William Penn, 1958 (41. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1958-11-05 / 11. szám
Vol. XLI. O BRANCH MEETINGS ARE IMPOi, ° AND SHOULD BE ATTENDED 6 .9, 1958. 51 NUMBER 11. Come On, Help the Youngsters! (Junior District Manager Contest) Every organization has problems which must be met and resolved to assure smooth operations. Take, for instance, one thorny problem pricking the fraternal insurance companies: DWINDLING INTEREST AND POOR ATTENDANCE AT THE LODGE OR BRANCH MEETINGS. Being vitally important to the welfare of the fraternals, meetings must be faithfully attended, and not to do this constitutes a grave problem jeopardizing the overall functions and welfare of the fraternals. This condition must be cured. Years ago lodge attendance was invariably an occasion of fellowship and a show of strength in numbers. Members eagerly looked forward to the next meeting. These fraternal meetings were unique in combining business with the pleasure of a social gathering. In those yesteryears notice to attend a fraternal meeting was received dutifully and even with enthusiasm, while today such notification is often ignored or treated with indifference. Something OUGHT TO BE DONE about this ill response to lodge and branch meetings — BY THE MEMBERS THEMSELVES. Modernism and materialism with their front of sophistication have detracted from the appeal of the simple lodge or branch meeting, contributing to the very serious drop in attendance. Radio, television, drive-in theaters, night clubs, motoring, etc. have all poured in the silt of indifference that is clotting the life-blood — the lodge meetings — of the fraternals. Selfishness and an apathetic attitude toward fraternal obligations add to the reasons" which explain the plight of the lodge and branch meetings. Unfortunately, the branches of the William Penn Fraternal Association have, along with their sister fraternals, been experiencing for years the frustration of ill-attended meetings. This minority attendance, burdened with the heavy responsibilities properly the function of a majority meeting body, creates an unsound and undemocratic branch state of affairs, to boot the discouragement that follows can dampen the spirits of even the most resolute and stalwart members. What happens in these unfortunate situations? The branches whose members fail to exercise the privilege and opportunity of attending meetings become fixed, stagnant and unprogressive. The loyal few regular attenders can not carry out for their branches what a majority could do. This stands to reason, yet — mind you this — should a decision or policy be made that does not please the habitually absentee members, they are the VERY FIRST to voice in stentorian tones their harsh criticisms and to express snap opinions of no consequence. Just how far can illogic go? Now it is a fact that the sincere few who, rain or shine, attend branch meetings, are NOT happy about the dominant role forced on them by these circumstances. They WANT TO SHARE with their fellow branch members the obligations, the responsibilities of branch management and affairs, knowing quite well that majority membership action produces by far the best results. The seasons of fall and winter are the busiest in the William Penn calendar. It is, therefore, paramount that during this period membership participation in branch affairs be the conscientious act of the majority and NOT of the minority. The fall-winter season for the William Penn branches means election of officers, examination and accounting of branch business during the current year, etc., and, on the lighter side, anniversaries, banquets, dances and other socials crowd the branch agenda in fall and in winter. Dear members, ask yourselves honestly: Can branch functions be discharged -properly and satisfactorily by meetings whittled down to pitifully small attendances? Your answer is our answer — NO! NEVER!! THEN ATTEND THE MEETINGS!!! Many would-be prophets of doom, often foes of fratemalism, apparently derive a kind of diabolic satisfaction predicting that the fraternals are on their way out — to become has-beens — for, say they, the fraternals are reading in fear and in trepidation the “handwriting on the wall.” These “doom experts” like to point out, among other things, that the dearth in lodge attendance is one sure sign the “decadent” fraternals are heading directly into the abyss of oblivion. This assertion is so FAR FROM THE TRUTH On September 1, 1958 the Field Department opened a membership contest to the male youth of the William Penn Fraternal Association between 12 and 15 years of age. The contest, appropriately named “Junior District Manager Contest,” will close February 28, 1959. This novel membership drive is another sign that the Field Department nevei- takes off its “thinking cap” in its determination to give the Association the best possible service to multiply our membership number. Often the unusual, as in this case the Junior District Manager Contest, creates an interest that benefits the Association greatly. Routine programming is not enough. The contestants in this campaign are called “Junior District Managers.” These youngsters are concentrating their activities on soliciting and selecting names of male and female prospects between ages 0 and 16 for enrollment in the William Penn Fraternal Association’s Junior Department. Supervision of the Junior District Manager’s activities are directed by the local District Manager under whose sponsorship the Junior District Manager was enrolled. Briefly, the contest will be calculated on so many points for so much permanent insurance sold. Winners will be sent to a summer camp — what a beautiful thought during these cold weather months! — if a sufficient number of contestants “come thru with flying colors.” In any event, the rewards will be ample even should the winners fall short of the number required to hold the summer cámp. ~ — —----------------------------1 The purpose of the contest is obvious enough, but the opportunities that a summer camp provides for sport, craft, cultural and educational activities — and just plain fun — are numberless and very enticing. Thru this program the Association desires to expand the Junior Department and provide an organized program of youth activities thru the branches. Details about the Junior District Manager Contest may be obtained from your local District Manager. If your male child qualifies for this contest, it is not too late for him to enter. Now a few words to you adults: No doubt in your youth you dreamed of going to a summer camp, perhaps had the good fortune to live this grand experience, or at one time thrilled to the joy of winning in a contest. Would you like to relive your youth vicariously? Do it by helping these boys win! What a wonderful feeling will be yours? WALK SAFELY AND LIVE A surprising number of pedestrians are killed by automobiles, and, upon many occasions, the driver of the motor vehicle is not to blame. Pedestrians can adopt proper practices for their own protection, and it might be a good idea for those who use the highways on foot to remember the following rules: (1) Carry or wear something white at night—this will help the drivers of motor vehicles to see you. Remember that, very often, when two cars approach at night, the vision of the drivers is affected by the lights. (2) In municipal and suburban areas, cross the highway only at cross-walks, and, when using a highway in the rural area, look carefully for speeding cars before getting into the road. Moreover, watch traffic signals, especially lights, and look twice both ways before crossing. Another rule which may save your life, is not to go into the highway between parked cars. as to provoke sarcastic refutation. The FACT IS the fraternals are faring MUCH BETTER these days than they formerly did. In spite of this optimistic statement, there is no attempt to deny that the fraternals — and WILLIAM PENN — could do even more in the way of growth and progress if their members would nurture greater interest in the affairs and activities of their local chapters and branches. It is high time for EACH AND EVERY member to realize that the INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IS PART AND PARCEL of the overall picture and well-being in any fraternal, and, being aware of this, hasten to participate assiduously in all the activities of his society. BRANCH MEETINGS ARE IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE ATTENDED. We ask that our William Penn members take this message to heart.
