Evening star., 1942-03-22

in day-to-day affairs Of the COM
munity. On the other hand. de-
creased attendance was believed due
to conflicting meetings of first aid
classes and the various bomb and
gas courses for those in the warden
service.
Attendance at meetings Of some Of
the associations recently has been
so poor that number have been
Cancelled. At least four associations
have called off meetings this month,
two pleading "inclement weather" !"
Last month, Trinidad Citizens Asso-
ciation Cancelled its meeting and
Dalhgren Terrace has skipped three
monthly meetings.
Some Suspend Sessions.
Two weeks ago. the Federation of
Citizens Associations itself Cancelled
a meeting and the Southwest Citi-
zens' Association has adopted the
idea Of holding meetings only every
other month. T. Paul Mudd, preSl-
dent Of the Randle Highlands Citi-
zens' Association, said his group
might be forced to suspend some Of
their meetings, unless something
particular comes up." Now, he said,
the meetings are too much like ses-
sions of the Executive Committee.
A large percentage of the associa-
tions are dividing their sessions be-
tween routine civic business and
civilian defense and are making a
practice of having speakers on some
defense topic, a procedure which has
attracted new people and increased
attendance. AS an example, Grace
B. Holmes, who rendered her resig-
nation as president of the Takoma
Park Citizens Association at its
February meeting. said that a
speaker on nutrition, who talked
for an hour and half. kept the
members on the edge of their chairs
rather than putting them to sleep.
The most enthusiastic report on
combined meetings came from Carl
o. Romborg, president of the Bur-
leith Association, who said that at
tendance had been increased 800
per cent" Metropolis View. also re-
ported that it had succeeded in
bringing in newcomers through de-
fense speakers. Dr. George S. Dun
can. its president. said his group had
taken in over go or 10 paid men,
bers."
Still another organization report
ing greatly increased attendance was
Petworth, where one association de.
tense meeting drew 1000 people
according to Raymond E. Gable
secretary. He said that at "prac-
tically every meeting civilian defense
is part of the program" and the
number of people coming is "in-
creasing tremendously"
Reports from other association;
indicate that civilian defense work
has stimulated interest in the COM
munity and its problems.
There is more community inter.
est now" remarked Hugh V. Keiser
president of the Arkansas avenue
group. And in similar vein. Johr
j. Hurley, head of the Michigan
Park Association, declared the de-
fense work had helped to create q
better feeling among the members
OF the community in getting them Il
know each other
Routine Civic Programs Hit.
Several presidents expressed the
hope that once defense work was 8
thing Of the past, wardens anc
others engaged in it would continue
their interest in association work
Orrin j. Davy. veteran civic worker
OF Southeast Washington and presi.
dent of the Southeast Association
said that the friends we are making
will help to make the organization
healthier. I am optimistic"
As 1t Is, Leonard L. Tucker. head
OF the Friendship Association, said
he has found that some of the people
who come for the defense part OF
the meeting at the beginning stay
on for the business session. In fact
he said, enough have stayed to say
that attendance has increased"
But not all the associations have
been so fortunate. The North
Randle Highlands Community Asso-
citation had to cancel its last meet
ing for lack of a quorum and Mrs.
S. Raymond Smith, secretary. said
that at the meeting before attend
ance had been cut a third. The
secretary of the Manor Park group,
George A. Corbin, said that when
there is a civilian defense meeting
In the area on the night of a
monthly meeting, the latter is lust
about disrupted. The chairmen OF
the standing committees have de-
fense jobs and they just don't come
to report"
The head Of one association. John
J. Watson of Anacostia, said he felt
the drop in attendance at his meet
ings was due more to national than
civilian defense. Mr.. Watson. who
is also chairman of the Anacostia
Civilian Defense Committee, pointed
out that some Of the members are
Government workers on night shift
or are with utilities.
Results of the survey strongly
indicate that the affect of civilian
defense on routine civic business
has been drastic in many cases.
And the same is true of the fedora
ton. where it is said that the COM
mittee chairmen do not have time
to prepare reports as in the past.
Harry S. Wender, head of the
Southwest Association. said that we
"devoting our meetings only to mat
tiers Of moment - We are not
doing the type Of work we used to
do" A. D. Calvert. long time head
Of the Lincoln Park group, went so
far as to say that the activity of his
group had been knocked sky high" F"
because Of people being drawn from
its ranks. Every member Of the
Executive Committee, he pointed
out, is connected with the defense
movement. 1t used to be, he added,
that one-half of the meeting was
set aside for defense. but that has
given way to an indefinite period.
Similarly. Harry c. Hensley, presi-
dent Of the Sixteenth Street Heights
Association said that so per cent or