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Page 5
tion with a peitnapfei
The organization,
Women ^ yh(J^g^
I State President of N. C. Federation
Negro Women’s Clubs—1941-1946
of
by RUTH G. RUSH
As President of N. C. Federation of
Negro Women’s Clubs, it becomes my
I duty and privilege to pay tribute to one
I w'ho has served faithfully and tirelessly
the women of North Carolina—yea, not
I the women alone but the people of North
Carolina for she has been a citizen of the
I first rank.
It is imf>ossible to name all the com-
I mendable attributes of Lula Kelsey. I will
attempt to review her work with the Fed
eration of Negro Women’s Clubs from
I three angles—
1. Lula Kelsey was a Builder. At the
I lime that Lula Kelsey became President
I of N. C. Federation of Negro Women’s
I Clubs, the organization had lost much of
its zeal and enthusiasm. The Efland Home
for Delinquent Girls had been a major
' objective of the Women of North Caro
lina through the years. The Efland Home
[ at the beginning of Lula Kelsey’s admin
istration could not adequately serve the
■ need for a school for delinquent girls.
[ There was still a mortgage on the prop
erty and the women had become discour-
I aged. State meetings were poorly attended
I and amounted to little more than an Ex
ecutive Board meeting.
With Lula Kelsey at the helm, changes
began to take place. The final mortgage
' on Efland property was paid.
Renewed efforts were made to have the
state provide a ti-aining school for Negro
girls. Club women under the leadership
of Lula Kelsey annually visited the Com-
’ missioner of Public Welfare and the Gov-
^ernor of North Carolina pleading for a
state-supported institution for the train-
|‘ ing of Negro girls.
® Lula Kelsey lived long enough to see
the results of efforts in this direction—
today, there is a state-supported institu-
numbers.
vjirf go
id hea^. Lula
women! We
omqt^'yveJtieed’Avomen and
v^Women join hands in this
ot do it alone, church women,
omen, business women, house
wives, women who have social clubs—
women everywhere must share in this
work.” A challenge of that type cannot
go unanswered and women have respond
ed 4,000 strong (approximately). Lula
Kelsey was a Builder.
2. Lula Kelsey was a Leader. It has
been by experience through the years that
too many of us know very little about
working with other people. We do not
know how to share responsibility, we do
not to know how to share honors. Not so,
in the case of Lula Kelsey. There was
always a place for everyone in the pro
gram—one presided, one passed programs,
one made a talk, one was called on to
do varying tasks, some relatively insig
nificant. some of major importance, but
all a part of the whole. Whatever the task,
be it small or large, there was recognition
of contribution made. Self always was
minimized. Hence, w'hatever was to be
done in the organization, Lula Kelsey had
the support and cooperation of all. Lula
Kelsey was a Leader.
3. Lula Kelsey was a Friend. Lula
Kelsey showed herself to be a friend to
me, to you. to people. Her life was one
of unselfishness. There are many persons
present today who could give personal
testimony proving unselfish interest in
their personal problems and in their com
munity efforts.
She was unstinted in her giving of her
self, of her finances and of her time in
order to help people and causes.
As a successor to Lula Kelsey in the
office of Pi-esident. I have had Lula Kel
sey’s counsel, her support and encourage
ment. On March 14. Lula Kelsey came to
Durham and discussed with me plans for
the State meeting to be held in May. She
was a friend, and shall I say more—she
is my friend today as she lives on—her
life is eternal, for the good that Lula Kel
sey did “cannot die.’’
iii
MISS RUTH G. RUSH
Miss Ruth G. Rush, who is now our
very efiicient President, has achieved
marvelous success ever since she took up
the reins of government following the
death of our beloved Mi-s. Lula S. Kelsey.
Ability, dignity, nobility, efficiency,
tact, patience and charm all meet in her
person. North Carolina women think that
they have the most capable federation
president in the whole nation.
of
“OPERATION EUROPE"
(CONTINUED FROM PAGE I)
contact with the Chiistian forces
America.
Reprinted from an editorial in "The Star
of Zion.” Charlotte. N. C... April 17, 1952.
The Federation Journal congratulates
Mrs. Kyles on this new opportunity for
Christian service. Her outstanding
achievements in North Carolina and her
remarkable experience in Washington
eminently qualify Mrs. Kyles for the du- :
ties of her new position.
Give Them a Place to Play
Plenty of room for dives and dens
Glitter and glare and sin!
Plenty of room for prison pens
To gatlier the criminals in!
Plenty of room for jails and courts
Willing enough to pay
But never a place for the children to i-ace.
No, never a place to play.
Plenty of room for shops and stores
Mammon must have the best.
Plenty of room for the running sores
That rot the city’s breast.
Plenty of room for the lures that lead
The hearts of our youth astray;
But never a cent on a playgi-ound spent.
No, never a place to play!
Plenty of room for schools and halls
Plenty of room for art;
Plenty of room for teas and balls.
Platform, stage, and mart.
Proud is the city—she finds a place
For many a fad today.
But she’s more than blind
If she fails to find
A place for the childien to play.
Give them a chance for innocent sport.
Give them a chance for fun.
Better a pla\>ground plot, than a court.
And a jail when the harm is done.
Give them a chance, if you stint them now.
Tomorrow you’ll have to pay
A larger bill for the darker ill.
So give the children a place to play.