Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-09-30

al Solicitation" was the next phase
considered, with most interesting pa
pers being presented by Roscoe w.
Vining, field secretary Massachusetts
tuberculosis leage, Boston who told of
lists and methods of organizing vol
unteer workers; and DR.. r. b. Kerr.
executive secretary of the New
Hampshire tuberculosis association
at Manchester who told how to Sc
cure large contributions.
Graphic Methods and Stunts" was
treated by DR.. r. A. Goodwin. acting
manager of the Androscoggin anti
tuberculosis association, Auburn,
Maine. DIR. Goodwin outlined num-
Der of out Of the ordinary features
that had been successfully worked to
, put a successful campaign across.
The section closed with a discussion
led by the chairman, Mr.. Eaves who
personally brought out a number OF
useful points from his long expert
cnce as a publicity man.
Health Officers Gather
While the Seal and Bond section
was in session, the health officers
gathered in the Council room for a
discussion Of their own peculiar
problems. The chair was occupied by
DR.. Eugene r. Kelley, Massachusetts
Commissioner of Health.
DR.. Charles Dalton, secretary of
the Vermont State board of health
was the first speaker, taking for his
subject, 1.-THE Relation OF the Nolun-
tcer Health Worker to State and Lo-
cal Health Officer" DR.. Dalton spoke
in part as follows:
Charles Dalton Of Vermont
One of the most important scopes
OF health work was covered when
| Charles Dalton, NJ. D., Secretary of
Vermont State Board of Health, ad-
dressed the conference, using for his
subject, "The Rotation of the Volun-
teer Health Worker to the State and
Local Health Officer" In opening,
! Mr.. Dalton stated that any friction
between the two is due to the in
dividual worker rather than to the
organization which he represents.
He continued in part as follows.
The war placed the volunteer hcalth
! OIRd1lLd III ICN Pocit'NAis A'~
great emergency called for 0ervice
far beyond the facilities of the health
] departments to respond. mus
volunteer organizations were left to
do their utmost in the war work.
| They were free to receive funds ana
assistance from the public while the
health officers had no added funds.
Many of them. against their own de-
1 sires, remained in their offices, dong
everything they could for civilian
welfare, thus forreiting the place of
+, honor to volunteers.
Though the two classes of health
workers have returned to pre-wat
! normal conditions, as far as the eX-
ccutivcs in charge are concerned,
there are some who cannot adjust
themselves to the changes. The
volunteer thinks the public officer
,might 90 more, while the latter feels
that the volunteer sometimes works
outside his line. Such feelings arc
diminishing however.
In answer to series of questions
which might be asked, DR.. Dalton
said: Any person who does pubic
health work outside of an authorized
health department is a volunteer
health worker. He is responsible,
first to his directors. and next to
those who support the organization
The state or local officers are re-
sponSible to the government first, and
then to the people. The board OF
health is the result Of law and ordi-
l1 al, n
group Of interested people. or part
OF a larger organization. The former
derives its powers from laws, and
volunteer workers are limited to
dtienite court action in specific cases
The function of the board of health is
to carry out the law. guard public
health, and make and enforce regu-
lations The volunteers are usually
orranizcd to deal with some special
phase of work. In answer to the
question whether the volunteer
should be supervised by the health
officers, DR.. Dalton said "No." Co
operation is needed instead.
The health officer needs the volun
teer, as he is not confined by laws
and can raise none, spread his ac-
tivities. experiment, and pursue lines
which the health officer cannot touch
The volunteer needs the health Of
ficer, who has the authority of law
and can make the work official" He
can also be the connecting link be-
tween the different organizations
These conditions do not exist because
neither has made it clear to the other
that they desire the help of each
other. Therefore a "get togther" is
suggested in order to go over plans
and find out in what way they can
work together. Under present con-
ditions the health officer often finds
himself in an unsatisfactory position.
Any unsuccessful work of organiza =
ton is blamed onto him. when he
may not know Of the work at all
Then he is accused of losing control
over his community. If he calls
upon the offending volunteer he finds
the intentions good. and finally he
gets into disrepute, and the health
department has gained a few more
political enemies. If cooperation had
existed, all concerned would have
been informed ana no offence or hard
feelings would have taken place.
Thus. the health officer should as his
duty keep in touch with work of the
volunteer. He should be frank as well
as liberal in his cooperation.
There is bound to be, through
faulty methods. a lack of harmony,
which results in detriment of both
sides. To obYiate these conditions