Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-03-15
BETTERING OF TOWNS
A WOMAN TELLS HOW TO START
THE WORK.
Suggestions About the Be-
ginning of n Civic beauty Move
mcnt-First Steps Simple - How to
Make First Meeting Successful.

Make First Meeting Successful.
Mrs. Francis COpley Seavcy, an ac-
tive member of the American Civic as
ISOLATION, recently contributed an arti-
Gle to a Chicago paper OF the way to
organize q civic improvement associa-
ton. Portions of Mrs. Seavcy's article,
the whole Of which was leave the
World a Pleasanter Place Than You
Found It," are herewith reproduced.
Mrs. Seavey said: "Pleasantcr is in
this application equivalent to better.
Environment is coming more and more
to be considered a pronounced factor of
educatiOn-thc education that makes
Cor character. If towns, villages and
individual homes have an unkcmpt,
shiftless, down at the heel air the pass
erGy is justified in setting G0wn the in
habitants as shiitless, and the genera
ton that grows up amid such surround
ings is more than likely to bear their
characteristic imprint. Then, too, there
is 4 material side to the question. Tho
value of real estate increases in direct
proportion to its possibilities for home
making. And every local business and
calling as we'll as all churches and
schools thrive as the ratio of desirable
population increases.
when a few members of q commu-
nifty feel that an Improvement society
is needed let them learn the feeling Of
the better class Of residents by Il per-
sonal canvass or by circulating printed
slips similar to the following. which is
a copy of II issued by the promoters
Of an eastern organization:
T Our Fellow Citizens of -:
1.-THE board Of directors of the village
Improvement association earnestly invite
your cooperation in the work of beauti-
Tying our toWn-a work in which all are
mutually interested. To this end we re-
quest you to join the society by giving
your name to the bearer of this note and
paying at your earliest convenience either
to said bearer or to the treasurer -
cents, which is the entire expense Of
membership for the year.
1--WE further invite your assistance in
creating a public sentiment that will Sc
cure tidiness on all public and private
property in the village.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Improvement Association.
"Or let a meeting be called without
such preliminaries. This meeting will
often prove more successful if made
attractive by a short and appropriate
programme. Probably the most effec-
tive incentive, both to attendance and
tn MON orchin iS n c1,orf roinfoI 70 IL
on the possibilities Of improvement So
cities, illustrated by the stereopticon
with lantern slides made from before
and after views of door yards that
have been treated A good lantern
slide of a barren back yard, Uttered
with tin cans, ash barrels, ETC., fol-
lowed by another showing the same
vines and outlined by tasteful bordered
planting, speaks for itself and for the
cause as no tongue can speak. The fol-
lowing copy of the constitution Of Il
prominent society gives an idea Of what
Is needed:
81. This association shall be called the
- Improvement association.
"2. The objects of this association shall
be to cultivate public sentiment in favor
of improving and identifying the homes,
streets and surroundings Of - and to
%endeavor to promote in every legitimate
manner the best development Of the whole
community.
"3. The ayme of = shall constitute
membership during the then current year
Of the association.
~. A board OF directors of three from
each ward shall be elected by ballot at
this meeting and at each annua meeting
thereafter. They shall constitute an exec
utive committee, who shall ave the gem
eral control and management of the af-
fairs of the association. They shall elect
by ballot a president, three vice presi-
dents, a secretary and a treasurer, and
the appointment Of all committees by the
president shall be subject to their APP
prevail. The president, vice president, Sec
rotary and treasurer shall be OK onlcio
member of the board of directors.
IS. No debt snail be contracted by the
board Of directors beyond the amount Of
available means within their control, and
no member of the association shall be
liable for any debt of the association be-
You'd the amount of his or her subscrip-
ton.
&c. This section specifies the date of the
annual meeting, rules for called meetings
and of quorums.
-. This constitution may be amended
at any meeting of the association, pro-
Vided said amendment shall have been IN
cluded In the published call for the meet
ing.
1.-THE question of membership fees IS
one for local settlement. Some Of tie
societies charge none, relying for sup
port on subscriptions, entertainments.
etc. The majority Of organizations
heard from, however, report fees rang
ing from 25 cents to s.. III every case
members may work out the fee if they
choose. A fec should be charged IL
possible. for some money is essential,
and this is a simple and legitimate way
to secure it. The officers, directors and
executive committee should include
capable, influential. tactful and taste
full people, for on them will largely de
pend the success or failure Of the I'M
dertaking.
GAS to objects, it is wise to begin
modestly. then. as strength and num-
bers increase, gradually widen the
scope and extend the work. AT no
time undertake too much. What Is
done should be we'll done. The aim OF