Federations and Welfare Funds Urge Continuance of United Jewish Appeal

A resolution urging the continuance of the United Jewish Appeal on the basis that “maximum results in joint fund-raising depend on the spirit of harmony” was adopted at the tenth annual conference of the West Central States Region of the Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds, held in Kansas City, Nov. 13-14. The conference, which met at the Hotel Muehlebach here, was attended by eighty delegates from fifteen cities, comprising the nine-state region.

In opening the conference, Frank L. Weil, president of the National Jewish Welfare Board, emphasized the necessity of meeting war-created problems without delay. He pointed out further that the effectiveness of local agencies was dependent upon the maximum extent of coordination and cooperation among Jewish groups.

A session arousing considerable interest among delegates was the one dealing with budgeting principles and procedures. Attention was directed to the importance of following a democratic budgeting process which would involve all elements within each community. It was pointed out, however, that this would be possible only with the development of better criteria to deal with the needs of the various agencies.

POST-WAR JEWISH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION DISCUSSED

The closing session of the conference was given over to the subject of community organization both today and in the post-war period. The need for a central local organization which would deal with matters of common Jewish concern including broad group problems came up for a good deal of consideration. Such an organization, it was felt, would have to be representative in structure and democratic in action. It was agreed that questions such as civic-protective activity, community planning, Jewish education, and fund-raising for social welfare purposes could plausibly lie within its scope.

Another session dealt with the question of the organization of all types of Jewish education on a community-wide basis. The conference adopted a revised constitution for the region which provides proportionate representation in the executive committee and future conferences to member agencies.

Officers elected are Louis S. Myers of Kansas City, president; E. N. Grueskin of Sioux City, first vice-president; Avery Carp of Granite City, second vice-president; Milton Livingston of Omaha, third vice-president, Sidney Cahn of Chicago, secretary.