To the 42nd Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
The committee was called to order by Temporary Chairman Turner Bruno Uhl. Turner Uhl was elected Chairman of the Committee and Turner Jack Flannery, Secretary.
The following members of the Committee were also present : Helmuth Hohman, Edward Gangloff, William Heine, Joe Ernst, Lawrence Lavernz, Joe Boisseau, Henry Mende, Carl Tullner, William Zell, Walter Behrendt, John Goff ert, William Niemeyer, Bert Davis.
1. We recommend that paragraph 30 be amended to provide for nine regions and nine regional representatives and be otherwise amended to conform to this change.
(After brief explanation to the effect that this change had been made desirable due to growth of the organization, this recommendation was carried
by motion made, seconded and unanimously carried, and the Chairman declared this amendment to the Statutes adopted by 233 Federal votes for, and no Federal votes against.)
2. We recommend that caption "Members at Large", on page 21 be amended as follows : "Members at Large and 44 and 50 year members" and a new Section 87 (g) be added. "The National Executive Committee may issue an honorary life membership to a member who has been a dues paying member of the American Turners for 44 years and said period of membership shall be computed on the basis of total number of dues paying years in either one or various Turner Societies.
(After considerable debate, this paragraph was defeated by a rising vote
of Yes: 35; No: 48.) ·
3. We recommend that Paragraph 130 of the Statutes of the American Turners be amended to read as follows: "Any interpretation of the laws handed down by the National Executive Committee in accordance with Para- graph 127 shall be given the same binding force as the law to which it applies and it shall be the duty of the parties to act in accordance therewith."
(It was explained that this amendment was a change in the wording made for the purpose of clarifying the intent of the present paragraph 130, pursuant to which the recommendation was unanimously adopted by motion duly made and carried by voice vote of the convention and the Chairman declared the amendment to the Statutes adopted by 233 Federal Votes for, and no Federal Votes against.)
4. We recommend that Section 33, Sub-Section VI of the Statutes be amended to read as follows: "The Executive Secretary of the National Executive Committee shall act as Secretary of the National Physical Education Committee, and the National Executive Committee shall keep, preserve and have custody of the records of the National Physical Education Committee."
(After considerable discussion this paragraph was unanimously carried by a voice vote of the convention on a motion duly made and seconded and Chairman Meisner declared the Amendment adopted by 233 Federal Votes for, and no Federal Votes against.)
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITIEE ON PRINCIPLES, STA1UTES AND GRIEVANCES
Bruno Uhl, Chairman Jack Flannery, Secretary The report of this Committee originally contained a recommendation to appoint a committee to revise the Principles and Statutes, similar to the recom- mendation which was submitted by the Committee on National Affairs and adopted in the report of that committee, in view of which this duplicate recommendation was deleted from this report by unanimous consent.
The Chairman then asked for the. report of the Special Committee which was appointed in the third session of the Convention for the purpose of co- ordinating and unifying the several proposed amendments to Section 61 of the Statutes.
This proposed composite amendment was submitted by Jack Flannery as follows:
COMPOSITE REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON PRINCIPLES, STATUTES AND GRIEVANCES;.COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PUBLICATION AND PUBLICITY; COMMITTEE ON PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL EDUCATION RELATING TO PRO- POSED AMENDMENT OF PARAGRAPHS 61, 61 (a), 61 (b) and 61 (c) OF THE STATUTES
To the 42nd National Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
We recommend that the first thirteen lines of Paragraph 61 and Paragraph 61 (b) of the 1947 printing of the Statutes be amended to read as follows, and that the last four lines of present paragraph 61 remain as in the 1947 printing of the Statutes :
Each Society shall pay to the American Turners, an annual per capita tax of $1. 7 S for each of its members, regardless of the type or name of the membership issued and whether such member does or does not pay dues or other.fees. Such per capita tax shall be paid thru the District Treasurer to the American Turners at its National Headquarters on or before January 10, April 10, July 10, and October 10 of each year for each membership card issued for the preceding quarter and the stubs for each membership card issued shall be returned with the payment of the tax. Fifty Year Honorary Members who have been duly recognized by the National Executive Committee, shall be exempted from the payment of the per capita tax.
Twenty-five cents of this per capita tax shall be set aside for financing the technical operation of National Physical and National Cultural Educational Activities and Competitions, and for the use of the National Physical and Cultural Education Committees, and shall be spent by the National Execu- tive Committee on recommendation of the National Physical Education Committee or the National Cultural Education Committee, provided same is approved by the National Executive Committee.
The National Executive Committee shall set aside in a separate fund fifty cents of the per capita tax collected. The fund so established shall be used toward the expense of placing every member of the American Turners on the subscription list of the Turner Topics. This provision and extra tax shall be effective for a period of two (2) years.
This Committee further recommends that paragraphs 61 (a) and 61 (c) remain as they appear in the 1947 printing of the Statutes.
Respectfully submitted,
SPECIAL COMMITTEE Bruno Uhl
Waldemar Eickhoff Henry Kumpf John Kovats Jr.
Marshall Troester
The words "thru the District Treasurer" appearing in the above amend- ment were not included in the original report of the Committee but were added by a duly adopted amendment from the floor.
· After considerable discussion of this proposed am.endment, the Chairman ordered a voice vote on the above recommendation. The voice vote was unani- mous in favor of the adoption of the amendment and Chairman Meisner accordingly declared this amendment adopted by 233 Federal Votes for, and no Vates against the amendment.
Turner William Heine then asked leave to submit, as a minority report from the Committee on Principles, Statutes and Grievances, a proposed recom- mendation that the following addjtional sentence be added to the end of Paragraph 38 of the 1947 printing of the Statutes:
"The Regional Directors' railroad fare only to a National Convention shaII be allowed by the American Turners."
After considerable discussion, this proposed amendment was defeated by a voice vote of the Convention.
Turner Greiner then asked leave to submit an amendment to Paragraph 60 of the Statutes which had been considered by the Committee on Principles, Statutes and Grievances but had been rejected for want of ample information, this proposed amendment comprising the change of "one year" in the second sentence of Paragraph 60 to "a period not exceeding three years" so th.at the last sentence of Paragraph 60 would read: .
"The members of this body shall be elected for a period not exceeding three years, in such manner as the District Convention may designate."
After further explanation and some discussion, Chairman Meisner asked for a voice vote on this proposed amendment which was unanimous and the Chairman declared the amendment carried by a Federal vote of 233 to 0.
The Chairman then declared the Convention ready for any unfinished or old business, and there being none, stated that the Convention was ready to consider new business.
Turner Anthony King of the Wisconsin District asked to be recognized, and moved that this Convention re-affirm four resolutions submitted by the Committee on National Affairs at the Indianapolis Convention, identified as
Paragraphs Nos. 11, 12, 14 and 16. This motion was seconded. An amend- ment was then made and seconded that the four paragraphs listed in the above motion be read to the convention individually and acted upon separately. This amendment was carried by a voice vote of the Convention and the Chairman ordered that the resolutions be read separately and acted upon independently.
Paragraph 11 above ref erred to was then rea~ to the Convention by the Convention Secretary and after considerable discussion, a motion made and seconded to re-affirm this paragraph was defeated by voice vote.
Paragraph 12 was briefly explained to the Convention and its re-affirmation was adopted by a motion duly supported and carried, this paragraph 12 reading as follows:
"Whereas the evjl of pressure groups against the public interest has been growing to scandalous dimensions in Washington, and
Whereas the private citizen and the ultimate consumer have no organized lobbies and must depend for their protection upon the Representatives and Senators they elect;
Therefore, be it resolved that Congress should enact a law requiring all lobbyists to be registered, with a record of the salaries they receive and itemized expenditures, the names of their employers and what interests they represent; and
Be it further resolved, that Congress shall publish such information in an annual Directory of Lobbies and Lobbyists operating to influence legisla- tion or solicit administrative favors. Legislation recently passed in the direction of regulating lobbies is a good beginning but should be expanded, made more effective and provided with teeth."
Paragraph 14 was briefly explained to the Convention and its re-affirmation was adopted by a motion made, seconded and carried, this Paragraph 14 reading as follows:
"We recommend that the American Turners endorse the Bill to establish a United States Commission for the promotion of Physical Fitness (HR 2044, 79th Congress) introduced by Turner Samuel A. Weiss and now sponsored by Turner Frank Buchanan, and call upon Congress to enact this Bill speedily into law."
Paragraph 16 referred to above was read to the Convention and its re- affirmation was defeated by motion made and seconded that this Convention does not re-affirm this Paragraph 16. This motion was carried by voice vote.
Vice Chairman Wm. Voelker then asked for the floor for the purpose of suggesting to the National Executive Committee that the time for holding National Conventions be set for earlier in the year than the Labor Day period for the reason that many of our physical instructors who are the nucleus and backbone of the Turner Movement, are unable to attend our conventions, because they are also employed in the public schools and must be at work on or before the first of September.
Turner Voelker then briefly referred to the passing of Turner Richard Turnt, a former National Officer, and sincere worker for many years, and to the many other Turners who had passed to the great beyond during the past two years and asked that the delegates rise in memory of these Turners who had contributed very substantially to the progress of the American Turners, to which request the delegates reverently responded.
Turner A. G. Sandmann, delegate from the New England District, asked leave to present a recommendation to be incorporated in future rules for National Physical Education Festivals, reading as follows:
"We recommend that at future National Festivals each Society be obligated to send a competent judge, to be classed ;is a special judge, at the prevailing rate of remuneration without transportation."
Respectfully submitted,
New England District Julius A. Laffert, Chairman
After brief discussion the above resolution was adopted.
At this point the tellers for the election of Endowment Fund Trustees elected from among the membership of the American Turners, reported that they were ready to report and being recognized by Chairman Meisner, the report was submitted by Turner Phillips as follows :
Harry Erickson ... 223 votes Waldemar Eickhoff ... 208 votes Frederick H. Meyer ... 202 votes Henry Kumpf . ... . .. .. .... ... ... ... .... .. .. . ... . 61 votes
In accordance with the resolution adopted during the Third Session of the Convention, the Chairman declared Harry Erickson duly elected as Trustee of the American Turners Endowment Trust for a period of six years, Waldem·ar Eickhoff elected as Trustee for four years, and Frederick H. Meyer as Trustee for two years .
.
There being no further new business, the Chairman declared the Convention open for suggestions under the heading of Good and Welfare.
Turner Carl F. Hein made a sincere plea, now that the age of competitors had been reduced to 17 years, urging all Societies to very rigidly adhere to this 17 year rule and conscientiously refrain from entering competitors who do not conform to this new· minimum age.
Turner Hein further directed a question to President Weideman and requested to be enlightened on the exact basis upon which the "Combined Trophy" had been awarded to the American Turners STV. President Weide- man briefly stated that this "Combined" or "All Around Progress Trophy"
was awarded to the Society who made the finest all-around showing during the period between Festivals and at the National Festival.
Turner George M. Heeschen then reminded the delegates of the pending revision of the reorganization of the Physical Education Committee and asked for full cooperation in this matter.
Turner Heeschen further asked for bids from various areas for several National Physical Activities which were scheduled and for which bids had not yet been received.
Turner -Carl Lakosky made a very serious plea for a full time Chairman of the Physical Education Committee. President W..eideman replied that this suggestion was not feasible at present principally for financial reasons but that this suggestion was within the scope of the plans of the National Executive Committee for the future.
Turner Miller of the New England District called attention to the very valuable souvenirs consisting of playing cards and case which has been dis- tributed to the delegates and which do not carry any indication of the donor, and advised that they had been the contribution of Turner John Murphy, a member of the Lawrence Turnverein and manager of the firm of Curran and Joyce Co. of Lawrence, Mass. and moved that a letter be written to Turner Murphy expressing to him the sincere thanks and appreciation of the delegates.
This motion was seconded and enthusiastically carried.
Turner Anthony King then addressed the Convention to suggest the appointment of a full time National Chairman of Cultural Education to the end that the Cultural Educational program and its advantages might be ade- quately promoted thruout the American Turners.
Turner Carl F. Hein then made a motion that the convention accord a sincere vote of thanks to Turner Charles F. Geber of the Pittsburgh District for the splendid services which he had rendered to the American Turners for many years as Secretary of the Physical Education Committee. This motion was seconded by President Carl M. Weideman and was enthusiastically carried by voice vote of the delegates.
A motion was then offered and seconded that a sincere vote of thanks be accorded to the Lawrence Turnverein and to its officers and many committees for the splendid facilities which they had provided for the convenience and entertainment of the delegates. In discussing this matter, the Secretary particu- larly pointed out the unexcelled typing and mimeographing services which had been provided for this Convention by Turner Bruno Pietuchoff and Oscar Dietrich and their stenographer and typist assistants. The above motion of thanks to the Lawrence Turnverein was enthusiastically carried and the officers of the Convention were ordered to send a communication to the Lawrence Turnverein expressing the grateful appreciation of the Convention.
Turner Anthony King then complimented the officers of the Convention on the efficient and fair manner in which the matters of the Convention had been handled and offered a motion conveying sincere vote of thanks to the officers of the Convention, which motion was enthusiastically carried.
There being no further business, Chairman Meisner declared the Fourth Session and the 42nd National Convention of the American Turners adjourned at 1 :30 P.M.
Respectfully submitted with Turner Greetings,
Walter T. Meisner, Chairman William Voelker, Vice Chairman Herman Eisele, Secretary ·
Paul E. Phillips, Assistant Secretary Convention Secretary's Note: Copies of letters in the files of the Conven- tion Secretary and in the files of the National Office of the American Turners indicate that letters of thanks ordered by the Convention have been sent to Lawrence Evening Tribune, Turner John Murphy, Manager of Curran and Joyce, and Lawrence Turnverein. These letters expressing the sincere thanks of the convention were personally signed by all of the above officers of the Convention and were forwarded to the addressees on or about September 10, 1948.