Evening star., 1938-05-29

"They came together to sell WOOL ana
eggs, and what not, to plan civic i'm
provements and to influence policies.
Why should women not do the same?
There is so much that needs doing, SO
much that can be done, and so much
in the changing conditions that af1ect
women and their closest interests"
When Mrs. Dunbar uses the term
human welfare" she Is thinking OF
1t in the broadest possible sense
Problems of the family, security,
health, economy, education, the con-
structive use of leisure time, the posi-
ton of women in industry, their legal
status are included. In some of these
fields, women can work together for
their own better information. In
others, they can help to shape events
and in all they will profit by giving
their thoughtful attention, Mrs. Dun
bar thinks.
Movement Growing.
She has decided to concentrate on
human welfare because, as she sees 1t.
it is one Of the most pressing of the
present day questions, and one to
which the federation can contribute
most effectively. No definite program
of action has been announced as yet.
as she believes in careful considera-
ton and will consult the members of
the board before formulating plans.
As for the promise Of accomplish
ment, she says. "the full force of the
General Federation has never been
tested. but it is a powerful force and
capable Of great achievement"
Mrs. Dunbar is convinced that the
woman's club movement is growing
and not declining as is asserted by
some OF its critics. In support Of that
conviction, she quoted the recent re-
port of the chairman of the federation
extension, which shows that the
straight membership increase within
the year 1878 was 1886. as COM
pared with an increase of 30,668 for
the preceding year.
During the past century, women's
organizations have met the challenge
of changing conditions by adaptation
If, as many believe, we are today living
through one of the really crucial
periods of the worlds history, with old
institutions, beliefs and ideals disin-
tegrating, the task ahead demands
both adaptation and positive action.
Anniversary Approaching.
In two years the General Federation
of Women's Clubs will be so years old,
sc La Arto nf tho
present administration will be that of
planning for a suitable observance of
the golden anniversary. These plans
are nebulous at present but they will
soon be under way. Probably there
will be pageants and banquets and one
of the SUGGESTIONS that has been made
is that the million dollar endowment
fund be completed. This fund, for
which clubs have been working for
some time, would be held intact and
the interest used for the promotion of
club work and for the many projects
that the federation decides to sponsor.
The woman's club movement" ante
dates the federation by some so years.
In the beginning women came to-
gether for social or religious purposes.
with the Improvements in the school
system though, people found that they
had to study to keep up with their
children Mrs. Dunbar said, 'and in
large part that was the beginning of
the study club. The idea of working
for civic Improvements came later.
One recent development with which
Mrs. Dunbar has been impressed is
the increasing cooperation between
the urban and the rural women and
the formation of clubs in which both
groups have a share. She says this
is not so apparent in the Eastern part
of the country, but in the Middle and
Far West it is well established.
Given Degree.
Mrs. Dunbars interest in social and
economic conditions is of long stand
ing. She began her club service in
1908 when she was appointed chair
man of public health for the Oregon
Federation. Long a resident of Port
land, Greg, she has been for the past
% years executive secretary of the
Oregon tuberculosis Association and
for several years an instructor in COM
munity organizations in the University
of Oregon's Department of Nursing
Education. Linfield College conferred
the degree of doctor of humane letters
last year. She was the first woman
to receive a degree in the history of
the institution. She is an active men,
Der of the P. E. O. Sisterhood, the
Daughters of the American Revolu-
ton, the League Of Women Voters, the
Portland Woman's Club and other Or
ganizations.
During the past week Mrs. Dunbar
has attended the meeting of the New
Jersey State Federation in Atlantic
City. the meeting of the Committee
on the Cause and Cure of War in
New York, and yesterday she spoke
at the Political Study Club breakfast.
This week she will attend meetings
of the Delaware State Federation and
will speak at the luncheon of the
District of Columbia Federation of
Womens Clubs on Saturday at the
Willard. On June Z she will be in
Amherst, Mass, and she will attend
the meetings Of the American Tuber-
culosis Association June 10 to % in
Los Angeles, returning East in time
to take part in the meetings of the
National Education Association June
28 and 20 in New York City.
X X
The Society of Free Lance Writers
will conclude the seasons program
with a banquet at the Shoreham Hotel
Thursday at pm. Among the writers
invited as honor guests are Temple
Bailey, Bruce Barton, Phyllis Moore
Gallagher and H. A.. Waterman. Re-
suits of the short story contest will be
arnounced and awards will be made