Evening star., 1941-04-24
100000 Members
Set as Red Cross Goal;
Convention Concludes
Delegates Favor Next
Meeting in Some City
Other Than Capitol

0thSI lHuH NupItol
A goal of 100000 members be-
fore the end of the year was set
today AS minimum objective by the
American Red Cross at the closing
session of its annual convention in
Memorial Continental Hall.
This quota, representing an in
crease of 100000 over the esti-
mated enrolment this year, was
pledged in resolutions in which the
S159 delegates committed them
selves to continued support of our
organizations efforts to provide some
measure of relief to those who are
in great distress as a result of the
war" but added:
AT the same time, we fully rec
ogni8e the rapidly growing need for
civil defense and pledge ourselves
to strengthen normal domestic &C
tivities in chapters, including disas-
her preparedness, health activities,
first-aid and accident prevention,
as we'll as home service work in the
tremendously increased military and
naval welfare program"
May Shun d. C. Hereafter.
The delegates also instructed the
Central Committee to give serious
consideration" to holding the next
annual meeting in strategic CEN
ter other than Washington, point
ing out that this event has grown
to such proportions that facilities
and accommodations need to be care
fully taken into account. :" The
place and date of the next conven-
ton were left to the committee.
The resolutions, submitted by a
committee and approved unani-
mously, said: "It is with a deep
sense of duty that this assembly
offer to the President, as the head
of this democracy, our fullest sup
port and cooperation for the tasks
which lie ahead" President Roose-
welt is president of the Red Cross.
Expressing appreciation for the
outstanding services of the national
chairman, Norman H. Davis. the
delegates said in their resolutions:
'We have followed his guidance
closely during the trying days of the
last year and are particularly proud
of the able and Sympathic leader
ship he has shown in coping with
overseas relief needs, notwithstand-
ing the lnnumerable obstacles en-
eountered in such program"
Maximum Generosity Asked.
On the increased support which
the Red Cross needs in an era of
crisis. the delegates said they ac-
cepted with real satisfaction the
report of the organization's Path
Roll Call membership gain of ap-
proximately 100000 but added:
Faced with an expansion in pro-
gram unmatched since the days of
the last World War. membership in
the approaching Roll Call should be
limited only by the maximum gen.
erosity of the American people,
combined with their willingness to
participate. In no case, however
should our national enrolment goal
be set at less than 100000 mem
bers."
The delegates resolved that
"where a Red Cross chapter is a
member of the Community Chest
and where, through such member
ship the interests of the Red Cross,
local, national or both, are jeopar-
dized by the chapter remaining in
the Community Chest, that this con-
vention favor withdrawal upon
approval of the national organiza-
ton"
The convention adopted resolu-
tions submitted by the Junior Red
Cross, which held a separate con-
vention. These called for closer
cooperation between the junior
chapters and the school authorities
and the senior Red Cross, and
pledged the juniors Ito put forth
wholehearted efforts to aid refugees
from Europe" The report was read
by Douglas Fisk, Fargo IN. DakD
youth.
States Get Honor Flags.
Honor flags for enrolling the
largest proportion of their popula-
tions were awarded TO Nevada,
which enlisted 1137 per cent; Con-
necticut. which enrolled 1888 per
cent, and Massachusetts,, which
signed up 1859 per cent.
Nevada was represented by Sen
ator McCarran and Mrs. Ward Tay-
lor of the Washoe County chapter;
Connecticut by Senator Maloney
and Donald H. Hemingway, Roll
Call Chairman of New Haven, and
Massachusetts by Senator Lodge
and John r. Holmes, chairman OF
the Springfield chapter.
Charles H. Kellstadt OF Cleveland
was added to the Central Commit
tee, succeeding Gustave D. Pope OF
Detroit, who notified the convention
he was unable to continue the
duties.
How the Red Cross grew from a
collection of nco-ordinated, quasi
Independent chapters scattered over
the country to the present cohesive.
semi Official relief agency, acting
under charter of Congress, was de-
scribed by Miss Mabel T. Board
man, national secretary, in an ad-
LaIi OF q