Also the committee wishes to locate employers for these older people in the area being explored or outside. The circular letter attached dated January 9, 1953, also attempts to describe the project. Notices concerning it have been inserted in the Washington Unitarian for January and in the regular Sunday programs. Fourteen church heads of organizations within the church have received information about the project, and announcements describing the project have been made at meetings of these groups. Prominent people who may be interested have been corresponded with by mail and phone. A number of letters are on file with suggestions. The actual number of those older people who have wished to participate is attached and is small. This can be accounted for by the reticence that might be expected. PARTICIPATION OF OLDER PEOPLE IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES The church offers a large field of activity for the employment of the time of older people and many take advantage of these opportunities with inward satisfaction. The church could not function successfully without them and appreciates the hearty response. But there are some older people who wish other outlets for their time, talents, and ability. Furthermore the committee is not in favor of segregating older people from any suitable activities of the church and fosters special groups such as the Rainbow, where senior members can get together socially and for entertainment. But to fully live with self-satisfaction, older people should learn something new, as in a study group. There should be creative work for older people. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT The committee recognizes that the project is national in its scope. Statewide surveys have been made on the subject of employment of older people. The District of Columbia authorities of the government are sensitive to the problem. Numerous magazine articles have been written relating to the subject, and books have been published to show "arbitrary age limits deprive us of some of our best workers." The committee has conferred with Fred Z. Hetzel, Director of the U.S. Employment Service for the District of Columbia, who has furnished the committee with quantities of data with reference to older workers. Here is a Federal agency with skilled paid workers whose special duty among many others "provides the community with employment counseling and selective placement *** for older workers ***" (Taken from pamphlet entitled "U.S. Employment Service What It Is, What It Does, How It Works," copy attached.) The results in this field are practically nil because it seems there is a prejudice on the part of private business to employ workers over 45 years of age. The literature on the subject should be gathered together and made readily available in the church, where there is only a tiny segment of the problem. The proper utilization of older workers can best be done by private enterprise or industry which has advantages over Government which must depend on legislation and politics to set up an ideal system. Ideal systems have been set up in private enterprise when made conscious of its social obligation. The companies on the edge of failure in a competitive system of course cannot accomplish much along this line. Older people should be helped in an adjustment to their proper environment and the church can help through an agency. A few names of people have been received who want work for which they are qualified for compensation and the agency in the church should make a special effort to find employers for them. The committee feels that when those older people fully understand the spirit of the project, more will come forward with the proper approach on the part of the agency. RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Since the need for utilizing the skills and experience of older people is growing and national in scope, our church should have a permanent agency, call it a council for senior members (if the board wishes), appointed by the board of trustees, of a size in proportion to the need at the time, with a social worker at its head with a knowledge of the psychology of older people and to encourage a receptive attitude to the efforts of the agency. There should be a large enough council to fully investigate the problem of “adjusting older people to their proper environment," with compensation or not, depending on circumstances. Perhaps the compensation would be enough in some cases if the older people derived satisfaction in creating something for which they develop talent. Of course, if means could be found to pay the social worker that would be ideal. The functions of the senior council might be: 1. Counseling. FUNCTIONS OF THE SENIOR COUNCIL 2. Cooperation with existing agencies engaged in similar or related work, USES, Recreation Department of the District of Columbia, Good Will Industries, etc. 3. Investigation and arrangement of employment, with special attention to cases furnished herewith. 4. Find employers and arrange meeting with prospective employees; personnel work. 5. Establish a repository for up-to-date information: (a) All forms of retirement, government and private; (b) old-age pensions; (c) social security; (d) workers compensation, etc., etc. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL The senior council might meet monthly after the coffee hour for not more than 1 hour, or special meetings as desired. They should make an annual report to the board of trustees at the proper time. It is suggested that the members of the committee listed herein might accept transfer to the senior council. The files of the committee are turned over to the board of trustees with this report. WORK HISTORY OF MRS. HELEN DUEY HOFFMAN, HOUSING CONSULTANT, GS-13 Newspaper: Reporter, New York Evening Sun. Developed "Events Tonight" feature now carried by most newspapers under that or similar title. Short column of human interest (1913-14). Magazine work: Associate editor, Woman's Home Companion, 1915-17. Developed better films movement-two complete files of these articles, as history, have been in the Library of Congress, since publication, 1917. Administrative: Executive director, America's Allies, Cooperative Committee, six divisions; executive director, Women's Municipal League. Housing work: Housing specialist with Queensboro Corp., in the development of Jackson Heights, New York City, a large-scale community garden apartment development, tenant owned, valued at $50 million (1921–31). National representative, Better Homes in America, 1931–33. Executive director, Washington Housing Association, 1937-46. A. Developed first rent-control law of World War II used as a model in 350 cities. B. Initiated first war housing center of World War II used as a model for 300 cities. C. Originated social welfare consultant service in the landlord and tenant branch of the municipal court. D. Set up first housing code (draft). Housing consultant, Housing and Home Finance Agency-made an exploratory study of housing of the aging in Washington, D.C., 1950. Labor: Study of health and welfare funds of the labor unions in the building trades in Washington, D.C. This study was the first of its kind, financed jointly by unions and contractors, 1954. Other studies for special labor unions and public relations work, 1949-58. Miscellaneous: First cost-of-living study, 1934, covering Pittsburgh and Scranton under WPA and Department of Labor. Writer, editor, Sesquicentennial Commission, Washington, D.C., the souvenir program, "Faith of Our Fathers," 1951. Series of articles on vocational rehabilitation for the American City magazine, 1951-55. Three pamphlets for Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Health, Education, and Welfare, 1957. Conducting a column in the Washington Daily News called "The Full Life," for older people, 1956-57. Public relations work for Armistead Gardens, a cooperative housing project in Baltimore, Md., 1956. The above does not include work on a professional basis, but not for pay, such as the creating and operating the Washington Clearinghouse for Slum Clearance, Redevelopment, and Housing, an exchange of information between officials and citizens, 24 organized groups participating, 1948–57. THE FRIENDLY SENIORS BYLAWS (Adopted on April 28, 1959) 1. Name: The official name of this organization is the Friendly Seniors of All Souls Church (Unitarian), 16th and Harvard Streets NW., Washington, D.C. 2. Purpose: To make the later years happy years by sharing what we know and can do; by adding to our knowledge; by doing for each other what we can; by developing new interests; by following old interests which we always wanted to explore; by stimulating interest in social problems; and by encouraging friendly relations among members and guests. Specific talks on religion or politics are excluded from this purpose. 3. Membership: Membership is open to all men and women of the church and community of any race or religion who will carry out the purposes of the Friendly Seniors. Guests are welcome. 4. Officers: There will be three elective officers, a majority of whom must be members of this church. These officers are the general chairman, the first vice chairman, and the second vice chairman. Their duties shall be as follows: (a) The general chairman will preside at all meetings, make announcements, and perform the usual functions of the presiding officer. He or she will make the formal appointments of the various committees, after consultation with the respective chairmen. The general chairman will also serve as the finance officer and will make a financial report to the whole group at a regular meeting before terminating office. (b) The first vice chairman will be the chairman of the program committee. This committee will consist of five members, four of whom will be chosen by the first vice chairman with the advice and consent of the general chairman. The duties of this committee will be to plan and arrange programs at least 2 weeks in advance to allow for suitable publicity. Programs will consist of group singing and other musical features; talks on various subjects as history, geography, the arts, science, and social welfare; holiday celebrations; movies and still pictures, etc. Talks should not be longer than 20 minutes, followed by a discussion period of about 10 minutes. The same speaker or subject will not be repeated more often than once a month. (c) The second vice chairman will be the chairman of the membership-hospitality committee. This committee will consist of five members, four of whom will be chosen by the second vice chairman with the advice and consent of the general chairman. The duties of this committee will be to keep the membership list current, with names, addresses, phone numbers, and month of birth; to secure names of guests and new members; to announce birthdays, illnesses; do visiting; receive luncheon fees; record reservations; assist with the arrangement and decoration of the tables and the seating and serving; and to aim to gain and hold members by making them welcome, and to make everybody happy by food and fellowship. 5. Term of office: (a) The three officers will be selected by the nominating committee and approved by majority vote from the floor. The term for each office will be 3 months, at the end of which time the general chairman will be succeeded by the first vice chairman, and the second vice chairman becomes the first vice chairman. The vacancy for second vice chairman will be filled at the first regular meeting in September, December, and March by election; and terms will begin in the following October, January, and April. Officers serving in June will continue to serve during the summer months of July, August and September, since the summer program is optional and always informal. (b) Two coleaders of any desired additional group activities such as arts and crafts can be selected by the executive committee. This can be done at any time, and their terms of office will be for 1 year. (c) The outgoing general chairman will be eligible for reelection as second vice chairman after 1 year. 6. Executive committee: This committee will consist of three officers, and its duties will be to coordinate the various activities of the Friendly Seniors. 7. Nominating committee: This committee will consist of the three officers, plus two members to be elected from the floor by majority vote and for a term of 1 year. One of these two must be a member of this church. 8. Luncheon committee: This will be a committee of four or five volunteers who are church members, and each member will serve 1 week in each month. Their duties will be to assist in the preparation and serving of the luncheons. 9. Meetings: Regular meetings will be held every Tuesday from noon to about 4 p.m. First, luncheon will be served, the present fee being 35 cents. From about 12: 45 to about 2: 15 there will be a special program of speaking, music, movies, etc., after which will come games, discussion group, or other activity as the members desire. Decision as to continuing through the summer months of July, August, and September will be made by the membership in June. If such meetings are held, they will be informal, and without special speakers, and no warm food will be served. 10. Amendments: These bylaws can be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at any regular meeting during the 9 months of regular meetings. Voting shall be by the raising of hands. Advance notice of 1 week at any regular meeting will be required, and full discussion will be allowed. Senator MCNAMARA. Would you care to summarize briefly? Senator MCNAMARA. Thank you very much. Go right ahead. Mrs. HOFFMAN. I will not say anything that has already been said today, but I have one special plea. I will tell you that as soon as I finish about the Friendly Seniors and I will not be but about a minute or two on that. That is the group which meets at All Souls Unitarian Church to share what they know and can do, to learn what they can, new things, to explore new ideas and to help each other where they can. Their history is in that statement and, if you care to hear more about it, you can read it there. I want to make an appeal for the interim people. They are the people who are neither one thing nor another. They have not had any social security, although they have contributed much to our social life. The problem with them is that the pattern of their work, and particularly as self-employed people, does not fit the present regulations of social security. I will give you one story and then make an appeal to you that you find a way to help these people. Mary Smith taught in a university in Iowa which at that time had no pension fund, but now it has. She came east and started teaching in Maryland. She was just a little over the line and she was not able to come under their pension fund. She worked a while and then she became a tutor for the children of diplomats. They paid by cash and kept no records. She kept a record and that was good, and then she also taught recruits in the Navy, which at that time had no social security benefits. She was paid $3.75 an hour for her work. She is a very highly educated woman. When I took her to one of the officials of the social security to see if all of this record would not at least provide her with the minimum of social security, all the redtape that had to be gone through was such that she could not get any social security whatever. Her savings are going fast. She is now about 79, with a brilliant mind, and years of work ahead, but it is very difficult to live on what she has left of her savings. Mary Smith is not exceptional. I was one of them myself. After many years of service, I missed out all around until I made a study of the health and welfare funds of the labor unions in the building and construction trades and that enabled me to get almost the minimum social security. Of course, I am no longer what you might call an interim. I do not know how many people there are like this, but there are a great many. I come across them constantly, people who are not able to get social security in spite of the fact that they have many years of fine service behind them and in spite of the fact that they may even now be self-employed like Mary Smith. I say to you: Do something about them. There will not be very many very long. They will all be dead. Everybody will be under social security before very long. These people will never get it unless you do something about it. Thank you for this opportunity to talk to you. Older people do not get much chance. Senator MCNAMARA. Thank you very much. We appreciate that and we are sure that your statement, plus your remarks, will be very helpful. Mrs. HOFFMAN. Thank you. Senator MCNAMARA. We do thank all of you very much for coming. The hearings are adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. Thank you. (Whereupon, at 12:40 p.m., the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 5, 1959.) |