Page 32 of Mountain Life & Work vol. 08 no. 1 April, 1932

MOUNTAIN LIFE AND WORK Hclorr II. Dirr g rrrarr Dr. William J11171cs Hutchins Orrin L. Kec•uor Mal, 13. Sn;ith Editor Counsellor Associate Editor Associate Editor CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Dr. Warren H. Wilson _ NeN, Yo:k City Mrs. John C. Campbell Mr. Marshall E. Vaughan Dr. John 11. McConnell Dr. Arthur T. McCormack Dr. E. C. Branson Dr. John Tigert Brasstown, N. C. B'-orea, Ky. East Radford, Va. Louisville. Ky. Chapel Hill, N. C. Gainesville, Fla. ISSUED QUARTERLY-JANUARY, APRIL ,JULY, OCTOBER Subscription Price $1.00 per year. Single Copy 30c. Entered at the Post Office at Berea, Ky., as second class mail matter. ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS TO MOUNTAIN LIFE AND WORK BEREA, KENTUCKY In many ways the twentieth Conference of Southern Mountain Workers, held March 29-31 in Knoxville, Tennessee, was an interesting and unique occasion. In spite of troubled times, the registration and interest were heart-warming. And there was good reason for enthusiasm. For the first time the Conference had the privilege of hearing A. D. Zanzig, Director of Music Service of the National Recreation Association, who not only spoke on "Music and People," but gave much of his time throughout the Conference to directing singing and meeting with groups of workers interested in this form of community activity. Spencer Miller, Jr., Consultant on Industrial Relations of the Protestant Episcopal Church, talked on the grave problems now confronting the Southern coal fields. His approach to these MOUNTAIN LIIJ'F, AND WORK April, 1932 problems was direct and illuminating. Dr. Howard W. Odum gave an interesting analysis of some of the literature on the mountains, which has appeared during the last ten years. Mental hygiene found a place on the program in the talk of Mark Entorf, of Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana. In "Mental Hygiene and Work with Individuals," he gave workers a new understanding of the individual basis of their work. Dr. William J. Hutchins, of Berea College, and Dr. Warren H. Wilson, of the Presbyterian Board of National Missions, told of conditions as they found them in India. Interesting parallels and differences were shown in comparing the work there with that of the Southern Mountains. On the closing afternoon, Miss Tommie Dora Barker, of the American Library Association, presented some of her findings in "A Survey of Library Facilities in the Appalachian Highlands." The July number of Mountain Life and Work will contain all talks delivered at the Conference. Although the Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority, an international organization, has in the past supported local philanthropic projects, a national program was adopted at the last convention of the Sorority, which will make possible the distribution of an annual fund amounting to over $1,000 to established schools and centers throughout the Ozarks and the Southern Mountains for the purpose of meeting some of the needs of mountain children. Instead of planning to maintain an individual health worker or small center in the mountain area, the Sigma. Phi Gamma Sorority in extending a friendly hand to the mountains, has most wisely decided to make every dollar count. With the cooperation of the Conference of Southern Mountain Workers, therefore, this fund will be distributed to various centers for administration in meeting local needs. In these days when many mountain families in the coal fields are living on $1 or less a week, the need for health work is redoubled to help combat the effects of malnu trition and disease. The Sigma Phi Gamma Sorority is doing a splendid work in making such a health program possible.