Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-05-02
80 RED CROSS
WORKERS MEET
County Chairmen Gather at HinckIey
Tuesday Night and Discuss
Their Work.

A gathering OF Red Cross chdlrmen
was held at the Adams Hotel in
Hinckley Tuesday evening with 30
people present from various precincts
in Pine county. Mrs. A. E. Eddy,
She introduced George Empey who
spoke few words of welcome and
paid tribute to the Red Cross by say
ing that it was an organization al
ways ready to alleviate human suf-
fering. Dorothy Deebach was then
called on to report on work done in
Hinckley during the past three years
in teaching swimming and life-sav-
ing. She reported that three years
ago about 80 attended the class in
swimming she conducted at Grind
stone Lake, and that about 60 had
attended last year and two years ago.
She stated that the instruction given
had aroused considerable interest and
that much valuable information had
been gained by those taking the
course.
Mrs. H. M. Dempsey next spoke
in making Christmas bags and send
ing same to headquarters for distri-
button to soldiers in hospitals. She
reported that five such bags had gone
from Pine county last year. and asked
that all chapters try to help a little
this year.
Red Cross Worker Speaks.
The main speaker was P. X. Belts,
organization in Minnesota. He said
that the membership in the national
Red Cross roll call last year was four
million, and that every year during
the depression the roll call had gained
in numbers. 1t has gained, he said,
because people realized the need.
The Red Cross, said Mr.. Belts, is
still doing what it started out to do
some fifty-two years ago, its peace
time program being first to be ready
to administer relief promptly when
sudden disaster strikes, and second
to furnish aid to veterans, during
and after a war. The Red Cross, he
stated, has never accepted a dollar
of government money, it being an en-
tirely voluntary organization, sup
ported by free-will offerings from the
people. The Red Cross still has it's
work and responsibility, in spite of
government relief for when the gov
eminent stops giving relief it will
leave tremendous job for local units
Since the first of the year, some
thirty-one disasters, or calamities,
have struck in various parts of the
United States. These have consisted
of tornadoes, floods, fires and dust
storms. A Red Cross nurse is going
with the families that are going to
Alaska and will stay with that group
to furnish instruction and organize
health work.
Mr.. Belts also told of how the Red
Cross had gone into Missouri and
Illinois when a tornado struck the
area in 1925, and had set up a trust
fund to educate children left orphans
because of parents being killed in
that disaster.
Meets Emergencies.
The Red Cross objective is to meet
the emergency when it arises and
meet it adequately. Local chapters
should be ready and then notify the
state and national organization if the
seriousness of the emergency war
rants it. He explained the work of
life saving Institutes and urged local
chapters, if possible, to send a repre-
sentative to take the course.
Mr.. Belts closed by saying that all
funds of the Red Cross were carefully
accounted for, the books of the Ma
tional organization being audited by
the War Department and every cent
accounted for. DR.. A. l. Arends of
Askov, treasurer of the Pine county
unit, gave his report, and he asked
all local chapters to send in their
local financial reports so that it could
he consolidated into ono loroo rooor+