Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-26

Red Cross Holds
Annual Meeting
Reports Are Read
The annual meeting of American
Red Cross was held at the Red Cross
office this afternoon with a good
number of the committee present.
Reports were given by +. f. Booth
by, secretary treasurer; o. A. Mead
er. finance committee; Mrs. Parker
Stewart, publicity; Mrs. Martin Bart
lett, production; Miss Edna Clark,
nursing: Miss Julia Lake. eX-secre-
tary and Miss Laurane Pelletier, pub
lib health nurse.
Mrs. J. Howard Welch was elected
chairman for the coming year and
a committee elected to nominate the
other members of the committee at
a later date. That committee con-
sists of Frank Redington, +. 4.
Boothby and Miss Julia I.akin.
The report of Miss Julia A. Lakin.
executive secretary of the Red Cross
was given telling of the work ac-
complished during the past year.
The local chapter of the American
Red Cross has broadened it's work
in many ways this past year. as it
should do because it belongs to the
city and is the tangible expression of
a city-wide interest in the problems
of the city and is eager to assist in
any local cooperative movement.
The first duty of this department
has been to assist the discharged
soldier, whose problem now is that
of establishing the connection be-
tween breaking health and overseas
or camp service. The effects of gas
poisoning seem never ending. Many
men who were able to return to work
when they came home from the ser
vice are now finding themselves I'M
able to carry on. Because of the
lapse Of time from date of discharge
to date of filing claim the govern
ment requires strong evidence in af-
fidavits signed by doctors, employers,
"Buddies," and disintercsted friends.
This evidence must be strong, con-
else. and in detail.
The department has helped to file
papers for the Federal Board for
Vocational Education. whose place
ment officer from Portland meets the
men taking training in the Red Cross
office every three weeks.
1t has also granted loans and thus
tided men through a hard financial
struggle. In one case the man aided
when he repaid the money wrote the
following: eve will always be
thankful to the Red Cross for all
it did for us. as it was through the
Red Cross that we are successful to-
day. 1t is certainly the Greatest
Mother in the World" and we feel
we owe everything to it and we hope
all the boys from Waterville feel the
same"
More work has been done with
civilian cases than formerly. The
Home Service Department mas aided
poverty stricken families who were
trying hard not to become paupers,
sometime by giving financial aid,
sometimes by giving second hand
clothing. This department has in
vestigated and assisted in cases
handled by the police department,
overseer of the poor, and municipal
court. 1t has called at homes that
have been reported as having chill
dren in them who were being ne
elected and abused. 1t has also
helped the foreign-born to locate
relatives. file forms for entrance of
relatives into this country, apply for
naturalization papers, etc.
We are grateful to all the solicit
tors and contributors who helped to
make our membership drive q sue
cess last fall, and to the American
Legion for their cooperation in
handling cases. We thank the Off
GERS and members of the committee
for their loyal support and interest
in all the work undertaken in this
department. We also thank the vol
unteer workers for helping in the
office work, the Bayard Company,
Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias,
for their generous gift. and the B.
p. o. E. for its help in aiding the I'M
fortunate.
Respectfully submitted,
JULIA A. LAKIN.
Executive Secretary.
Miss Laurence Pelletler. substitute
nurse presented the following report
OF work done:
The Red Cross Public Health
nurse work consists of general bed
side nursing visits. Visits are limit
ed to one hour so that all may be
attended. Also visits to prospective
mothers are made, instructing them
as to prenatal care and diet. and
urging them to call on their ply
sicians. We also have post-natal
calls, that is, cases of mothers and
babies after confinement, and gen.
eral follow-up work. including child
and infant welfare work.
The nurse responds to new calls,
but continues with the case only
under the direction of a physician.
From October /, 1921 to April 1,
1922, 1873 cases have been attended,
112 OF which were Metropolitan
policy holders: 719 general bedside
nursing visits were made: Il infant
and child welfare visits we're made:
40 prenatal visits were made: IL
A.,r-