The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-28
BIG MEMBERSHIP CAMPAIGN TO BE CONDUCTED HERE Foresters of America Want
 to Enroll 800 Candidates in Bridgeport.
 WILL COMPETE FOR
 NATIONAL HONORS Grand Chief Ranger Will liam T. Meyer of This
 City Issues Appeal.

Elaborate preparations for the big membership drive of the Foresters of America, in which the seven local courts will take part, have been made by officers of the Grand Court of Connecticut, Of which William T. Meyer of this city is Grand Chief Ranger The drive will commence April 1 and will end on May II.
 Three delegates from each court will meet Monday evening. in the lodge rooms at 1OS7 Broad street, to complete plans for the membership drive for this city. At this session captains will be named to supervise the work of members of the several teams Arrangements will be made for joint meetings of the courts and the plans for the degree team work will be discussed.
 It is the aim of those in charge of the drive to secure 500 new members in this city while the quota for the entire state, in which there are 135 courts, is but 5000 new members. Connecticut will compete with Cali fornia in honors for the largest in- crease in membership in the national | contest.
 The movement is nationwide. Each court in the United States is to make | special effort to enroll as many members as possible in the period set forth by the Supreme Court. The officers of the Grand Court of this state are confident a great showing will be made.
 A novel plan for the windup has been announced by the supreme court. For the first time in the history of fraternal membership drives, each member of: the Foresters of America 1 is asked to devote May II in secur- l ing members for his court. By this i it means that all members of every 1 court in this city will suspend work | for one day to help his lodge. Arrangements are being made for the degree, team of Marina court of | this city to confer work on classes of | candidates in several of the courts of l Fairfield county. This team has the distinction of ranking highest in the state. The courts at Fairfield, Dan- bury, Norwalk and Stratford will be
 paid a visit by the team should classes large enough be warranted.
 Grand Chief Ranger Meyer, of this
 city, has issued the following state- ment regarding the coming drive: To-day we are travelling over a
 very rough path. Think of the many 1 homes that have been invaded and
 sons taken from their friends, boys
 who have: never been away from
 home, leaving heartbroken parents, a nf Fn ro-
 turn then we are called upon to lend
 our financial assistance to the extent
 of our means; also the cost and regu-
 lation of our food supply. In genera
 we are called upon by the government
 to practice the very principles that
 our great order has been preaching
 for the last 2S years, the foundation
 on which our very existence depends and that is brotherly love.
 You are called upon to do your bi
 for the good old U. S. A. and like { good American you respond. "Now we are to make a drive iron | the present time to May II when i | will close, and we be able, througl the cooperation of good Forester | like you doing your bit for UT grea
 fraternity, to increase our member
 ship of at least 5000 during tn [ drive''
 | The officers elected at the nine
 teenth convention of the Grand Cour | of Connecticut, Foresters of America
 are: William T. Meyer, grand chic
 ranger, Bridgeport; M. M. Meskill
 sub-chief ranger, New Britain; Jame
 J. Walsh, grand treasurer, Meriden | Thomas OLoughlin, grand secretary | Naugatuck; A. c. KaIIenbach, gram
 recording secretary, Hartford; Franl
 J. Murtha, grand lecturer, Norwich
 Walter J.. Connor grand senior wood
 ward, New Haven; J. J. Fitzgerald
 grand junior woodward, Waterbury | A. A. Brouder. grand senior beadle
 Putnam, and Roger J. Leahey, grant | 1 iunior beadle Derby