To the 46th National Convention of the American Turners:
Greetings:
The National Affairs Committee was called to order at 10:00 A.M. August 27, 1956.
The following assigned delegates and alternates were present: Joseph Lub- bers, Al Heyn, L. 0. Greiner, Albert Steinke, Clarence Endress, Mrs. Frieda Kirston, Aaron Orchard, Theobold Dengler, David Henshen, John M. Stocker, Raymond Morrow, Benjamin Kohn, Frank Hacker, Sr., W. E. Eickhoff, Christ Bleidestel, Russell Dreher, John Kovats, Stephen H. Reskovitz, Elmer Crook, Bernard Wahe, Harold Quinlan, Mrs. Loretta Rieger, Clifford E. Anderson, Milton Kirshner, Frank Holoubeck, Andrew Lathomus, Joseph Zimmerman, Alfred W. Schwab, Axel F. Nordstrom, John Westermeyer, William 0. Huth, James W. Laffey, Lorenz Ruhl, A. Herman Niehaus, Orley R. Meyer, and Al-
ternate Delegate Harry Grabner.
Turner Joseph Zimmerman was elected Ch:tirman, and John W. Stocker was elected Secretary.
The following resolutions were adopted:
1. Recommend that the National Office set up a sectional course of teacher training, that this course be for Turn Verein teaching only, and that it be of short duration ( 4 to 6 weeks period). That it be subsidized by National Funds.
Also that this said course of instructions continue for a period of years.
2. Recommend that in order that all societies and their members have some knowledge of who shall be elected President, First Vice-President, and Second Vice-President, the Nominating Committee shall be required that the names of said persons be sent to the National Office in order that they may be published at least three months before a National Convention. How long they have been a member of the American Turners, their society affiliations and qualifications should be contained therein.
3. Recommend that it be mandatory that the National Committee of Health and Physical Education report in detail to the Convention preceding the Turnfest relative to rules and regulations governing the coming Turnfest and establish as fact what is to transpire.
4. Recommend that the National Council continue to assist in creating scholarships to the Norman College A.G.U. of Indiana University.
5. Recommend that the National Secretary obtain from the Normal Col- lege A.G.U. of Indiana University, the names and addresses of the members of each senior class at the beginning of their senior year, and furnish a copy thereof to each Society for reference.
6. Recommend that a copy of all resolutions and recommendations to the National Convention be submitted to the National Office sixty days prior to the Convention and each society be sent a copy of such resolutions and recom- mendations by the National Office.
7. Recommend that the National Body publish a uniform ritual to be used to initiate new members and install District and Society Officers. It is suggested that this be accomplished by soliciting each Society for copies of rituals now being used and combining the best portions of all of these into a brief and concise
ritual that would apply to all societies and districts with a minimum of change.
The final draft should be submitted to each Society for constructive comment before adoption and publication.
8. Recommend that all societies make a greater effort to participate in all civic endeavors, in order that we can demand more prestige and attract business- men into our organization.
9. Recommend that the National Council take the necessary steps to ap- praise President Eisenhower's Committee of Physical Fitness that the American Turners are available and most willing to assist in a program of physical fitness for the youth and/ or all age groups.
10. Recommend that our societies be encouraged to publicize their out- standing events and that Turner Topics be the medium of expression.
11. Insofar as there were invitations to hold the next Convention from two Societies, Kansas City, Missouri, and Buffalo, New York, we refer these invita- tions to the Convention for decision without recommendation.
12. Recommend that the recommendation of the National Council that the American Turners and/or the American Turner Endowment Trust accept the offer of the Rochester Turners, Inc., to transfer all of its property, real, personal and mixed, including all of its accounting records, membership lists, accounts receivable and cash to the American Turners and/or the American Turner Endowment Trust in consideration of the American Turners assuming
the liabilities of the Roche.ster Turners, Inc.
Turner Kovats presented an amendment to the Recommendation 1 as fol- lows: Whereas, each such proposal provides subsidy by National Funds, and Whereas, the mechanics of most proposals is rather involved,
Therefore, the following plan is proposed:
An interested youth attend some society's school of Physical Education during its regular operating program, for some period (a week or two) under the tutelage of the local instructor. Arrangements to be made by the interested society. Any costs to be borne by the society sending said youth for instructions.
The amendment was approved, then withdrawn in favor of sending the recommendation to the Committee on Health and Physical Education. Referral approved by proper motion and second.
Recommendation 2 - amendment was made and seconded that the word
"elected" be changed to read "nominated". Amendment was defeated by voice vote. Original recommendation was rejected unanimously by voice vote after proper motion and second.
Recommendation 3 was rejected by hand vote after proper motion and second-29 for-42 against.
Recommendations 4 through 9 were accepted by voice vote after proper motion and second.
Recommendation 10 -Motion made and seconded, and carried to amend the recommendation by the addition of the words "one of" before the words
"medium of expression". Recommendation 10 as amended was accepted by voice vote after proper motion and second.
Recommendation 11, requiring no action by Convention, was referred to New Business.
Recommendation 12 required careful dclibera tion by the Convention and delegates requested more information on the subject. President Turner Kiersch- ner gave a brief explanation of circumstances, which required a waiver of the 3 minute rule which was granted by Chairman Doyle.
Dr. Eklund reported in a critical vein on the cooperation of societies and districts in the matter of response to communications, cooperation in the Christmas Seal program of 1954 and particularly in 195 5, after the 45th con- vention had directed procedure, in the small number of societies participating in the statutory program of cultural education, the few societies who made reports on their Health and Physical Education program, requested by the Committee of Health and Physical Education and approved by Council and particularly on the failure of most societies to order their membership cards before the printing deadline.
Additional comments were furnished by Turners Groth, Falkel, Timm, and Dr. Eklund.
Mrs. Rieger, of Rochester Turners, Rochester, New York, satisfactorily answered questions put to her by several delegates, and her remarks were well received.
Turner Troester proposed the recommendation be amended, for clarifica- tion, to insert the words "Rochester, New York" where applicable, which was unanimously approved after proper motion and seconded. Amended recom- mendation to read:
"It is recommended that the recommendation of the National Council that the American Turners and/or the American Turners Endowment Trust accept the offer of the Rochester Turners, Inc., of Rochester, New York, to transfer all of its property, real, personal, and mixed, including all of its accounting records, membership lists, accounts receivable and cash to the American Turners and/or the American Turners Endowment Trust in consideration of the Ameri- can Turners assuming the liabilities of the Rochester Turners, Inc., of Rochester, New York."
Adopted by unanimous voice vote. This also took care of Recommendation 10 of the Report of the Committee on National Affairs which had been de- ferred.
At this time the following resolution was submitted by Turner Carl A.
Nuetzel, of Louisville, Kentucky:
To the American Turners National Convention, Louisville, Kentucky:
Fellow Turners:
In view of the continually mounting death toll from highspeed automobiles on our public highways, despite the billions of dollars and immeasurable efforts spent in an effort to prevent them, and
Realizing the adverse and deplorable social and economic impact such losses have upon community and nation, and further
Believing that automobile manufacturers place public welfare above all other considerations,
We, the American Turners, in National Convention as embled this 27th day of August, 195 6 in Louisville, Kentucky, do earnestly request the automo- bile manufacturers to henceforth limit the built-in speed potential of their vehicles intended for private use to 60 miles per hour, and
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We further request the legislators of the States and Territories comprising our Nation, as well as those of our Federal Government, to immediately under- take such supporting legislation as will effect this end with all domestic and foreign cars built in the future, as well as with all cars now in use, and
Furthermore, a copy of this Resolution shall be immediately sent to each State and Federal legislator with the request that they take immediate and favorable action thereon.
Respectfully submitted, CARL A. NUETZEL, Louisville, Kentucky.
This resolution was adopted by voice vote after proper motion and seconded.
The Chairman then advised the delegates that the time was 5: 10 P.M. and the Convention was adjourned - to reconvene at 9:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 29, 19 56.