Evening star., 1941-05-22
Action Expected Soon
On Reorganization Of
D. {. Defense Council
Pressure of Other Work
May Take Whitehurst
From Executive Office

Reorganization of the District De-
fense Council setup was being dis
cussed today at the District Building
along with reports that Highway
Director H. G. Whitehurst would ask
to be relieved as its executive vice
chairman.
Capt WhitehurSt has been conSid-
ering the move for some weeks. feel
ing that he cannot devote enough
time to the councils work. The
Commissioners, who are co-chair-
men of the council, are expected to
act soon.
Reorganization OF the council COM
mittees and their work is expected
to be discussed at a meeting called
by Capt. Whitehurst for 3 pm. Mon
day. Some officials believe there is
some overlapping in the present set
up and that realignment of RESPONSE
bilities is needed for efficiency.
Activities of the District council
are expected to be increased as re-
suit of the Presidents order on civil
defense programs, along with the
appointment of Mayor La Guardia
of New York to head the civilian de-
fense office and announcement of
new schedule of activities by State
and local councils.
Seven Major Committees.
The District council now has
seven major committees. They are
civil protection, headed by Police
Supt. Ernest w. Brown: welfare and
consumer interest, Robert E. Bondy,
who has resigned as District welfare
director to take a post with the
American Red Cross; health, DR..
George C. Rutland. District health
officer; housing. works and facll-
tiles, Mai. John Blake Gordon, Dis
trict sanitary director; human re-
sources and skillS, Porter M. Lump
kins; industrial resources and pro-
ductlon. P. Y. K. Howatt, and VOL
unteer service, Mrs. Harry S. Bern
ton.
An intensive training course
opened today for persons who will
work in the placement unit of the
Central Volunteer Bureau of the
District Defense Council after the
city-wide registration of volunteers
June 1912.
Sixty women signed up for the
first session this morning at 10
o'clock at the Junior League, 2001
Massachusetts avenue NV. The
group, under the Craftsmanship of
Mrs. Stuart A. Rice, will place the
volunteers after they have been
registered.
Miss Lenroot Speaks.
The first meeting considered The
Importance of the Volunteer in Our
Community Defense" with Miss
Katharine Lenroot. chief of the
United States Children's Bureau, as
the principal speaker, followed by
her assistant chief, Charles Schott-
land, speaking on how volunteers
may fit into a staff. .
Miss Lenroot said public and
private welfare agencies in WASH
ington are staggering under heavy
load of demands for services and
she emphasized the need for large
corps of volunteers. The situation
here is more serious than in many
other cities because of inadequate
relief funds, she said
Mr.. Schottland said that volun-
teerS who hope to render effective
service must determine the functions
of the agency they have offered to
aid and carry out their duties in
such way that they will not in
terfere with the work of the regular
staff members.
Types of Help Needed.
Mrs. G. Rowland Chase, who
headed a committee which con-
Quoted a survey of present needs for
volunteer workers, reported hun
dreds of helpers are needed i'm
mediately by District Government
agencies, settlement houses, hospi-
tails and other institutions. The
Health Department, for example,
needs between 200 and 300 volunteer
clerical workers and a. number Of
helpers for it's laboratories, Mrs.
Chase said.
Other types of workers in demand
today, she explained, are nursery
group leaders, motor corps workers,
neighborhood visitors, playground
supervisors, secretaries, telephone
operators, craft leaders. librarians,
nursing aides, orderlies and Girl
Scout leaders.
Another session will be held from
10 am to noon May %, at which
time Mrs. Rice will discuss THE
Function of the Placement Staff"
An explanation of the registration
form will be given by Ensign Ed
ward J. Clarke of the District
selective service June 5.
All registrars and the several
hundred men and women recruited
from the PIT. A. and the citizens
associations to take registrations at
the schools June 1912 will meet
June 6. On June final meeting