“REPORT OF GISELA WARBURG'S TOUR - SEPTEMBER 10th THROUGH 18th, 1940”
Tuesday, September 10th, DETROIT
I spoke at a luncheon, the opening meeting of the season, at which about 200 women were present. Mrs. Ehrlich gave the invocation; Mrs. Frank delivered a good report of present Hadassah activities. I spoke about the youth work. From there I was taken by Mrs. Wineman and Mrs. Ehrlich to a tea at Mrs. Wineman's house, where about 20 of the big Youth Aliyah donors appeared. I think I managed successfully to destroy their scruples by answering the questions on their minds.
In the evening I went to a B & P group meeting of about 150 people, consisting in part of prospective members. Miss Dorothea Richmond, the president, makes a very favorable impression.
Wednesday, September 11th, CLEVELAND
I spoke in the evening to the B & P group. The audience consisted of about 200 people. Miss Granovitz, the president, more or less read the speech sent out by national. She was, however, so nervous that she was not able to give it the right emphasis.
Thursday, September 12th, AKRON
Dinner with the board, with the Senior B & P Group and Junior board. Meeting at the Community Center, attendance about 300 people who were extremely interested and asked excellent questions. The meeting was well prepared. The Junior president, however, learned the speech sent out by national by heart and had such trouble memorizing it that the intonation hardly conveyed what she was saying. That is, to my mind, a danger in sending out these speeches.
Friday, September 13th CLEVELAND
The membership committee that is now carrying out the membership drive met at the home of Mrs. Mellman, the Senior president; attendance about 50 women to whom I tried to give all the answers to the questions they would come up against in their membership drive. The drive has so far been very successful. The committee consists of quite a number of brand new members. I wonder whether it is such a good idea to make people solicit new members when they themselves hardly know what they are talking about,—although I admit that they are the ones who can make new contacts.
In the evening, open meeting in the assembly room of the Temple in ELYRIA. Attendance about 150 people—men and women. The standard of that community is appallingly low. For instances, the Bnai Brith meeting consists of the men playing poker and the women bridge and Mah Jongg. That is all they know about the Bnai Brith. Hadassah is only on a very slightly higher level. Their president, Mrs. Deutsch, tries her best. Her husband is the head of the Zionist group in Elyria, but they know amazingly little about the work.
The Lorraine chapter had sent a delegation of about 50 people. They seem to be much more active. Mrs. Braverman realizes the situation in Elyria and tries her best to improve it.
Saturday, September 14th, CLEVELAND
Meeting of 150 people at Mrs. Strauss' home, mainly Hadassah members of the kind who pay their dues (sustaining membership) and don't come to meetings. I hope I managed to stimulate them and destroy their scruples.
Sunday, September 15th, COLUMBUS
Lunch with the Hadassah Board. This was the first meeting of the season; attendance about 200 people, in spite of the fact that it was Sunday. I was introduced by Mrs. Levinger. The interest was keen. They are working on their donor luncheon by which they raise their quotas and for which they had Erika Mann last year. This year they will have Van Paassen, whom they pay $300 for his speech. Is that necessary? Is it advisable? They maintain that the money is raised by the advertisements in their program but even so should not the money go to the cause and could they not get a drawing card who would be less expensive? Should they not consult the Speakers' Bureau at the national office?
Monday, September 16th, TOLEDO
To my great astonishment, the luncheon did not turn out to be just board members but about 50 women representing different organizations (the so-called key women), which meant that I had to speak. I was amazed at how much more life Toledo has in every respect than the other cities I want to. This was proved not only by the luncheon but by the attendance of about 600 or 700 people at the evening meeting in the Temple. It was, I think, very successful.
Tuesday, September 17th, YOUNGSTOWN
First meeting of the season; attendance about 260 people. They are working hard on their donor luncheon. I managed to increase the pledges for the donor luncheon by $125. They raise all their quotas through the donor luncheon.
In the evening, the first meeting of the B & P group was held, which had consisted up to that time of 18 members. They had asked a number of prospective members to attend and there were about 40 or 50 present. When the evening was over, they had 22 new members and had formed two Minyanim. Up to now they have raised no funds for any projects but only paid their dues.
Wednesday, September 18th, McKeesport
Dinner with the Board and meeting in the assembly room of the Temple. This little town seems to be consumed by feuds between the very orthodox and reformed group, the Council, the B'nai Brith and Hadassah. They had tried to start Minyanim several times but had always failed. They started two Minyanim that evening.
Judging from the impressions of this trip, I would say that there cannot be too many National Board members going out on speaking tours. It does make a terrific difference if you start the chapter off with stimulation.