Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-07-12
Wis Issues
Revised
Handbook

The ITS members Of the Vol
unteer Information Service could
be called "the right arm" Of the
District Recreation Services
Armed Services Hospitality Com
mittee.
They don't overeStimate the
Importance Of their job. On it
depends the happiness pf hum
dreds of service men and wom-
en- who monthly pass through
Washington.
A few days leave or furlough,
or even just an hour between
trains are too precious to be
wasted. Wis workers consider
accurate information the key
stone Of their jobs.
Thus, appropriately, the in
formation service has named the
new revised edition of it's hand
book, "Check and Double Check. "
A volunteer must have at her
fngertips information on rec
reation. sightseeing. churches.
meeting people, lodging and
transportation. She must also
have the ingenuity to handle m
mediate situations with tact.
The new volunteer can't be
told too many times to be sure
Of the facts she is giving out.
"a qualified volunteer" the
handbook points out, will realize
that it is much worse to give
out wrong information than to
give out no information"
Use OF pencil and paper and
the services up-to-date file, the
handbook advises. avoid such
thoughtless blunders as:
81 think that bus stops on <
street-or is it K? Or I? Oh,
I'm sure it must be K. and I've
lived here all through the war;"
How long does the service
man wait in the rain for the
LA on K street," comments the
handbook.
The new Information Service
pamphlet also lays emphasis on
the fact that all new volunteers
must take a training course
even If some Of them have lived
In Washington all their lives.
The booklet points out that a
native Washingtonian would be
at a loss If suddenly put at a
busy information desk and
asked such questions as:
where can I get a shower
for free? I'm broke and can't
get paid till I get back to base"
"Is there any place where
can cash my personal check
now?" midnight Saturday,.
IT met a Navy nurse in Nor
folk. She went to school with
my sister and heard she was
working here. / have only an
hour between trains but I would
sure like to talk to her. Can
you help me? Her name Is
..
In general, the handbook
points out, the Wis asks that
an applicant be q high school
graduate or equivalent, not UNI
der 81 unless married, must pass
the military security test set up
by the Armed Services HoSpi-
tally Committee, take the train
ing course, familiarize herself
with the Wis files, visit GER
tain service clubs, and observe
the information services code Of
ethics.
The code Of ethics 'is essential
for the morale of the men and
women In uniform" says the
guide pamphlet. It will also
give the new worker confidence
in her job. 1t further points out.
The code particularly stresses
dress and manners. A typical
volunteer. 1t adds. will naturally
want to be well groomed and
appropriately. not over-power-
ingly dressed"
It will not occur to her to be
gushing" or to employ terms Of
endearment, it continues. She
is particularly warned mot to
talk down" to q man in uni
form. And as a last piece Of
advice, she Is assured she can be
natural, understanding. diplo-
matte, considerate, dignif1ed and
cheerful without being familiar.
The handbook also counSels
the would-be volunteer on the
Importance Of respect for mill
tary security and warns the new
worker against taking on any
case work that might better be
referred to a responsible agency.
The ITS members of the Vol
unteer Information Service now
on duty are staining desks in
service clubs in Washington and
In the Operations Building at
Boiling Field.
There are desks in the USO-
Travellers Aid Lounge In Union
Station, the Greyhound Bus Ter
minal and at the Soldiers. Sal
1ors, Marines and Airmen'S Club
at 1918 L street NV. The USO-