Arizona republican., 1920-05-30

sideration:
 The fact that it was impossible (dur- ing a period of six weeks last Novem- Der and December), to make correct copy for our Directory of Federated Clubs, with names of artist and indi vidual members, on account of changes sent in, mistakes discovered and diff ficulty in obtaining proper informa- ton, compelled the printing committee to stop its publication. The printers proof ((full of errors) which you doubtless received, is valuable only as guide for making correct list. Those who have them. please paste the lists | in a blank book, leaving blank every l two or three pages, for making cor rections and adding names of newly organized or federated clubs. This will be of great value in making an absolutely correct list of your state or district for the new directory to be published in June, 1920.
 J Tn searching for the cause of the diff ficulty in getting the correct list for publication, the executive committee was forced to acknowledge that 1t is due to the fact that there is no uni- l formity in the N. F. M. c. plans gov erning the time for state meetings and 1 elections; and of the annual meetings l and elections of clubs.
 At present these state meetings oc- 1 cur at various times from November
 
 publish a directory of the N. F. Nj. C. state officers and club presidents, when | annual elections are held over a period of eight months, and changes made in the official personnel every month.
 All state meetings should be held during a period of not more than six weeks duration. Reports of elections with correct lists, could then be ob- tained, printed and distributed within two weeks after the last election; and would contain reliable information for l the succeeding year
 I The same is also true concerning an nual meetings of clubs and election of their officers.
 l If we are to have a N. F. NJ C. direc- tory that is of value to our officers and to our artist and individual members and worth printing, it must be correct l. have ascertained during my present western tour, that there are names on our lists, of persons who have not held office for two and three years Most | embarrassing Due 10 the lack of uni- formity in time in holding elections 1 It is a very undesirable time in the winter months for state meetings, when so much illness is apt to prevail in the l Middle West and extreme North of our country. Therefore, for all of these I reasons, the executive committee has decided that it would be more advan- tageous and more efficient. and work to I SASASS4 utA4AA~dtlOfl o1 puEpOSet IT we re- quest that all states shall have their meetings between the first of March and the middle of April
 There is one more reason why it is desirable to have all state elecvfons al 1 this time of the year; in order that the state contest for young professional musicians shall be held at the end Of the winter season. when a number of months have been expended in study and preparation to enter the contests. All of the teachers very much prefer that they have the winter to work with their pupils who are contestants rather than have the contests held early in the fall when they are not well prepared at the time following the long summer va cation. This works advanta geously also, in that these state contests will lead directly to the district contests, which it is requested should be con- ducted before the 18th of May This will give ample time for the district ] reports to be made. and the winning contestants informed of their success, so that they may be prepared to go to the biennial contests taking place in June.
 The ruling of the board regarding the contests in October was made very I elastic, in order to take care of such states as held their yearly meerfngs in November. and adjusted to such states as held their yearly meetings late in April or May: but the laxity of such a ruling and its ineffieiency must be acknowledged. You can see the ad- vantage that will accrue from having the changes made. as suggested above. l In such states as are already obli- l gated to hold their state meetings next fall or winter. we suggest, as a way out Of the difficulty. so your elections may be held according to your arrange ments. that you hold your contests in the spring and each year thereafter at that time, and under a special provi- sion, allow your officers to hold over until the following March or April and change your constitution accordingly. It is moreover, requested that the states follow the example of the national, in l electing their officers for two yearw: and that the time of election be on the alternate year with the bi- i-ennial, so the officers may have a years ex- perience to guide them in the work De- fore attending the biennial confer ence. The club president attending the biennial. should return with en- thusfasm to promote the suggestions of the meeting through the year following that event.
 In all times of change such as this. there are conditions to be met, and difficulties to be overcome, and in the states which have planned holding their elections in November, December or January, much is to be done to bring about this change. However, we are working for the welfare and the stan dar1ization Of usage in our Federation, and it is only by correcting the mis- takes when we find them. that our or ganization can grow and improve in efficiency.
 In every instance where our state meetings have been held prior to the first of March, the attendance has been small aSd enthusiasm lessened thereby, and if it is contemplated to hold fes 1 tivals with the state meetings, as time goes on. it is most desirable that the month of the year is one when less ill., ness prevails, and it is possible for peo- pie to come together in large numbers
 In sending out the Manual contain ing the Aims of the Federation, we are expressing, as a board, a careful survey of the needs of our country from a musical standpoint and various methods by which they can be met There is no desire to force upon clubs a demand to carry out all of these aims It Is a matter of years to accomplish that. but if we do not build upon a strong foundation, our superstructure will DOf bo a0durfnp nor hAaf1ftF,4I ntyr