Reprinted courtesy of The LAMP
of Delta Zeta, May 1944
She is a slight, trim woman, quiet-mannered and unhurried, as she moves
from one constructive activity to another in her daily rounds of service
to her community and to her nation. Few Houstonians need an
introduction to Anna K. Told Chase because she is as
integral a part of the community as the Chamber of Commerce of the
Public School Board. Modest and poised, always non-argumentative,
Anna K. Chase is mistress of the art of persuasion. Without fuss
or fury, in the face of concentrated opposition and odds which would
seem terrifying to a less determined soul, she gets things done!
There is a tensile strength to the fibre of this women that makes her
every difficulty a challenge.
It is axiomatic that "if you want an important thing done, take it to a
busy person." Perhaps that is why so many matters of urgent
character are brought to Anna K. Chase. Her calendar is always
full, yet somehow each detail is executed with care and precision.
A look at her typical day would suggest almost omnipresent powers.
She is Vice President of the Travelers Aid; First Deputy
Commissioner of Girl Scouts; a member of the Wartime Service Committee
of O.C.D.; a member of the Speakers Bureau of the Harris County War
Chest; she serves on the executive committee of Houston's Post War
Planning Commission; she is on the newly-formed Red Cross Committee on
Information Concerning Prisoners of War. These are but a few of
her many regular activities ... and today her most vital interest is a
radio program created and broadcast weekly over Station KPRC, Houston.
Titled "The Home Front Speaks" and sponsored by The Houston Electric
Company, this program came into being because Mrs. Chase felt
strongly that war-time service on the home front wanted publicizing;
that too many citizens were apathetic merely because the public-at-large
was not informed of important work being done, or of the opportunities
for service awaiting every man, woman and child in the community.
"The Home Front Speaks" is designed to do this job. It is
achieving incredibly successful results in recruiting persons of all
ages, ranks and abilities for full or part time volunteer service.
The format of the radio show is extremely simple. As mistress of
ceremonies, Mrs. Chase brings before the microphone each week groups and
individuals who describe their activities and invite the public's
cooperation. Booked many weeks ahead of the broadcast, each
program fills a timely need. During the Fourth War Loan Drive,
disabled war veterans from McCloskey General Hospital, Temple, Texas,
were invited to participate. They were interviewed concerning
their experiences on the battled front, and men made touching and
eloquent appeals for support of the Bond campaign.
Other work covered by the series is the Red Cross, the March of Dimes,
Boy and Girl Scouting, local and national organizations for youth
welfare, service men and women, crippled and underprivileged children
and many other agencies and groups devoted to social and civic
activities.
Descriptions of the radio program and actual scripts have been
circulated all over the nation, and Mrs. Chase is besieged with requests
for appearances by individuals and organizations. Anna K. Chase is
proud of the program because of the influence the broadcasts are
exerting in strengthening and organizing the home front for community
betterment and effective service in the war effort. In her words,
"there can be no victory abroad, until there is victory at home."
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