Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1911-11-23
ADVICE TO the
CIVIC |MPROvER
Requirements Of an Organlza-
tiOn to Weld Influence,
WOMEN'S IDEAS VALUABLE.

Include Those With Practical sugges-
tions In the Membership List-Study
Wants of Your Community and At
tend All Your Meetings.
There IL wide field for civic I'M
provement associations. and this Is the
time Of the year when such organiza'
tions can formulate plans that can be
carried out when spring comes around.
In fact. this Is the best season for care
ful planning. and there should be no
diminution of interest. On the con
trary. meetings should be held week
" and efforts made to prevent any
members from becoming laggards
The women OF a community can do
much toward making II cleaner and
more attractive town. Their member
ship Is valuable. and the men should
encourage them to voice their opin-
IONS Their ideas are of particular val
ue In matters pertaining to the beau
tif1cation Of their town. The writer
has in mind New Jersey improve
ment association whose leading spirit
was a woman She conducted store,
was Intelligent, and her views always
held the attention Of the men. Many
of the reforms this organization inau'
gurated and accomplished were her
ideas She never was absent from
meeting. and her regular attendance
and practical suggestions did much to
inspire the others.
Politics should be eliminated entire
ly from the civic improvement organi'
zation. When personal bias creeps In
injury to the cause Is certain to fol
low. The president should be man
Of independent views. ever ready to
give every public official square
show. but direct affairs with firm
hand when 1t IL made manifest that
any otf1%i or set Of officials antago-
nizes plans for civic betterment that
have popular Endorsement.
Due care should be exercised In the
matter of the appointment OF commit
tees. especially those to wait upon
clIy OF VOWu OuI'ldluOui. Wv
pends upon the way proposition Is
placed before the public's servants II
success Is hoped for
Well managed improvement associa-
tions soon become power for the
general good. and others simply exist
without achieving anything The over
louuacious member. of course. is nti,
sance, and how to check his flow OF
verbal nothings is puzzle. Perhaps
It is better. however, to put up with
him. for who knows but some day he
really will suggest something worth
while The prompt payment Of dues
should be insisted upon. Lax1ty IN
this respect Is one Of the surest roads
to the complete Generalization Of the
association.
Diplomacy is needed in dealing with
the member who always has some mo-
tive of personal aggrandizement or per-
sonal benefit behind his expressions,
or. in other words. has ian ax to
grind" Many improvement associa-
tions are afflicted with person or per-
sons Of this type. ana 1t DenooVes other
members to bluntly antagonize the
schemes Of any such personally selfish
associate.
Keep an eye open to the news OF
your community. and your connection
with an Improvement association will
be worth something to its aims and
good works. Put your case squarely
before your fellow members and see
what they think of it. Announce what
you think will be remedy and volun-
teer to bear the brunt of the burden In
fighting for whatever reform you have
suggested.
Above all. attend your meetings reg
ularly. Pay your dues promptly. Spend
time studying the problem of municipal
betterment and take active part In the
deliberations of your association.