Evening star., 1948-06-23
Public Support
Urged as UCS
Board d|shaned
l40 Representatives
OF Community Groups
And Agencies Chosen

Of Community Groups
And Agencies Chosen
Washington residents had chal'
lenge today to see that the city!
health and welfare needs are met
through the new United Community
Services, now vested with board Of
trustees widely representative OF the
community.
The UCS general assembly, hold
ing its first meeting yesterday ir
the Commerce Department Auditor.
ium, elected more than 140 repre-.
sentatives of community organiza.
tions, operating agencies and the
public to the board.
The new board will replace the
boards Of the Washington Commun'
ity Chest and the Council Of Socia
AGENCIES, whose functions the UCs
will take over.
People Urged to Participate.
Heads of both the Chest anc
Council expressed their approval o.
the new central welfare organization
Yesterday and urged that the people
OF Washington participate in it.
Miss Jane M. Hoey, acting presi-
dent of the Council. termed it q
channel through which the citizens
of the community can express theli
opinions and learn what they can
do" to make sure that health ano
welfare needs here are met.
"It seems to us very important
that this new program have the
enthusiastic support, not only OF the
executives and staff members OF the
agencies, but of their boards and OF
citizens who previously have not
known much about the work into
which they are now being asked 70
step" she declared.
Lee D. Butler, president OF the
Chest, asserted that, if enough OF
the people of Washington Will JON
In and do their part, the new plan
will be a successful one. and UCS
will 20 far to relieve suffering and
want in Washington.
Better Understanding Seen.
A better public understanding OF
agency expenditures and conse-
quently a greater support OF the
annual Community Chest Federation
drive for funds was foreseen by
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Edward H. Foley, general chairman
of the drive last wear.
The UCS will assume the place OF
the Washington Chest in the FEEDER
alton drive to raise funds each year
for the Red Feather agencies sup
ported by the Chest.
I'VE are launching an organiza-
ton which binds together all classes
and types OF citizens in one big
common effort to administer to the
health and welfare needs OF our
community" the Right Rev. Msgr
John J Russell. director of Catholic
Charities, said.
Time and experience will improve
1t, but as it stands today. we can
SUPPOSE that 1t will be acceptable
to the entire community because 1t
Is both the community's handiwork
and its instrument.
Calls Effort sssincere."
, Mrs. Henry Gichner, vice chair
man of the Interim Committee
created by the Chest and Council
to organize UCS, called the new plan
"a sincere effort to create the most
satisfactory organization for bring
ing together the best lay and pro-
fessional leadership in the COM
munity."
She said that, in the past, the
city has had many uninformed and
misinformed citizens" With more
people taking an interest, having a
saw and being exposed to the ques-
tions and answers Of welfare, UCS
will really be the community, she
asserted.
I Col. Campbell johnson, Interim
Committee member, read a message
from william J. McManus, Interim
4 Committee chairman, who was Ill
and unable to attend.
Outlining the committees three
months of work, he explained that
much of the time was spent in CIV
ing a clear picture of the organiza-
ton to every agency and city-wide
group with social welfare interest.
For the general assembly, he said,
I'VE did not want merely the names
of two people from each organiza-
ton so we could draw up an
impressive list of sponsors or
, endorsers."
I I'VE wanted and had to have the
understanding interest and backing
of the governing bodies and mem
bership of each organization, which
would be transmitted into the new
plan through the active service OF
two of their members on the general
assembly and one on the Board OF
Trustees" he declared,
Broad Representative Body.
, Yesterdays meeting, he went on,
did not represent the ultimate goal
in community participation. but did
comprise "the most broadly repre-
(, sentative body that has ever met
I in our city with official responsible
& lIp lOl COiloloCi lAl6 CAAS eoOoA AiCo@oAA
/ and welfare Of the Washington
community"
He pointed out the stake of the
Washington Chest-supported agen-
cies in the fall campaign of the
4 federation is the responsibility OF
| UCS. The two evident problems
/, are the determination Of which
agencies should receive 1949 Chest
|, funds, and the consideration of the
\ minimum budget needs of the
!, agencies, he added.
4 Since these plans must be COM
\ pleted by the third week in July. a
\ budget committee and Chest
agency research committee were
4 established to get preliminary work
under way, he explained. The
Board of Trustees will take action
/, on these matters.
I, Mr.. McManus, as well as yester-
days speakers. praised the efforts
7, of the members Of the Interim Com
i mittee and subcommittee for their