The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-01
HAVE LEADERSHIP
 IN ORGANIZATION
The Necessity of orpanization-co operation Means Community
 Bettermcnt
By W. c. Lassetter, Director, Exten- sion Division, University of
 Arkansas.

Arkansas.
 The power of organization in our national and commercial life is well recognized the country over Why have not the people in the communi. ties of the country organized for the advantages of organization? Why have not they co-operated for commu- nifty betterment? National and com. mercial organizations have. in every instance, been for a well defined pur. pose. Far too many so.called com munity organizations have lacked a purpose, and for that reason have been short lived National and com mercial organizations seek the strong. est leadership. Leadership has often times been lacking in community or. ganization. Why not apply these two Fundamental principles of organixa- tion to community life and thereby establish desirable community organi- cations.
 Neishborlinsss First Step in Co.,
 operation.
 There is no community where there has not been some cooperation in the form of neighborlihess. For example in the exchange of farm products, in the loan of farm animals for work. in the loan, perhaps, of tools, in the borrowing of small quantities of ma terfals for consumption that can he returned at the convenience of ths borrower. These are the first steps in cooperation. They represent to the average person a spirit of neigh. borliness.
 Organize For a Purpose.
 Why not extend the spirit of neigh. borliness within the community through organization for a purpose? l? Why should every farmer within community keep an inferior head of the herd when by cooperating he and two or three of his neighbors could dispose of the inferior animals and purchase a pure bred animal of SUI. perior quality to head the herds uf several farmers? This would be or ganization to purpose. Why shouldn't two or more nelghbors CO operate in the purchase of grain drill if one would be sufficient to do the seeding of these several farms? ? This would be cooperating to pur. pose
 Cooperation Necessary For Profitable
 Marketing.
 Probably the best field for organiza- tion to a purpose lies in the field of marketing Why should small farm. CTS with ten or twelve head of fat hogs sell them at from 3 to 5 cents per pound less than the market price when through cooperation with two or three of his nelghbors he could ship in car lots to the regular market and secure market price for his stuff? Why not organize for purpose?
 Irish potatoes have proven profita. ble in those several sections of the state where the smaller growers have been willing to organize for the pur- pose of marketing these potatoes in car lots. Sweet potatoes, so we'll adapted to the soils of Arkansas, can be produced at profit in communi ties where the growers are willing to organize for car lot shipment. Organ ization for the purpose of marketing strawberries, peaches, and such per ishable fruits has already been dem onstrated very successfully in a num- her of important points in the state Many examples of organization for a purpose might be cited, but it seems sufficient to point to the many examples the country over where or anizations with a purpose have sue ceeded and those without a purpose have failed. It can be pointed out further that efficient leadership is es- sential for the success of those or ganizations created with the best of purposes.
 Must Have Leadership in Or
 ganzaton
 The time is ripe for organization of individuals within communities, of communities within counties. of coun. ties within states, but all of this or anizatlon must be done with a pur- pose. Efficial leadership is abso- lutely essential for the develop ment of cooperation along effective lines. Without purpose in mind and without the guidance of compe- tent leader this organization will re- suit in little gain.
 A County Agent the Logical Leader.
 There is good leadership in practi- cally every community in Arkansas provided this leadership is properly guided. Every citizen needs to con tribute portion of his time to leader ship in community activities. These untrained leaders, however, require the guidance of person skilled in problems of leadership and organiza- tion. Today county agents, men who are trained in qualities of leadership, are serving the communities in their counties in this capacity Under their guidance neighbors become bet ter neighbors, communities cooperate for their own good, purpose of or ganizatiin is defined and organiza- tions live, that spirit of cooperation expressed in ordinary neighborliness is extended in the many ways possl- ble for the benefit of all communi- dies In other words the county agent becomes a leader of leaders. d. roo&fno tbfc nufuraI lnoHa~ubTn of 4L