Evening star., 1942-03-22
step presumably to save


measures-a step presumably to save
time.
Although Culver B. Chamberlain,
president Of the Cathedral Heights
Cleveland Park Association, said he
felt the center of interest has
shifted" from civic matters to de.
fense, he warned that certain as.
poets Of civic problems should not be
neglected. Deploring suspension Of
activities on municipal questions.
Mr.. Chamberlain pointed out that
many of them, after all, were tied in
with defense.
Mrs. Ella M. Thompson, head Of
the Logan Thomas Circle Associa-
ton, said she had found that mail
has decreased, that there we're not
as many communications on such
civic matters as traffic and schools"
Similar information came from
Walter F. Bramhall, president of
the Georgetown Progressive Citizens
Association, who declared that while
interest in civilian defense has been
high" the interest 'in other things
has Jagged"
Complaints Fewer.
Drop in the number of complaints
was also cited by James s. Davis,
head of Summit Park. At a recent
meeting, he pointed out. the favorite
subject Of improving the bus serv-
ice came up. After a discussion, it
was decided that conditions being
what they are, they would be lucky
If the bus service In the future
would be as good as now, and the
subject was dropped.
Howard L. Waite, president of the
Benning Association, summed up
the situation for a number Of
groups, when he said that civilian
defense work is taking a lot Of
our good workers away. The civic
minded are the first to volunteer
and they are overworked."
An outstanding exception. how
ever, appears to be the Chevy Chase
Association. It's president. H. v.
Schreiber who also headed the
group decade ago. said his asso-
citation is actually making a survey
OF the community, looking around
for things to do"
Some Groups Growing.
In the following summary. the
names Of associations. not men
toned above in discussing attend
ance, are listed. Those reporting
increased attendance are:
Congress Heights-Slight tend
ency to increase.
Chevy Chase-If anything, In
creased.
Fort Davis-Increased slightly; 81
or 30 present at recent meeting out
Of total population in area Of some
/ 500.
/ Glover Park-Greater as gen.
eral rule; some attend now who are
not members.
Sixteenth Street Highlands-In.
crease due to stimulation Of MEM
bership drive; meetings may be Of
greater personal interest because Of
civilian defense.
Macarthur Boulevard-If any,
thing. increased; several taking first
aid attended last meeting.
Dupont Circle-Attendance i'm.
proved by civilian defense. which
has made people civic conscious"
Bradbury Heights-Doubled
Columbia Heights - Slight in
crease.
Michigan Park-Increased attend.
ance: may be due in part to current
fight with the Alley Dwelling Au-
thority over proposed project in
area.
Citizens Forum of Columbia
Heights, Chillum Heights, Brook
land, Connecticut Avenue, Forest
Hills, Sixteenth Street Heights and
Citizens Association of Takoma,
D. C.
Attendance Drops.
These groups reported a drop In
attendance:
Logan Thomas Circle-Members
"detracted," with 50 many In de.
fense things"
Progressive of Georgetown-If
civilian defense classes meet on
the same night as monthly meet
ings, attendance drops; otherwise
1t is about the same.
Mount Pleasant-"Like ANYTHING
else, when they come out to one
(civilian defense) they don't come
out to the other association meet
ing)," commented John De La Ma.
ter. secretary.
Summit Park-Meetings smaller.
Benning-Dropped because of de.
fense classes
National Gateway-Smaller at.
tendance, particularly among the
men.
Washington Highlands-Down a
third.
MISUNDERSTANDING because of
classes on meeting nights.
Defense Effect Fluctuates.
Cathedral Heights Cleveland Park
On the average, defense work has
discouraged" attendance, but de-
tense issues have brought up at.
tendance at times.
Piney Branch-Called OF last
meeting.
Mid-City-Of about a third.
Hillcrest-Fallen of considerably;
ought to be better after first-aid
and other classes have finished.
The following associations report
ed that attendance was either about
the same or that interest in par
ticular problems of the community
made 1t difficult to determine effect
of defense work or that fluctuations
between months made it difficult to
tell effect on average attendance.
West End-Attendance increased
but may be due to interest over use
of Western Market space.
American University Park-Good
attendance in December and jan
uary: dropped in February. which
is poorest month anyway"
Brightwood-January attendance
fair; February. poor.
Hampshire Heights. Georgetown.
Lincoln Park. North Capitol. Kenil-
worth, Southeast, Southwest, Park
View. Rhode Island Avenue, Bur-
roughs, Stanton Park and North
Cleveland Park.