Evening star., 1941-04-23
Red Cross Roll Calls
OF Spring Forecast
Tremendous Response
Director Tells Session
Any Reasonable GooI'
Can Be Achieved

Fresh reports of the swift progress
which the American Red Cross is
making in the face of worldwide
distress and Americas defense well
fare needs were brought to its an
nual convention today by Howard
Bonham, national director of roll
call.
Addressing the third days general
session in Memorial Continental
Hall, Mr. Bonham gave startling re-
suits of roll calls currently under
way in the few scattered chapters
which hold their membership cam
paigns in the spring instead of in
the fall.
Remarkable response of the public
to the increased responsibilities
which the Red Cross is facing was
indicated when Mr.. Bonham read
these reports:
Lancaster, Pa, has just increased
Its membership from 17,200 to 33 300
New Haven, Conn. jumped from
17,2O0 to almost $1,000 in the spring
roll call.
Cleveland Tops Cities.
Elizabethtown, N. j., climbed from
1900 to about 21000 on the basis of
late returns.
Nashville. Tenn, has gone up from
1890 to 22500
Cleveland has taken top place for
city membership by reporting 203,-
207 enrolled members.
"Of 18 chapters making partial or
final spring roll call reports said
Mr.. Bonham, mot single slump is
shown. Such record calls for a
salute to the leadership of all these
chapters Moreover, it stands as a
tribute to the people residing in their
Jurisdictions"
Mr. Bonham pointed out: THE
national organization does not en-
courage any roll call outside of the
November period However, out of
the 3,700 chapters a handful hold
their appeals in the spring by reason
of conditions peculiar to this small
number Results of these reflect a
growing interest on every side. They
represent a testing ground of public
sentiment"
Sees Great Gain This Fall.
Since 1886, Mr.. Bonham recalled,
the Nationwide senior membership
has Increased from 100000 to g.
100000.
Mark this" he added. The
forthcoming appeal (this falD bids
fair to outdo in a single campaign
the entire flve-year gain"
Mr. Bonham recalled that time
was when a comparatively few chap
ters enrolled 10 per cent of their
populations, and he added:
1T takes nothing away from the
splendid record of these chapters to
explain that this list has now grown
to such proportions that their sheer
numbers prohibit announcement of
them
mo less than 513 chapters ex-
ceeded that mark on the oath roll
call. In fact, of this number. 1873
enrolled more than Is per cent of
their inhabitants. This means ap-
proXimately 80 per cent of their
adult citizenship"
Yet. Mr. Bonham declared, "the
surface still is. scarcely scratched, -
and within any reasonable bounds
the Red Cross can reach whatever
goal it sets"
500 Ron-Call Increase Needed.
For the next roll call" James K
McCllntock, vice chairman in charge
of finance, said "as absolute mini
mum, it will be necessary to assure
an increase of at least so per cent
In the membership, with cor
responding increase in the larger
gifts for financing the work"
For the national organization
alone, he pointed out, preliminary
estimate for the current and next
fiscal years to finance activities
which ARE definite charter and Off
cial obligations" are more than So
100000 in excess of income for these
two years.
Mr.. McCintock added: THE
financial demands upon the Ameri-
can people for the national defense
program are such that the Red Gross
is under a compelling obligation to
utilize its funds only in the most
practical, economical and effective
manner to meet the responsibilities
definitely assigned to it"
He cautioned the delegates
Though our emotions are and will
be deeply stirred, let us not fail to
apply sound business principles and
practical judgment in the manage
ment of all our affairs"
Red Cross publicity was explained
by G. Stewart Brown, national di-
rector of the public information
service, in an address on informing
the Public"
Adoption of new Red Cross SerV-
ice badge, to be worn by all persons
working for the organization, was
announced to the convention today
by Mrs August Belmont of New
York. The badge, in the form of a
shield, with a Red Cross on white
enamel and an American eagle
above, was designed by Miss NAL
vina Hoffman, New York sculptor.
The insignia was approved by the
Central Committee yesterday.
British Activity Pictured.
How the British Red Cross aids
air-laid victims and carries on cas-
ualty-prevention measures was de-
scrihed by Bowen Mccoy, executive
officer of the American Red Cross
Committee in London. in an address
prepared for delivery before a con-
vention discussion group this after
noon
Women are used almost exclu-
sively as ambulance drivers" he said.
"This is because most of the men