others, have been making studies for months. In other
countries similar efforts are undoubtedly being made.
Rotary’s unique role is due to its location in so many
cities and towns of numerous countries and to its repre-
sentative character due to the classification of its indi-
vidual members. Its established policy of cooperating
with others for community welfare is an added char-
acteristic that will make its role significant.

What Is the Work Pile Project?

As conceived by the board of directors of Rotary Inter-
national it is an activity for Rotary clubs everywhere,
through initiative, cooperation and sustained interest,
to find and record the jobs of all kinds which will
become available when the war ends. The magnitude
of the task and its tremendous possibilities are indicated
by C.E.D. Chairman Paul Hoffman’s remark that in
the United States there are 130,000,000 post-war plans,
meaning that practically every man, woman and child
will have needs and desires to be satisfied which will
create work for others.

What Clubs Can Engage in the
Work Pile Project?

ALL OF THEM! The work pile project is not con-
fined to the United States. In Canada— Australia —
South America—in each country where Rotary clubs
are located — there will be an imperative need to solve
the problems of post-war production and employment.
Weare involved in a world economy, and the failure to
recognize this in one part of the world may seriously
hamper the efforts in others.

Neither is this an activity which is limited to the larger
cities or industrial centers. If the work pile idea is to
succeed there must be an inventory of potential post-
war work that will reach even the smallest communi-
ties and extend from there out into the rural areas.

What the Work Pile
Will Accomplish

The world is witnessing the greatest shortage of con-

sumer goods since the advent of the industrial era:

Even without a study we know that immediately fol-
lowing the close of the war there will be an unprece-
dented demand for repairs and replacement. Under the

Work Pile project we shall know approximately the ex-
tent of that demand in all lines.

Example: Smithville is a community of 5000 popula-

tion. A Work Pile survey is made, and among many

items it is found that 300 citizens contemplate putting
new roofs on their homes just as soon as possible after
the war. What is the benefit of this information?

A The contractors and carpenters of Smithville know
approximately how much help and how much
material they will have to have in order to take
care of this Work Pile.

B The boys from Smithville, who are in the service,
and who are qualified to do this kind of work have
their morale strengthened by the knowledge that
these jobs are definitely waiting for them.

C The lumber and hardware dealers of Smithville
can figure approximately how much material will
be needed and can arrange accordingly for neces-
sary increase in plants and personnel.

D The wholesalers, having this information from
Smithville and all other communities in their trade
territory, can also make their plans accordingly.

— The mills, knowing something of the total de-
mand, will be in a position to make the necessary
financial and other arrangements to care for this
production and will be ready to offer immediate
employment to thousands of men.

Obviously it will not be possible to do all of the work
immediately after the war. This Work Pile may pro-
vide jobs for several years.

Initiative by Rotary Clubs

The R.I. board thinks of Rotary clubs and Rotarians as
initiators, “stirrer-uppers,” in the Work Pile project.
The first Work Pile duty of a Rotary club is to find out
whether any survey of this kind is in process in its
community. Rotary’s policy is to cooperate, not to com-
pete or to duplicate. If it is found that a survey has been
undertaken, then the Rotary club’s function is to en-
courage its members to become active and to help make
the survey truly community-wide and successful to the
maximum. The Rotary club can also resolve to keep
the activity functioning until the job is done.