Rawson Haverty, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Village of St. Joseph, has issued a report on the facility’s progress and activities since it was opened July 2.

The report of the trustees follows:

It’s a pleasure to report to you on the program of the Village. The boys and girls moved to the Village on July 2. The new facilities are very attractive. Each cottage contains four bedrooms for the children, a kitchen, dining room, house parents’ apartments and a room that can be used for visitors or for interview. There is a large central recreation area and an area for TV and reading. Meals are prepared in the central kitchen and transported to the cottages that the children eat in their own dining room.

The administration building houses the convent area, the offices of Sister John Frances, the administrator, and her assistant, Sister Francis Regis. There are also offices for social workers and a general office for Mrs. Keely, our receptionist and secretary. This area contains space for other clerical workers. On the lower level are the store rooms and laundry. In a separate building which adjoins the administration building, there is the central kitchen, the gymnasium and play areas, together with classrooms for special education. Sister Catherine Lucien and Sister Judith take care of the older girls in cottage one. Sister Catherine also handles food planning and buying.

Mrs. Mary Anne Hergel and her husband, Gene, watch over cottage two. Gene works off the grounds.

Sister Francis Regis and Sister Ann Michelle look after the older boys in cottage five.

Sister Ann Michelle also teaches arts and crafts. Ronnie Callaway, the recreation director, and his wife Linda, live on the lower level of cottage five. The relief house parents, Mary and Frank Ferguson, also live on the lower level of cottage five. Frank does general maintenance at the Village.

Sister John Clare and Sister Judith teach and handle “testing.” Sister Marcenella keeps up the wardrobe, and Sister Leo Christopher is responsible for the overall grounds and buildings.

Father James S. Schereer now lives at the gatehouse (the cottage which was originally on the grounds when it was purchased). In addition to his many responsibilities as head of Catholic Family Services, he acts as chaplain for the Village and holds daily mass at the beautiful little Chapel. Father also gives therapy.

We are fortunate to have so many specially qualified professionals on the Village staff.

Sister John Frances holds a master’s degree in social work from Fordham, and A.B. in education, and has applied for her “A.C.S.W., signifying a Certified Social Worker.

Father James Scherer is nearing completion of work for his master’s in social work at the University of Georgia. He will then have a degree in community organization and one in casework. Sister Frances Regia holds a master’s degree in education of children with problems, from Loyola University. Sister John Clare holds a master’s in experimental psychology from Fordham and has done graduate work at Emory in testing of children. Sister Judith started last summer working for a degree in the education of the emotionally disturbed at Peabody University in Nashville. Sister Catherine holds a degree in education and Sister Leo Christopher holds not only a degree in education but also is highly experienced in the hospital accounting field.

Under a special federal grant, Atlanta University provides social workers at the Village as a part of their graduate work. This joint experiment is working well and will be valuable both to the Village and to Atlanta University.

A professional advisory council consisting of professionals in the various fields of child care, social work, social law, etc. has recently been organized. This council is to become familiar with the Village and its work and will provide expert advice and counsel to Sister John Frances.

Dr. Rhodes Haverty, a Trustee of the Village, is chairman of this professional group. Dr. Haverty has, in addition, set up an examining room for the children at the Village and has been giving them free pediatric care. This is a continuing service, for Dr. Haverty has for the past three years been making the trip to Washington, Georgia, to serve the boys.

Since it has moved to Atlanta, the Village has adopted a modern system of accounting and has established a budget. This first budget, of necessity, contains much guesswork and we lean heavily on the generosity of the archdiocese and its parishes. To date we are operating under budgeted estimates, but as new children are admitted and the fourth cottage opened, our expenses will necessarily increase.

Our friends have been kind to us. The Knights of Columbus, the parish circles, and the Catholic youth organizations have been particularly generous, while many individuals continue to give not only money but of themselves.

The children have been to football games in Athens and here in Atlanta. They have been to many functions and special events. The Braves Booster’s Club has promised us athletic equipment and the children now care for two ponies which have been given to the home, and enjoy an outdoor gymnasium set.

The Village Foundation continues to grow. We were recently given a $5,000 gift by Mr. Felix Commagere and recently an additional gift of $1,600 in stock was made. The fund now stands at a little over $77,000. We continue to urge Trust Officers, Trustees and individuals to name “the Village of St. Joseph Fund” in their bequests, their wills and their annual giving. The income from this fund goes toward the operation of the Village. We hope and pray that it will grow steadily over the years so that the Village will not have to lean so heavily on the archdiocese and parishes for its operating funds.

During the few months we have been in Atlanta, much of our effort has been to familiarize ourselves with the many new facilities and opportunities available to the Village and to make ourselves and our capabilities known to the community. This is not an easy task-it takes much time. We are new and must move with caution. There are so many children to be served.

In Washington our role was restricted to that of a “home” of the children. We hope that here, at the Village of St. Joseph, our child-care functions will cover a brief span for many of the children. With professional help available for the children and for their families we hope to reconstitute the family life and reestablish the children with their parents.

By arranging the children into special groups, then offering special training, schooling, casework service and psychiatric counseling, we hope to help children with problems to solve their problems and thus enable them to return to their parents. To assist dependent children in the diocese who do not need a treatment program, we are working with the Child Center of Atlanta to secure foster homes for them.

The facilities that we have here at the new Village are wonderful. We thank all of you who through your generosity, have made them possible. But we are really only beginning. The opportunities are overwhelming. We pray for patience, strength, wisdom, and the means and capabilities to meet them.

Rawson Haverty, President

Board of Trustees, Village of Saint Joseph.