Evening star., 1934-09-23
BURROUGHS MAN
CITES NEW PLAN
FOR CIVIC GROUPS
Association to Take Vote on
Proposal Later-Better
Work Anticipated.

A plan of reorganization for the
Burroughs Citizens Association which
might be adopted for geenral use by
other citizens associations of the Dis
trict is being drawn up by Wilbur s.
Finch, chairman of the Burroughs
Legislation Committee, to be SUBJ
mitted for consideration by December.
In explaining the basis for the
plan, Mr.. Finch said:
Il don't believe it necessary for
the whole association to meet month
ly, and the purpose of the plan is to
cut down on the amount of time
which officers now devote to the as
sociation'S business. At the same
time it will provide means by which
the activities Of the association can
be carried out more speedily and ef-
fectively."
Under the plan" Mr.. Finch ex-
planned, there will be three meetings
of the general body yearly, for eX-
ample, in october, February and
June. At these meetings the asso-
citation would discuss and adopt gen
eral policies for the conducting Of
the work by Executive Council.
I'm between these three yearly
| meetings the Executive Council or
representative assembly will meet
monthly and carry out in detail the
general policies approved by the as
Sociation as whole.
Personnel Explained.
"The Executive Council would be
composed of the eight officers OF the
association, including the two Feder-
alton OF Citizens Associations dele
gates, and 20 elected members.
"At present" Mr. Finch continued,
"out of total membership of about
| 325 persons only a small portion
actually participate in business mat
| ters.
THE 20 delegates would be elected
| from precincts. Under the plan
there would be 20-to be divided from
the associations territory which eX-
tends north of Rhode Island avenue
northeast and east Of Sixteenth street
northeast to the District line.
This" Mr.. Finch declared, would
| have two distinct advantages over
| the present system. First, the num-
Der of meetings officers must attend
would be cut TO half, doing away with
the monthly meeting of both the as
| sociation and the Executive Commit
| tee, as now practiced.
Secondly, and most important, the
responsibility for carrying out the
work of the association would rest
| entirely upon one or two officers, most
| likely the president and secretary,
| instead of 10 or II committee char
men.
Careful Officer Selection.
This, of course, will mean that Sc
| lection of officers must be given very
careful attention. Even now only
few members really do the work and
there is no reason why they should
not be given authority to do so on
behalf of the entire association.
Through the election of the dele
gates from precincts each section Will
be represented, as well as the aSSoCla-
ton, more thoroughly. Through this
method also the work which must be
done can be done with the spending
| Of less time and far more effectively.
The whole idea is somewhat Oh
! the same plan as the country itself
is run. With representatives from
each section, a voice is given all the
/ people, and the general business can
/ be conducted in better style.
In time of emergency Mr.. Finch
asserted, "of course special meeting
of the whole association would be
called by the president. 1t was such
meeting or getting together of the
citizens Of the territory that resulted
in the forming of the Burroughs Citi-
zens' Association.
Systems Hard to Change.
when associations have been con-
| Quoted under one system as long as
they have in washington" Mr.. Finch
said in conclusion, 1T is hard to
change that system. 1t is only my
personal opinion, and I am not trying
to run things, but the plan to me seems
much simpler than the present sys-
tenn. With its adoption 1 feel sure
action could be secured more speedily
| and effectively.
Raymond L. Gilbert, president of the
Burroughs Citizens Association, who
is retiring next month, having moved
out of the associations territory, said
last year, when questioned by a re-
porter, that he thought the plan a
good one. At that time the idea had
not been worked out completely, only
tentative plans having been made, but
almost without exception on the same
basis as the one now being drawn up.
Mr.. Finch said it would take some
time to have carbons of the plan typed
so that members of the association
would have copy for study. If the
plan was adopted and proved success
ful by the Burroughs group. he has
hopes other associations might adopt
the same or q similar system of
control.