Radio annual (1953)

A.W. R.T. SCOPE WIDENING Projects Now Carried Out On A National Scale By DORIS CORWITH. Pretident American Women In Radio and Television THE strength of any organiza ^H tion is based on the soundness and integrity of its objectives, the loyalty and contributions of its members, and its value to society. As AWRT comes to the close of its second year, an accounting to the industry is a welcome privilege. The 1952 AWRT Convention in Detroit, under the chairmanship of Edythe Fern Melrose, of WXYZ and WXYZ-TV, brought 300 members together from all parts of the U. S. for three days of business meetings, panel discussions, formal speeches and gala entertainment. New officers elected to serve until April 1954 were Doris Corwith, NBC, president; Dorothy Fuller, WBET, eastern vice president; Alice Friberg, WCYB, southern vice president; Elizabeth E. Marshall, WBEZ, central vice president; Mollie Morse, KFMB, western vice president; Jane Dalton, WSPA, secretary-treasurer. These officers, together with five directors, whose terms expire in 1953, form the AWRT board of directors. To them is given the administrative responsibility for our organization. We closed our organizing Convention in New York City in April 1951 with 358 members. At the end of 1951, we had 621 on our membership rolls. December 1952 found 655 active and 106 associate members of AWRT, a total of 761. These women represent all phases of our industry. Membership includes subscription to our monthly publication, NEWS .AND VIEWS. It -contains articles of interest to our members, chapter news, personal items, and keeps us abreast of developments Effecting the broadcasting and television industries. Local chapters of AWRT are growing and flourishing. Among the most active are those in New York City, Washington, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Diego. State meetings have been held in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, and Georgia. Regional groups in New England and The Heart of America have regular get-togethers on a large scale, and invariably well attended. AWRT established in 1952 an Informa tion Services Committee which answers inquiries of all kinds. The New York City Chapter has instituted a Contact Service Committee which will assist all our members in making contacts when they visit New York. Projects have been carried out on a national scale this year under the general theme, "Women Are First-Class Citizens." We cooperated in the observance of United Nations Day, through the industry committee under the chairmanship of Harold Fellows, president of NARTB. Our members have been strongly urged to use every possible means to get out the vote. More recently we have asked them to interest themselves in the needs of our public schools: more and better teachers, more and better buildings and equipment, and closer relationship between the school authorities and the public. Some of our chapters are engaged in local projects. For instance, the New England Chapter is working with the Massachusetts State Division of Child Guardianship to encourage wider acceptance of the Foster Home Plan, with the slogan, "Give a Child a Home." In New York State, the chairman snd her co-workers set up a booth for women broadcasters at the New York State Fair, which attracted wide and favorable attention. Plans are now moving forward for the 1953 Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, April 30-May 3. Edythe Meserand, of New York City, AWRT's first president, serves as director, and Marguerite Ewing Schott and Hazel Marsden, both of Atlanta, as co-chairmen. All activities will take place at the Atlanta Biltmore Hotel. At this Convention, five directors will be elected, the constitution and by-laws will be revised, work sessions and panels of distinguished representatives of the industry will be presented. A post-Convention tour of Miami and Havana has been planned through the fine cooperation of the officials of the Florida resort and the colorful capital of Cuba. The officers, directors and members of AWRT are proud to be an active part of the great radio and television industry. We look forward to 1953 as a year of challenge and growth. 53