The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1942-09-25
By DIR. HAROLD TASCHER

By DR.. HAROLD TASCHER
Editors Note: The following is
the concluding installment of DR..
Tascher's sixth article, which be-
gain in last weeks issue of The
Voice.
Students Carry Out Special Functions
The business conducted by the
Bachelors Buying Club consisted
chiefly of classified orders = vegeta-
bles, bread, meat and canned goods.
Individual patching groups submitted
orders, these were pooled, purchases
were made usually as result of COM
petitive bidding and the goods were
delivered according to a schedule.
B. B. C. Manager Al Schmitz took
care of this work. Delivery charges
consisted of labor and transportation
costs which the entire group assumed.
Connie Edwards served as service di-
rector, issuing regular bulletins to
members, releasing news, and inter-
preting the program to prospective
members. Bill Artz kept books and
kept warning Al and Connie about
costs. He was a good down-to-earth
influence because Of his dollars-and-
cents point of view Intangible values
seemed meaningless to him. Connie
and AL had the cooperative vision,
not Bill. He changed his mind later
Puefnoc~ NoItx~,a Maintained
The B. B. c. operated for the entire
years, 1939-40 Business varied con-
siderably from month to month.
About 80 students were served at one
time but the monthly average was
never so. Many patching students
preferred their own buying. In real
ity, only the poorest half responded.
Orders, nevertheless amounted to as
high as $85 to 500. The biggest saw
ings were on vegetables and day-old |
bread. Grocery order savings aver
aged about 10 per cent. One local.
firm offered to provide food at per
cent discount if the B. B. c. bought
all goods from it. 1t took work to
shop around but the B. B. c. retained
its freedom
Students Discover How to Develop
Group Spirit
The early days of the B. B. c. were
difficult ones. The fact that the stu
dents were scattered about town and
time was so valuable made the prof.
ect appear hopeless at times. Be-
sides, they were so individualistic
The bulletin helped but it was some
what Of an effort to read it. 1t was
finally delivered at their homes, not
necessarily to be read but to afford
he group a chance to talk over the
B. B. G. with the batchers. This was
costly in time too Finally, a novel
dea developed to create the needed
spirit. The B. B. c. de-
,ided to hold regular meeting every
wo weeks in the Student Union q
building from to s or perhaps later.
This way, the members could have
Inner together, have ample time for
pre-dinner social hour, have a bust f
less meeting after the dinner and adj f
ourn for dancing. A volunteer din Y
Ter committee would serve the food il
t 15c a plate. Guests, including fac a
lily, could attend. Members would {
ave a might out from home cook h
G" twice a month. Member talents C
ould perform at dinner and everyone s
ould achieve the right mood for a F
hort but effective business meeting s.
dancing, singing, games a
nd "just fun" could dominate the ci
roup until study or work required m
leir attention. lie
pontaneity of Members Real n
The plan was successful from the W
art. l never dreamed Montana tt