N. J. Mosquito Extermination Association 41 



In looking over the federation year book, I see that in 1919 

 and 1920 work along- lines in which you are interested was un- 

 dertaken by a Bayonne Woman's Club. No statement, however, 

 was made as to the work accomplished. At our state conven- 

 tion held at Asbury Park in May, 1920, there was an exhibition 

 of hatching^ insects in glass tanks. There was some printed 

 matter on mosquitoes, but no speeches were made or reports 

 given. I have several ideas as to how our clubs could be of con- 

 structive help to you men. These I will mention. I wish you 

 would take notes and be ready with suggestions or questions. 

 We want, to-day, to impress upon you the power of our clubs to 

 help, the willingness to serve, the unity and unselfishness which 

 exist among the women of your state. Women are forgetting 

 self, and our very wonderful state president, Mrs. A. B. Proal, 

 says we are awakening successively to a town consciousness, to 

 a county consciousness, then to a wider state consciousness, and 

 finally to a national consciousness, the broadest and most com- 

 prehensive of all. 



Most of our clubs are departmental and many of these depart- 

 ments could take up this work along their own lines in ways which 

 I shall suggest to you. Of course, the subject could be gone into\ 

 much more deeply than I have even attempted. I am simply 

 skipping along, so to speak, and want to show you how my vision 

 could be worked out and made real and practical. 



Civic departments in clubs could do much work. They could 

 go before classes in the schools, beginning with the kindergarten 

 and tell the children where the mosquito breeds and lives, and 

 ask them to find all stagnant pools, pails or barrels filled with 

 water, which are so common everywhere. They should be urged 

 to report these conditions to their teacher or the chairman of 

 civics. As the child becomes interested in and talks about these 

 things in the home, the parents will absorb much useful knowl- 

 edge, without realizing it, and will begin to work along helpful 

 lines themselves. All boys and girls love praise — give to the 

 most active and wide-awake children as much publicity as pos- 

 sible; also distribute among the little workers some distinctive 

 badge such as a small button or ribbon. You will gain hearty 

 co-operation in this way. A suggestion to be used later is that 

 we commissioners adopt some distinctive kind of medal or other 

 badge to be used as a stimulus in this work all over the State. 

 You have my assurance that this reaches the children, as these 

 methods have been found effective in our work. 



