The selection of the county vice-presidents should be made with a good deal of care. Suitable persons who will actively carry on the work should be chosen for these positions. The vice-presidents should be authorized to appoint one or more representatives in each community to help them organize the leagues in the churches and arouse interest in the work.
It can not be impressed too strongly on the vice-presidents that the success of the church leagues in their districts will depend upon the amount of attention given the work. The organization of a branch league in a church is merely the starting point; the real work is done after the organization is completed.
The president and secretary of the state league should call for regular reports from the county vice-presidents, showing the number of church leagues in their respective counties and a statement of the work done in each.
If any of the church leagues are not prospering, the president or the secretary of the state league should visit or write to them and learn what is the trouble, and give needed advice and encouragement. Officers of the state league should consult frequently and freely with their state board of health and enlist its sympathy and aid in their work. The closer the leagues keep in touch with the health authorities the better will be the results obtained. Both the state and local health officers will be glad to give their best efforts to help along this work. They are in a position to do a great deal to assist both state and church leagues, and the leagues should work in harmony with them.
CHURCH BRANCH LEAGUES.
Organization.—In order that the members of the church in which it is proposed to organize the branch league may understand thoroughly the objects of the league, the minister or other competent person should explain clearly the purpose of the league and what it is expected to accomplish. He should inform them that relatively many more colored people die of consumption than white people; that very few colored people get well of the disease, partly because they do not know how to take care of themselves and partly because many neglect to do so; and that the object of the league is to teach the well how to preserve their health and prevent their contracting consumption and other diseases, and the sick how to regain their health. If too poor to take the necessary treatment, it is the purpose of the league to help its members to do so.
After the foregoing has been thoroughly explained, the church branch of the state league should be formed by the adoption of the constitution and by-laws given for church leagues in the plan of organization published in the Public Health Reports of May 28, 1909. After this has been done, the officers required by the by-laws should be elected.
The secretary then takes the name and address of each of the members, and as soon as a member has paid his dues he is given the certificate of membership, properly filled out, and signed by the president and secretary of the church league.
The certificate of membership given to each person joining the league has printed on it information and instructions which, if followed, will tend to protect the individual from consumption.