Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-11-13
Executive Committee Meeting.

The meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Social Service League of Montgomery
County. Maryland, was held in the League
office in Rockville on Tuesday. November
8 at 4 p. M.
The following membership composes the
Executive Committee Uf the League;
DR.. J. W. Bird. President ; Mrs. Henry j..
Findley. Mr.. Walter B. Armstrong. Mr..
croft, Mrs Louise L. Boeshoff, Miss Estelle
T. Moore. Mr.. Edwin W. Broome. Mr. Thos.
c. Kelley, Mrs. j. Darby Bowman, Mrs.
Beryl R. English, Mr.. frederic P. Lee. Mr..
Ernest 0ffutt.
At the meeting 1t was reported that the
League had given service to total of S25
families for the month of October, 1881.
This represents an increase of 100 families
over those helped by the League during
October 1890. The major work of the
League represents making social adjust
ments in the fields of child welfare and
family work. Even though the distress at
present is unusually high and the demands
upon the agency unprecedented. only one
sixth of the families known to the League
come because of lack of food or shelter or
clothes. The larger number have social
problems more deep seated.
After discussion relative to the de-
mands now being placed upon the Welfare
AGENCIES throughout the country because
of the unemployment situation and the
consequent results, the executive committee
of the Social Service League felt a great
urge to remind community groups through
out the county to keep aware that in
Montgomery County there is Central
Social Work Agency which Is equipped for
advising and coofdinating efforts at relief
giving. Through the use of this Agency.
much duplication of effort, displacement
Of effort and overlooking of outstanding
needs may be avoided. To this end the
Executive Committee Of the Social Service
League strongly urges all those who are
most anxious to help. according to the
Presidents relief plan, to give their dona-
tons of food, clothes or money to your
central clearing bureau. the Social Service
League of Montgomery County. This
Leeue is the Community Chest. The Child
Welfare and Family Service Agency all in
one.
If neishborhood group wishes its aid
to stay in the local vicinity. the League
will arrange for all relief given from that
group to 60 back into that community. 10
addition. it will see. if the need is urgent.
that immediate relief is given. But of
vaster importance, it will see that plan
for rehabilitation with the needy indi-
viduals is developed. and that the work
towards this goal in this plan is systematic.
sure and steady.
Mrs. Beryl r. English. Woman's Club
representative to the League and men,
Der of the Social Service League Executive
Committee. reviewed the fact that many
OF the Womsn's Clubs of the county were
raising funds for special purposes. She
expressed the feeling that various club
groups felt that all this service should be
cOordinated with the Leagues work and
that this in no way interfered with indi-
vidual groups sponsoring local projects. 1t
simply meant that If local project was
being developed for social purposes that il
should. for its most effective functioning.
be talked over in advance with the Execu-
tive Secretary of the League. and when
and where feasible the investigations made
by the Leagues trained social workers.
Gifts thus coordinated. would strengthen
the general plan Of relief giving in the
county and would tend also to aid local
communities.
10 view of the great increase in demand
for social service now being placed upon
the League, the Executive Committee felt
that it should 60 on record as favoring
that relief be limited to those families that
showed spirit of cooperation by being
willing to help themselves to the extent
that they would definitely cooperate in
working toward self-support. Illustrating
this. there was a review of a case of
family greatly in need which the League
had refused aid because the head of the
family consistently refused three jobs found
for him by the League because they were
not of his liking.
The League went on record as saying it |
could not aid those families who did not
cooperate to the extent of taking available
jobs. doing away with luxuries beyond their |
means at present. Those who could keep |
telephones and operate pleasure cars did |
not represent the most hopeful groups for |
working with nor those most worthy at |
present.
Miss Day, Executive Secretary. stressed |
the fact that in the better type of family. |
as in many of the chronic cases. almost |
always the most evident need was but |
symptom and not real cause of distress. |
For this reason, to prevent wasted effort |
and energy. more than mere giving of food |
and clothes is need in working toward |
re-establshing the family as a social asset !
To this end. the League works to obviate |
the medical. social, domestic and behavior
problems as well as the economic ones
which are sources of distress with the NAL
adjusted.