Ellsworth American., 1923-11-07
RED CROSS ROLL
CALL STARTS ON
ARMISTICE DAY
Value of Continuously Active
Organization Proved BY
Japan Emergency
PEOPLE REAFFlRM CONFIDENCE
Large Membership Support Needed
to Insure Established Peace
Work i'm Communities


idealism' written into it's history of
| humanitarian achievement, the Am
erican Red Cross will open it's seventh
Roll Call on Sunday, November 18th,
the fifth anniversary of the Armis-
tice. From then through Thanksgiv
ing Day, the period designated by the
| President, the Chapters and Branches
| in New England and throughout the
nation will ask the people to pledge
or renew their allegiance to Red
! Cross Service for the coming year
There will be opportunity for every
one to enroll in this representative
| American organization, which offers
a common field for unselfish service
which distinguishes no race, color,
creed, or political belief in its work
for mankind.
The Red Cross enters the Roll Call
following the successful conclusion of
! its most conspicuous accomplishment
! since the World War On September
| Bird it was designated by President
| Coolidge to represent the American
| people in extending material sympa-
thy to Japan shattered by earth
| quake. In less than a month it had
! obtained a relief fund of $10,000,000,
to which has now been added nearly
another million, and had shipped to
Japan some $5,0000O0 worth of sup
plies In New EnglanI the Red Cross
nearly doubled the share of the fund
it was asked to contribute.
Speed in Meeting Emergency
The speed and efficiency with which
this duty was fulfilled" says Arthur
G. Rotch. Manager of the New Eng
land Division of the Red Cross,
makes clearer than ever the value
of supporting the Red Cross as an ac-
lively functioninG organization, pre-
pared at all times for extreme effort
in emergencies With such conclu-
sive proof of the confidence of the
people in the Red Cross we are en-
couraged to believe we can depend
upon them for the largest member
ship enrolment we have had since
the war"
In addition to the Japanese disas-
ter the Red Cross rendered service
with money and personnel in 40 dis
asters in the United States the past
year. three Of them in New England.
A total OF $5250O0 was expended in
tAis emergency relief work and in the
more permanent rehabilitation work
that follO@ed.
Postwar Changes Ended
The American Red Cross has now
completed tine period of Immediate
postwar adjustments and is bending
its energies to carrying on a care
fully planned definite peace program,
based on the obligation outlined in
its Congressional charter and author
ized by it's Central Committee.
The activities now carried on by
the Red Cross include the work for
disabled veterans of the World War
and their families-a primary obli-
gation-service to the regular Army
and Navy, Disaster Relief, Enroll
ment of Nurses, Public Health Nurs-
ing. instruction In Home Hygiene and
Care of the Sick, Nutrition, Life-Sav-
ing and First Aid, and the educational
projects of the Junior Red Cross.
In New England Division territory
mateTy 800 Branches providing one or
more of these Red Cross services in
their Communities To the people of
New England these Chapters and
Branches will appeal for the member
ship support which win make possible
the continuance of their work at
home and Red Cross work in the
nation through 1924.
The underlying principles of the
peace-time work are these:
The primary obligation of the
American Red Cross is to the disabled
ex.Service men. No peace time work
should be undertaken by Chapter or
( branch unless the work Tor the dis
/ abled soldiers and sailors is being
! carried on satisfactorily
( The service must he selected by
the Chapter or Branch according to
/ the needs of che local community,
! after study Of local conditions.
The Red Cross service rsust; not du-
plicatt the wcak Of existing agencies,
It must be carried on in accordance
with Red Cross standards.
The Chapter work must BE directed
by strong Executive Committee,
which takes responsibility for the de-
vslopment of the service in consulta-
tion with Division and National head
quarters.
1t cannot be made roo clear that
Red Cross peace-time service is com
munity service, chosen, supported and
directed locally. The National organ
ization, through its knowledge of the
entire country, makes possible an ex-
change of experience and formulation
Of high standards.
The Red Cross receives no financial
support from the Government what
ever 1t is a membership organiza-
ton and it's activities are maintained
primarily through one dollar member