Gunnison news-champion., 1923-02-02
HEAD LETTUCE ASSOCIATION
MEETS AT buENA VISTA

HEAD LETTUCE ASSOCIATION
MEETS AT BUENA VISTA
The annual meeting Of the stock
holders of the Colorado Cooperative
Head Lettuce Association was held
Saturday. January 9th at Buena
Vista, when an entire new board of
directors were elected, and the new
board selected officers of the associa-
tion for 1928. Three hundred growers
and business men were present
Much enthusiasm was in evidence
when the meeting opened in the coun-
" court room, which was well filled
with stockholders and visitors, mostly
from Buena Vista and Salida. 1t was
by no means listless or disinterested
crowd that followed cloely the proceed
ings. 1t was soon plainly to be seen
that there was no idea of giving up
the lettuce association. Mistakes,
shortcomings and partial failures of
the Association were attributed to
everything from bad management to
excessive heat and shortage Of precipi-
taton in the Buena Vista district
Many mistakes were pointed out and
some accusations made by the presi-
dent in his annual report, and also by
other members Of the Association, who
took advantage Of the occasion to ex-
press their views Of the past transac-
tions. But with this over, the meet
ing got down to business. To profit
by mistakes, forget troubles, but most
OF all to put the Association on an ab-
solutely sound footing, was the spirit
of the meeting.
After making . few amendments to
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were elected for 1922:
Mel De Witt, w. E. Tegler, d. C.
Sindlinger, w. c. Smith, JOS. hewitt,
Buena Vista; C. H. Means, Salida; I.
w. Brandenberg, West Cliff; Roy
Hicks, Sargents; o. S. Causey, Gunni-
son.
A report from Receiver John Lynch
was heard and it was learned that the
Association was to be turned over
from the court to the board of direct
ors as soon as the new board could
organize and take the necessary steps
to satisfy the court as to the soundness
Of the bais on which it desired to take
over the affairs of the new organiza-
tion. It was found that the associa-
tion is in better condition now than il
was year ago, in spite of the streak
After adjournment of the meeting,
the Board of Directors met and
organized and made selections of Of
ficers. Mel De Witt was elected pres
ident, Arthur Smith, secretary, while
the treasurership was awarded to one
Of the local bankers Of Buesa Vista.
The new board has on it several men
who are recognized as having financial
strength and of having achieved sue
cess in their individual business under
takings. The most important COM
mittee-the Finance Committee, the
members Of which are c. H. Means,
Mel De Witt and d. c. Sindlinger.
The pool system of selling has been
abandoned. This is considered q wise
move. Last summer, owing to bad
management, the lettuce shipped dur
ing the latter part of August and the
first part Of September, was shipped
by the pool system to irresponsible
breakers and commission men in Chica-
go, Fort Worth, and elsewhere and
no returns have as yet been received,
while the courts, up to date, have been
unable to force any returns. Hereaft-
er, lettuce and other products will be
shipped to some responsible, efficient
distributing agency, such as the Amer
lean Fruit Growers, or the Federated
Fruit and Vegetable Growers whose
chief business is to see to it that pro-
ducts reach the right market at the
right time, at the best available price
and that proper returns are made
to growers.
The two distributing agencies named
above had representatives at the meet
ing in Buena Vista, offering to handle
the products Of the Lettuce Associa-
ton for 1928.
Gunnison growers and stockholders
are to be congratulated in the appoint
ment Of O. s. Causey of Gunnson, as q
member Of the new board. Mr.. eau,
sey Is an active lettuce grower and has
had considerable experience in the let
tuce business and will, we believe,
represent Gunnison growers creditab-
ly.
Mr.. Hicks, representative from Sar-
gents, ID also a well known, reliable
and experienced ranchman, SO that this
side of the range has 2 excellent rep.
Representatives on the board of control.