Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-11-18

hOChNllle CdllllOI TEST OH us
laurels while so much remains to
be done" Herman Hartman and
John RauSch told the executive
board of Citizens For Good Gov
eminent Sunday, reporting on the
Conference on Government of the
National Municipal League which
the two attended in Kansas City
last week. Rockville was one of
% finalist cities in the All-America
Cities contest, held at the confer
ence, the results of which will be
announced in January. Hartman
and Rausch presented Rockville's
case in the contest, on behalf of
CGG.)
after seeing the accomplish
ments of other contesting cities,
we feel that the time for back
patting is over. Rockville has
done a lot toward good govern
ment, but we must look ahead
now, and work for better recrea-
tional facilities"
Questioned as to the possible
outcome of the contest, Hartman
and Rausch were unable to pre-
dict whether or not Rockville will
win one of the II awards given
for continuous, energetic, pur-
poseful citizen effort" in overcom-
ing a municipal problem. after
hearing what the other cities have
done, we realize what an honor it
was to be among the top % in
the nation, out of 116 entries"
Hartman said.
But whether we win an award
or not, the recreation problem is
still with us. What we heard at
the conference has given us new
hope and enthusiasm to tackle
this problem. We learned what
amazing things other cities have
done in just year or two, in
providing fine recreational facili-
ties or solving some other prob
lem, when the citizens all pitched
in and worked on it together" /
Mrs. Merle Smith, the Senti-
nel's reporter who also attended
the conference, commented, "If
Rockville does not win an
award, it is simply because the
other cities are so outstanding.
Every one of them has an in.
spring story of citizen cOOpera-
,tion and accomplishment, either
in government, or i'm providing
such things as libraries, schools,
SUM clearance, or recreatiOnaI
facilities. The jury, has hard
decision to make. 1t is hard to
see how any of the cities could
lose, but there are only IL
awards. ROckvilIe's story was
certainly impressive too"
In addition to the oral preSen-
tation by Hartman, which Mrs.
Smith described. as earnest and
effective" Rockville's presentation
included a map of Rockville and
a large album which the jury will
study before making its final de-
ciSion. This album contains: a
written history of citizen efforts
in Rockville; extensive newspaper
clippings; letters from citizens
and organizations to former city
officials, and the answers receiv.
ed; election material for 1850,
1852, and 1854; and a copy of
"The Government of Rockville
by the University of Md, 1850.
Also included are documents
showing important changes since
May 3, 1854: the new budget; the
recent audit report; the first quar-.
terly financial report; minutes of
council meetings; The Report To
The People; the report of the
Youth Activities Committee; and
the proposed personnel ordinance.
The presentation stressed the par.
tcipation of many citizens on adj
visory committees, serving with.
out pay.
Hartman and Rausch reported
that it was encouraging to OBJ.
serve that citizen cooperation to
reach some common goal is on
the rise throughout America.
They described the achievements
of various other contesting cities,
from Chicago, with a population
of 100000 to tiny Decatur, Ar.
kansas, with less than 400. They
told many interesting things they
had learned in discussing munich.
pal matters with mayors, city
managers, and other officials
among the several hundred per.
sons who attended the conference.
In addition to the contesting
cities, many comm unitie S
throughout the nation were repre-.
scented, and there was even a del.