Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-06-02
Civilian Defense
Volunteers Get
Choice Of Tasks
Registration Cards
Can Be Used to Draft
Workers in Future

Volunteers registering for civilian
defense duty will be given their
choice of services now, but the reg
istration cards also will be uSuable
in the possible draft of workers for
future emergencies, Mrs. Harry S.
Benton, chairman of the Commit
tee on Volunteer Service of the Dis
trict Defense Council, disclosed to-
day.
The city-wide registration. for
mally proclaimed by the District
Commissioners for June 10. II and
IL, will be conducted in 48 school
buildings by Mrs. Bernton's COM
mittee. Volunteers will be registered
from $3.50 to $50 pm. each day.
Mrs. Benton stressed that volun-
teers could lend their services any
hour of the day or evening. She
suggested that Government en-
ployeS and other working people
could serve evenings. On the regis
tration card is a time schedule in
which the registrant can check time
available morning. afternoon or eve
ming every day in the week.
Will Indicate Responsibilities.
She also pointed out that each
volunteer will be asked to indicate
his responsibilities which would be
taken into consideration should the
time come when volunteers would
have to be drafted for more time.
Skill in II categories are listed on
the card. Each registrant will indi-
cate mis- preference and degree Of
skill ranging from skilled" to in
terested and would take training"
Mrs. Benton said that the card
takes in what the volunteer can do
and what he or she would want to
do. She stressed that registration
is on a choice basis at the present
time.
The volunteers, she said. will be
put to work as fast as the requests
for services fit the requests of resi-
strants.
The registration will include the
enrolment Of 1900 volunteer police
men requested by Supt. of Police
Ernest w. Brown. This registry
will be turned over to Mai. Brown
and he will make his own selection
from the list.
Serve in Three Branches.
Volunteers will serve in three
branches of work-hospitals. the
various community agencies and the
committees under the Defense Coun-
Gil, Mrs. Benton said her COM
mittee already has made a study
to determine present needs and
where volunteers can be used at
once.
Statistical information on the
registration cards includes home
and business addresses, telephone
numbers. occupation, sex. race,
marital status, citizenship and num-
Der of dependents. The registrant
also will be asked to specify the
languages he speaks.
For the business minded volun-
teers such activities are listed as
administration, tipping, shorthand,
filing. adding machine operating,
bookkeeping and switchboard op-
Grating.
The entertainment classification
includes dramatics. singing, dancing
and ability to play various instru-
ments. as well as qualificat lions as
hostess, group leader and physical
instructor. A knowledge of indoor
games can also be indicated.
Under the general heading of
home-making comes child care,
cooking. hand and machine sew
ing, knitting and .housework.
Medical Aid Included.
Medical aid, another classical
ton. includes indication of the
registrant's skills in nursing, prac-
teal nursing, nurses aid, first aid,
home hygiene, surgical dressing,
occupational therapy and health
education.
Motorists are asked to specify
If they have a car, if they can do
repairs. if they can drive a truck,
and their skill as mechanics.
The manual labor category asks
the registrant to specify whether
he can do heavy or light labor,
care-taking, gardening or watch
mans duty.
Mass cooking, dietetics, canteen
work and service as counterman
are listed for volunteer service I'M
der the heading of nutrition.
Public Relations Work.
In public relations the reg
istrants are asked to indicate their
experience in newspaper work,
radio, public speaking, community
organization and information
booths. A knowledge of the city
also Is listed.
Under the general heading of
social welfare. registrants are
sought for case work, institution
work, interviewing, housing in
spection and playground super
vision.
The registrants also will be given
an opportunity to list their special
Skills and hobbies.
On the other side of the card,
the registrants will give background
material on their education and
employment experience as we'll as
reference. Space on the back of the
card is also allowed for the place
ment record" of the volunteers.
All persons above Is years of age
can register. Mrs. Benton said
she had a number of letters from
retired business men who feel that
while their active years are over
they still may have something to
give to civilian defense.