Better Homes in America: Plan Book for Demonstration Week October 9 to 14, 1922

by Marie Mattingly Meloney

How to Form a General Committee for Better Homes Demonstration Week

A Better Homes Demonstration should be organized and directed by a disinterested group of prominent women, working from motives of public service. This group should be formed of a Chairman and a General Committee of from four to seven members, depending upon the size of the community.

Each member of the General Committee is Chairman of one or more sub-committees as outlined later in this Plan.

The Chairman of the General Committee is appointed through the National Advisory Council of Better Homes in America. She appoints the members of the local General Committee. They in turn appoint the members of the Sub-committees. In the case of the Sub-committees it is particularly important that appointments should be made with the knowledge and approval of the local civic and commercial interests whose co-operation is desired. Detailed suggestions for procedure are outlined later.

The duties of the members of the General Committee fit naturally into the following arrangement of Sub-committees with a member of the General Committee as Chairman of each Sub-committee:

(1) Sub-committee on Advertising and Publicity. (2) Sub-committee on Selection of Demonstration Home. (3) Sub-committee on Equipment of Demonstration Home. (4) Sub-committee on Furnishing and Decorating. (5) Sub-committee on Reception of Visitors and Management of Home. (6) Sub-committee on Program of Events. (7) Sub-committee on Budget for Demonstration Week.

Where the size of the community makes it desirable to have a General
Committee of only four members, some such distribution of the
Sub-committees as this is recommended:

(1) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Advertising and Publicity; and
(b) Sub-committee on Progress of Events.
(2) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Equipment of Demonstration Home; and
(b) Sub-committee on Furnishing and Decorating.
(3) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Selection of Demonstration Home; and
(b) Sub-committee on Reception of Visitors and Management of Home.
(4) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Budget for Demonstration Week.

How To Secure Patrons for Better Homes Demonstration; Full Cooperation of All Local Interests Essential

Following the organization of the General Committee, the first duty of its Chairman should be the arrangement for meetings of the Committee—or its individual members—with the various City Officials, and Civic and Commercial Organizations in the community, to explain the Plan for a Better Homes Demonstration and to secure their endorsement and active support.