The Organization
In planning the organization of the campaign, the Mayor usually appoints a Clean-up Week Committee, consisting of one representative each from the Department of Public Works or Street Cleaning, Health and Fire. This committee outlines the plan and scope of the work. Usually the physical work is performed by or under the supervision of the Bureau of Street Cleaning, although in some cities the health officials have had charge of the work. After a plan has been adopted to interest every man, woman and child in the community, a proclamation by the Mayor starts the ball rolling and the campaign is on.
As it is only through local organization that cooperative specific community steps can be taken, an effort is first made to secure district organization. The industrial insurance companies with their already well organized plans on clean-up, baby welfare, health, fly and mosquito campaigns, are important agencies for such steps in most cities. The aid of public school principals, the clergy and others is also sought. Very effective organization is secured also through the help of the various welfare and civic organizations.
The official Clean-Up Week Committee usually appoints a Citizens’ Committee, representing the leaders of the financial, educational, business and religious life of the city. The members of this committee offer their time and services free. The Citizens’ Committee is subdivided, sometimes into as many as twelve committees, consisting, as in Philadelphia, of finance, press, poster and printed matter, trade associations, community associations, charitable and benevolent associations, schools and school children, churches, retail stores, street cars, vacant lots and fire prevention.
The following is the plan of organization that has been used by many small cities:
One man and one woman as directors of the general movement.
A committee on public buildings, factories and stores.
A committee on residences and outbuildings.
A committee on streets and alleys.
A committee on parking and planting.
A committee on painting and repair work.
A committee to interest school children.
A committee to supply the teams and remove the rubbish.
Captains for working crews for each day of the campaign.
The plan of Cincinnati is a representative one where the campaign is initiated and carried on by a civic organization with the assistance of public officials.
The President of the Chamber of Commerce of that city suggested it might be worth while to start a clean-up movement, and, accordingly, a number of letters were sent to prominent people informing them of the proposed movement, and asking, if they thought the idea worthy of merit, to meet at the Chamber of Commerce on a certain evening. Thirty-five persons, representatives of organizations and the city government, all enthusiastic over the idea, met as suggested. A committee, consisting of the Superintendent of Schools, Superintendent of Salvage Corps, Executive Secretary of the Chamber, and the Chief of Police, was appointed to plan the organization and name officers and members of committees. This committee submitted a report laying out a plan along the following lines:
1. Organization by districts coextensive with public school districts.
2. These district organizations to be uniform in character as far as possible.
3. The work in each district to be done by the people in that district.
4. General committees, the members to form the General Council in charge of the campaign.
5. An Executive Committee to be composed of the chairmen of the General Committees, and to be in immediate charge of the campaign.
6. The campaign to extend over a number of weeks and to be followed by a general inspection of the buildings of that city.
The report of this Committee, including its selection of the Superintendent of Schools as General Chairman and the Manager of the Civic and Industrial Department of the Chamber of Commerce as General Secretary, was submitted to a large meeting attended by representatives of the civic organizations, the State Fire Marshal, the schools, the Fire Prevention Bureau, the Salvage Corps and others. Its plan of organization was adopted and its selection of members of the committees approved. The Mayor promised the cooperation of all city departments.