Evening star., 1943-02-27
Lack OF Entertainment
For Girls Is Problem
Of Hospitality Group
Co-ordinotine Unit Told
Most Residents Prefer
Servieemen as Guests

Lack of entertainment for girls il
the greatest problem now facin,
Washington War Hospitality Com
mittee, 1t was declared yesterday a
a meeting of the committees Co.
ordinating Council on Home Hos.
pitality in the Community Building
1101 M street NV.
Miss Eleanor Flood, assistant tt
the chairman of the Home Hos.
pitality Committee. reported many
girls call up asking for invitations
to parties, but that most persons
prefer to invite servicemen instead
OF girls.
Mrs Henry Hirsh, representing
the Jewish Community Center, said
the center was turning away by the
hundreds" girls who want to act as
hostesses for servicemen. The CEN
ter now has 1000 girl hostesses and
cannot accommodate others, she
said.
Hospitality Urged.
Increased hospitality toward Gov
ernment employees can play an i'm
portant part in the war effort by
helping to halt the present alarming
turnover OF Government workers,
Coleman Jennings, chairman of the
Co-ordinating Council, declared
yesterday.
Charles H. Cunningham, executive
secretary of the council, called at
tention to the testimony of Civil
Service Commissioner Arthur S.
Flemming before the House Civil
Service Committee Wednesday that
an average of about 1900 new Gov
eminent workers are coming to
Washington every month, while
about $4,000 are leaving their Gov
ernment jobs.
(Mr. Flemming testified that 102,-
232 persons entered the Government
departmental services during the six
months ending last December 81
OF these placements, "a ,329 were to
fill vacancies. About 95 per cent Of
the Government departmental en-
ployes are stationed in the Wash
ington area.)
Would List Newcomers.
Several steps were suggested at
the meeting which, 1t was said,
might reduce the turnover by max
Ing Government workers feel more
at home in Washington. One was
suggestion that State societies be
furnished names of all newcomers
and be asked to entertain persons
from their respective States some
time during the newcomers first
month in Washington.
The practice of old employees in
Government Office entertaining
newcomers to the Office also should
be extended. Mrs. Meta Calvin, as
sistant to the executive secretary
of the War Hospitality Committee,
said.
To Discuss Church Facilities.
A meeting of church representa-
tives and IS to 100 employe counsel
lors from Government agencies will
be held March Is. Grover Hartman,
executive director Of the Defense
Commission of the Washington
Federation of Churches, told the
Co-ordinating Council. At this
meeting the church representatives
will outline the organizations and
facilities in various churches avail
able to Government employees. Mr..
Hartman suggested a similar meet
ing between the employe counsellors
and representatives of community
groups.
Another suggestion made by men,
bers Of the council was that groups
entertaining servicemen not exag-
gerate what they are Offering. In
one case, it was pointed out, a
church advertised a supper and
served only light refreshments.
When servicemen are invited to
individual homes arrangements
should be made If possible to con-
duct them to the home, it was
pointed out. Also hostesses issuing
invitations should give detailed de-
scription OF the type of party so
servicemen who will particularly en-
JOY that type of entertainment can
be selected.
1t was announced at the meeting
that Mr.. Cunningham is resigning
as executive secretary of the council
to become assistant to the chief of
the employees service of the Com
munity Activities Section Of the
War Department.
Waesche Gave cnast Guard