To the 45th National Convention of the American Turners:
Greetings:
The National Affairs Committee meeting opened with the following assigned delegates present: Carl Hein, Stephen Reskovitz, August Andre, Bruno Pietuchoff, Axel Nordstrom, Michael Bornschlegel, J. Much, E. Wellman, W.
H. Spiegelberg, E. Lehman, R. Volker, A. H. Niehaus, Herman Beckman, Stewart Struck, Joseph Zimmerman, John Westermeyer, Bruce Rost, Hallock Reisel, George Kuettner, Otto K. Nell, Henry Scherff, August Kruwell, Hiram Keehn, Robert Herman, Christ Bleidestel, Andrew Lathomus, William Goepfert, Carl Tullner, Elmer Crook, A. Elmer Leeker, Don Sauer, Otto Eckl, Jr., Russell Dreher, Dean Smith, Arthur Koehn, Oscar Syring, Wilfred Racker, Walter T.
Guenther, Theodore C. Lipp, and Maurice Montag.
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The meeting was called to order at 3:00 P.M. Russell Dreher was elected Chairman and Walter T. Guenther, Secretary.
The following resolutions were adopted:
1. We recommend that the 195"6 National Convention be held m Louis- ville, Ky.
2. We recommend that the American Turners, as a condition of member- ship in its societies, demand that a non-citizen, admitted to the United States on an alien certificate, who seeks such membership, either apply immediately for the first papers of citizenship, or furnish a sworn statement, that at the earliest moment of eligibility, the applicant will apply for citizenship.
3. We recommend that the American Turners and its affiliated districts and societies are to report any outside affiliations now existing and any new pro- posed affiliations to the Chairman of the Legal Committee of the American Turners for study by this committee, before approving such mergers. Mergers with outside groups shall only be made with the consent of the National Council.
4. We recommend that the Nominating Committee, consisting of the Regional Councilors, be appointed by the President, and they prepare a list of candidates for presentation at each National Convention.
5. We recommend that a member society or district of the American Turners shall not file any document or carry on any correspondence regarding tax matters with the United States Treasury Department unless they first are advised by competent legal counsel and that such legal counsel contact the National Office of the American Turners before filing any such document or corresponding with the United States Treasury Department if in the opinion of such legal counsel the status of the National organization or member societies may be affected by such action.
6. We recommend that the action of the National Council of the American Turners in establishing the Missouri District be approved.
Respectfully submitted, Russell Dreher, Chairman, Walter T. Guenther, Secretary After reading the report and considering each paragraph, Nos. 1, 2, 3, were approved upon motion and second, with only explanatory questions to President Kierschner, Chairman of the Legal Committee Marshall F. Troester and National Secretary Dr. E. A. Eklund.
Paragraph No. 4 precipitated considerable debate and a roll call was asked.
Result of this vote was 205 votes against and 19 votes for the recommendation, thus rejecting this paragraph.
Paragraph No. 5 after being amended by proper action to read «we recommend that a member society or district of the American Turners, etc."
passed upon by proper motion and second.
Paragraph No. 6 after considerable debate and amendment to read: "We recommend that the action of the National Council of the American Turners in establishing the Missouri District be approved" was passed by roll call of districts by 208 vote for adoption, 6 votes against adoption, and 4 not voting and 6 voting Present.
Turner Aaron Orchard, President of the Concordia Turners, thanked the - 3 9 -
Convention for the vote in favor of the new Missouri District and assured the delegates that the Concordia Turners would again be a true Turner Society.
Vice-Chairman Eisele then introduced Turner Schmid of the Chattanooga Turners and stated it had been some time since that society was represented at a National Convention.
Chairman Jacquin then called for the report of the Convention Committee on Principles, Statutes and Grievances.
The committee submitted its report by its Chairman, John M. Stocker, a copy being passed to each delegate.
The Chair reminded the delegates ·that each proposed amendment would have to be voted on separately and that if there appeared to be a difference of opinion, the vote would have to be by roll call of the Districts to show the Federal votes "For" and "Against" the proposed amendment.
The Chairman of -t~is Co~mitt~e then read th~ report by par~g:aphs as follows":"
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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ·ON PRINCIPLES, . STATUTES AND GRIEVANCE$
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To.the 4.5th·Natio~al Convention of the American Turners:
Greetings:
·· ····The committee· was· called to order by Turner William
0.
Huth with thefollowing delegates present: · ". "''. · · · ·.
George J. Jacquin, H. Langley, G. Seibert, John Sfoc~er, Herman Bertels- beck, Pat Stephens, Aaron Orch.ard, ·Louis Fleischman, Oscar A. Rexer, Jr., George 0. Wahnsiedler, Fred Olt; Marshall Troester, and Dr. A. Lauppe. ·
Turner John Stocker was elected Chairman, and Turner Pat Stephens was elected Secretary.
This committee was informed by the National Secretary that the proposed amendments to the Statutes were properly submitted to all Districts pursuant to Article 175 of the Statutes.
The committee recommends the adoption of the following proposed amendments to the Statutes:
1. Article 10 5 a be added and read "that a member who has attained Fifty Years uninterrupted or cumulative membership, shall, in addition to Forty Year recognition be recognized through the issuance of a Fifty Year Honorary Mem- bership Card by the National Council;
Be it further resolved that any other provisions in the Statutes in conflict with the . above are hereby deleted.
1. Upon proper motion and second this amendment was unanimously passed. The Chair declared the amendment adopted by a Federal vote of 224 to 0.
2. Article 49 of the Statutes be amended to read "The National Council is hereby directed and ordered to pay at least one per cent or not more than ten per cent of the National gross income annually within the discretion of the National Council, to the American Turners Endowment Trust, established by an instrument dated June 17, 1947, to insure the perpetuation of the American Turners. It shall pay this percentage annually until the Fund shall reach the amount of five hundred.thousand dollars ($500,000.00)." Trustees
Missouri . . . . . . . . .... 4 4
Minnesota . . . . . . . ... 2 2
New England . . . . . . ... 19 19 New Jersey . . . . . . .... 2 2 New York . . . . . . . . . ... 9 9
St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . ... 4 4
Southern California ... . . 2 2
Upper Mississippi . . . . . . . ... 26 26
Western New York ... 12 12
Western Pennsy 1 vania . . . ... . . 39 39 Wisconsin . . . . . . . . . . .. 5
Total . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . 224 86 138 As the affirmative vote of 86 was less than the required 149 1/3 Federal votes necessary to adopt the amendment, the Chair declared the amendment defeated by a vote of 86 to 138.
The Chairman of the Convention Committee on Principles, Statutes and Grievances then advised that this completed their original report to the Con- vention which report was submitted with Turner Greetings and signed by John Stocker, Chairman and Pauline Stephens, Secretary.
Committee Chairman Stocker then submitted a Supplemental report of the Committee on Principles, Statutes and Grievances. This report was referred at the Second Session of the Convention to this committee to be reviewed jointly with the Bowling Committee on amendments to the Statutes required for th~ formation of the Bowling Committee. Printed copies of this report were distributed to all delegates. The report read as follows: