggest AM
most worthwhile accomplishment TO
a community to undertake, as it EN-
braces wholesome activities in whic]
every man and woman, every boy an
girl in the community may partlcl
pate, and that the activities are sue
as to build up finer standard 0
manhood and womanhood, develop
higher community morale, produce
more neighborly and friendly attltud
among all classes Of the people, an
stimulate a loyalty towards America
ideals and institutions; and all OF tn
it does, not so much as an organlzs
tion. but as an agency, operatln
through and with existing organlz'
tions, and utilizing the resources az
talents of the community.
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