St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-12-27
Group Heath
Group Health
Practices Complete
Job Democracy

WASHIN GTON, D. C,
(NNPA)-Group Health AS
ISOLATION, Inc, which last
spring became an interracial
medical care agency and is
now taking persons into men,
bership regardless Of race, creed
or color, has determined to make a
sincere effort" to live up to the
stand it has taken.
In a memorandum to the heads of
the personnel department, Melvin
L. Dollar, executive director of the
association, outlined positive
program for recruiting new per-
sonnet.
Until last spring, the Group
Health Association limited its men,
bership to white federal workers.
At that time it expanded its mem
bership to take in members outside
of the federal service and, at the
same time, by a referendum voted
2-to-1 to admit colored persons to
membership. Recently conferences
with DR.. Montague Cobb, DR..
Charles Drew and DR.. Paul Cornely
have taken place with regard to
the composition of the orHaniZa-
tons staff.
The Group Health Association is
a medical cooperative. Members
pay monthly dues and in return
receive complete medical services
and disqualification.
The association has non-dis-
criminatory hiring policy, and the
new personnel recruiting program
was designed to find employees
who would fit into the interracial
pattern of the association. DR..
Dollars memorandum to personnel
department heads follows:
"Since it is the policy of CHA
to follow a discriminatory race
policy it is of the utmost i'm
portance that all employees exer-
else both care and judgment in deal
ing with Negro members. The
Negro community has no patience
with declarations of good will that
are not backed up by practice.
CHA is Under scrutiny with regard
to its treatment of Negro mem
bers, and a sincere effort must be
made to live up to the stand We
have taken. An extra ounce Of
effort to make our Negro members
feel welcome and at home will be
well repaid in the good will that
it will engender.
I'm the selection Of new person
mel, particular attention must be
given to the racial attitudes of APP
plicantS. 1t shall be the policy Of
the administration that all new ap-
plicants be questioned quite specii-
cally with regard to their attitudes
and that no one be employed who,
in the opinion Of the administra-
tive officer concerned, would not
deal with Negro members courte-
ously and without discrimination.
For the guidance of interview
ers it is recommended that the fol-
lowing procedure be followed in
substance:
Il. Explain in detail GHA's
non discriminatory policy with re
gard to membership and employ
ment, making it clear that it is in
practice as well as on paper.
80. Explain the importance of
developing good relations with the
Negro community in building up
membership in CHA.
s. ASK the applicant TO state
his views on the race problem
generally.
-. Ask the applicant specifcal-
ly whether he feels that he could
deal fairly and courteously with
Negro members. Ask further
whether he feels he can deal with
the Negro member in this fashion
comfortably and without a per-
sonal emotional reaction. This is
important, for the person who re-
acts emotionally to this kind of
situation is very likely to reveal
his feelings in spite Of good inten-
tiOns.)
20. Ask the applicant if he
feels that he can work with Negro