The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-19

President-Mrs. Eustace H. Brown
Vice President-Mrs- C. H. Trott, juno
Recording secretary-Mrs F. B. Wheel
Corresponding secretary-Mrs. Charles c
Sholes. Clathe.
Treasurer-Mrs c. w Lands. Osborne
Audltor-Mrs. NJ S. Munson, FL Dorado
Gen. Fed; secretary-Mrs. c. c. GODDARD
PRESIDENTS OF DISTRICT Fedora
First-A1rs. w. w Wv Wood. Horton.
Second--NIrs. w. D. Wolfe. lola
Third5Mrs J. E. Raymond, Girard.
Center.
Seventh.Mrs. Samuel Yaggy. Syracuse
Elgh =: = rs n Eg Singer. W WI
Director-Mrs. w. A. Johnston. Topeka.
Forestry Committee-Mrs. Grace L.
Health Observation-Disclosures committee
Mrs. C. b. Hoffman. Enterprise.
Important changes in the constitu-
| ton and bylaws of the Kansas Fedora
| ton which should be thoroughly I'M
| derstood by all the club women of Kan
sas, prompt the publishing of the fol-
| lowing excerpts from the address of
| the president, Mrs. Eustace H. Brown,
| on The Value of Federation, which she
| has given before the district fedora
lions at their recent annual meetings.
In order to cement this union, said
Mrs. Brown, and to promote unanimi-
ty of purpoSe,-thOugh encouraging di-
versity of work in the district,-a new
constitution and bylaws were adopted
at the last annual state meeting; this
gives the balance of power in the board
of management to the district presi-
dents, for there are eight districts to
seven state officers The district presi-
dents have become the directors for
the state since the new constitution
has zone into effect.
The expense of the district officers to
the meeting of the board of manage
ment, is paid from the state federation
treasury the same as that of the state
officers. This board of management
must pass upon all proposed amend
mentS to the constitution, before they
can be appended to the call for the
annual meeting; It's approval or con-
firmation is also required for the ap-
pointments on the standing committees.
The district presidents form the COM
mittee on informal ballot, to receive
names from each federated club for
candidates for the state offices; these
they present or report to the next an
nual state convention at which the
election is to be held; the only voting
power they have is that of the usual
delegates. and their vote is cast within
the convention when all other votes
are po1led; hence they form a COM
mittee upon informal ballot, and not a
nominating committee. as they do not
nominate. This is a distinction and a
difference. In addition to these new
privileges and greater responsibilities
to the districts. there are changes which
radically affect the state organization.
For individual clubs desiring to feder-
ate directly with the state, the per
capita tax has been increased from
10 to Is cents-the same amount that is
required to belong to both district and
state; thus forcing clubs away from
the state to encourage union with the
districts. Some of the oldest and
strongest clubs in Kansas have for
membership in the state federation. We
cannot expect them to do so at the
increased rate. The past year gave
us membership of 81 individual clubs
will the districts be able, because of
this new constitution. to bring in 81
new clubs to the state federation to fill
this vacancy? 1t will require earnest
loyal hard work. but the endeavor will
always bring first fruits to your own
district.
A few years ago the individual club |
had a larger representation at the an |
nual meetings, than one federated |
by it's president or her |
proxy voting exofficio Special Priv |
ileges'' are now entirely eliminated, |
the club at large taking the place of !
the erstwhile and troublesome In
dividual Membership"-wit an equal |
and equal representation; it |
stands upon the same basis as all 9TH
er federated clubs. Such club was
members and new and interested wo-
men as we'll to unite their forces with
the state federation where their own
local club does not care to remain in
the federation. We did not believe in
putting the minority, or the individual
club members at the mercy of the ma
jority, when it came to uniting with
the state federation.
The state officers became the offic-
ers of this club at large, and the I'M
was that they should
form the board of membership to pass
upon the candidate for admission; and
light here let me suggest an amend
nent to the conStitution-which will
'ender absolutely impossible any
lbuse of the privileges of this club,
destroying all resem blance to the In
lividual Membership" of the past: l
would recommend that the directors
district presidents) be made the
board of the club at
arge-in this way the candidates
lame would have to be accepted by a
majority of the directors, and no one /
ity or district could secure admission
or a disproportionate number of
members into this club, for political
purposes.
If there be an intelligent under
landing of these changes, until the
numerous clubs which have with
rawn because of the individual mem
ership, realize that S1.00 paid into
he state federation no longer pur-
bases for an individual member the
lower of Is regular faithful workers
n federated clubs, in the annual con-
ention we may win them back. But
n dissolving this membership the
tate loses a large part of its revenue.
an we hope that the increase in
membership through the district will r
1ake it up to the state treasury?
In the year book of 1906, Mrs. May ;
seIlevilIe Brown reported SO individ- :
al memberships. Lewis gave "a for :
he preceding administration. This :