Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-26
AN ALUMNI CLUBHOUSE
TO the Editor of Evenino Ledger:

| To the Editor of Eveninq Ledger:
| Sir-At the annual banquet of the Girart
| College Alumni the toastmaster, Rober
| Radford, president of the Alumni Associa
| ton, indorsed the action of the board Of
governors of the alumni in deciding to pro-
| ceed with a plan to finance the erection oi
| a suitable clubhouse for the great body OF
| the alumni to contain adequate club faclli'
ties and with an auditorium which Will be
revenue producing. The idea was received
with enthusiasm and with repeated express
sions from those present to erect a build
ing which would be fitting memorial and
worthy addition to the interesting sights
of Philadelphia, to be pointed out to ma
tives and visitors in conjunction with Girard
College
The present alumni house is situated at
1902 Poplar street, and Is the only house
which directly represents the former stu
dents of Girard College. 1t is pitifully
small and inadequate to represent such a
large group of red-blooded men. The or
ganlzation is upon a self-sustaining basis
and it's income is sufficient to meet all its
expenses, but 1t is recognized that its pres
ent quarters do not present an attractive
proposition to any new members and that
1t Is not such as the large number of men
belonging TO the alumni warrants There
is little prospect that the organization with
its present facilities can accomplish any
thing worth while, II does. however, offer
a foundation for a real organization. and
the present membership is only too anxious
to have 1t used for that purpose. I'm
doubtedly, with a large and we'll appointed
clubhouse, affording all the reasonable club
facilities, the organization would attract a
large membership and become an organiza-
tion 10 which Girard men could point with
pride. Even with such a building and or
ganization there remains the fact that no
organization has found II possible TO main
TAI rIII wi fa 1Hyith
source OF income other than nominal mem
bershp dues. 1t is also conceded that in
order to build up large organization which
shall be really representative. the mem
bership dues must be nominal A plan has
been formulated for the construction of a
really worthy building offering all the de-
sired advantages and which shall at the
same time be of such character that II shall
offer source of income through rental of a.
hall for social functions, athletic events and
through renting meeting rooms and bed
rooms to unattached members. II Is be-
lieved by the board OF governors of the
alumni that building such as proposed,
in the hands of competent manager de-
voting his entire time 10 the proposition
would provide a return upon the amount
invested so that only nominal dues from the
members would be necessary.
It is believed that a minimum fund of
$40, 900, while not being sufficient TO finance
the construction of the desired building.
would make a solid foundation which will
ultimately enable them 10 realize the de-
sired result II is intended therefore that
life membership shall be extended to 100 or
more men at 500 each, payable either in a
lump sum or upon the instalment plan with
the provision that no lnstalment shall be
less than IS month, this body of 100 men
to constitute a central committee who can
persuade other men TO join In the project
and become members Of the organization
II is hoped that In this manner the mem
bership may be swelled 10 between 5000 and
1000, which will provide sufficient reason for
the additional financing required. The
money received from the life membership Is
10 be placed in fund entirely separate
from the funds OF the present organization
nd Is TO be known as the life membership
Fund. The control OF the fund Is 10 be
vested in the hands OF the contributors
hereto and shall be invested entirely at
heir direction. At the expiration OF 10
years the life membership fund Is TO be-
,ome a part of the assets OF the general or
.anization All life members are to share
n the management Of the organization.
II il Is impossible to carry the plan
through as conceived and It becomes neees-
AIRY to declare Il imperative the money
,aid IA this special fund win be refunded.
Il Is hoped to place the name OF every
lceessful alumnus On the membership roiI
o particlpate In the effort 10 erect ana
Iedleate this splendid memorial 70 their
ollege ana Is founder. There should be
. hesltaney on zhe nAFk q anE alas.ats
5 Is Included a rs york L eaztzlnIe
5 1ze1sel lhsk "a = referred = ~