Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-05-10
IOWA BIENNIAL
IS IN SESSION
Federation Of Women Meet at
Waterloo With Large and
Enthusiastic Attendance
). FLETcHER's A
ADDRESS
Annual Report Received
With Liberal Applause by the Dele
sates-Mornins Session Devoted to
Routine Business and FraternaI
Greesinss-The Proceedings.
Special to Times-Repubiican.

Special to Times Republican.
| Waterloo, May 10. - The biennial
convention of the Iowa Federation of
Women's Clubs opened today under
favorable conditions. The enrolment
is large for the opening meeting, which
was chiefly devoted to routine program,
addresses of welcome, response by
Mrs. Cory, reports Of officers of fed
Grafton and committees. The stage
was beautifully adorned with large
rugs, palms and floral tributes to the
president and other officers. The ball
comics and above the stage were drap-
ed with blue and white. The report
and address of President Fletcher was
the important feature and was receiv-
ed with an enthusiastic storm OF APP
plause.
The Presidents Address.
She said:
"It is with very sincere pleasure that
take up the duty of reporting to you,
as your president, the steadily increas-
ing growth and prosperity of this
great federation. 1t is matter OF
pride to US that it surpasses any 9th
er state federation in existence In
number of clubs. We were the first
state admitted to membership in the
General Federation, the first to admit
to its membership a mixed club and
again we at one time were honoreu
In having in our membership club
composed of the youngest members OF
any club in existence. This club was
REPRESENTED at the biennial held in
Des Moines, but has since disorgan-
lied as the members are widely sep-
arated in their college life. These
facts are full of interest to us, but
are presented at this time. not only be-
cause of this interest but aside from.
that. because they show the spirit Of
progress that has always pervaded the
Iowa Federation.
.It has been the earnest effort OF
your president to make each club feel
and know the value of federation.
With so large a membership this Is
possibly the most difficult problem we
have to solve. The press is very
valuable means of communication and
we do not underestimate it. am
pleased to take this opportunity to
publicly thank the press thruout the
state for its uniform courtesy and
generosity to the Iowa club women.
We have today only two official means
of communication between the officers
and clubs Of the Federation. the. year
book and the extension committee.
Eve have urged the clubs to adopt
the recommendation of my predeces-
sor to set one program day aside to
be called State Federation Day, in or
der to read and discuss the letters iii
the state year book. Where this
plan has been followed. an increased
interest in the Federation Is notice.
able. When the extension committee
was added to the list Of standing COM
mittees, it was the logical thing to
follow the lines of the congressional
districts, but as the work of this COM
mittee has grown, your officers have
seen the need Of smaller districts. in
order that the chairman may come in
closer touch with the club women. and
also that fuller attendance at the
district meetings may be possible. We
do not claim for the Federation dis
tricts that they will eliminate every
difficulty, but we do claim that they
will give us better organizations. AL
ready the disparity between the NUM-
Der of clubs in the Federation districts
has been brought to our attention, but
it is not greater than in the congress
sional districts and can not be equal
lied. Your president recommends that
the district chairmen be given repre-
sentation in the management of the
Federation by making them ex-officio
members of the board. This would
relieve the president since it would not
necessitate her attendance at district
meetings. A district chairman can
best know how to present the work
of the Federation only by being a
member Of the board. We also rec
ommend the General Federation state
secretary be given representation on
the board, for it seems that in this
way she can more easily keep the
state in touch with the General Fed
Grafton work. This would give the
Federation a board of directors, num-
bering twenty-three members and on
first thought might be considered so
large as to be unwieldy-but in COM
pairing with other state federations we
find that the Iowa Federation, with
the largest number of clubs in its
membership, has the smallest number
represented in it's management.
"The present board members have
clearly seen the disadvantages Of pow
er invested in few, for for the first
time in our history, each officer came
to the work never having served on
the board before, and then we were
most unfortunate in having to accept,
a year ago. the resignation of two Of
ficers, that of the treasurer, Mrs. Glib
son, of Ames, on account of III health,
and about the same time, that of the
auditor, Mrs. Levy of Wayerly, who
is now resident of Kentucky. Our
present treasurer has proved most
efficient, and while 1t is always diff
cult to take up work SO interrupted.
too high praise can not be given to
her for her accuracy and unfailing pa