Turner George Heeschen, Chairman of this committee, submitted the recommendation of this committee with reference to paragraph 24 as follows:
"24. Regional and District Festivals shall not be held in conflict with a National Festival."
After a little discussion, this recommendation was duly adopted by voice vote of the convention as a substitute for Article 24 in the report of the Committee on Revision of Statutes.
Chairman Heeschen then reported the following recommendation of his committee as a substitute for original Article 27 which had been proposed for deletion by the Committee on Revision:
"27. Society Instructors shall be ineligible for participation in any competitive event in a National Festival."
After some discussion, a question was raised as to whether a Society Instructor was to be interpreted to mean an instructor in physical education or whether this term included instructors in any other Turner activities. The explanation given on the floor from several sources indicated that this provision was intended to cover instructors in any activity.
William Modrow of the Illinois District submitted a minority report to the effect that a Turner Society Instructor shall be permitted to compete in all Nci.tional Tournaments and, if such Turner Society Instructor neglects his pre-appointed judge assignment his class shall be penalized ten points. This minority report was seconded and a full discussion followed, after ·which the Chairman called for a voice vote on the minority report, according to which the minority report was defeated.
There being no further discussion on the majority recommendation of the Committee, the Chairman called for a vote and the majority report was unanimously adopted by voice vote whereupon the Chair ordered that this recornmebdation be embodied as Paragraph 27 of the report of the Committee on Revision of Statutes.
Chairman Heeschen then reported that his committee had made the following recommendation with reference to Article 3 3a-I:
"33a-I The members of the _Committee on Health and Physical Education shall consist of at least one technically qualified Turner Teacher from each Region of the American Turners.
In the event there is no such technically qualified Turner Teacher in a Region, a technically qualified Turner may be appointed."
Considerable debate took place on this report and pursuant to request for a more specific definition of the term "Turner Teacher" in the first sentence, an amendment was made by Turner Otto Eckl of the Lake Erie District, to insert after "Teacher", "actively engaged in a Turner Society." This amendment
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was seconded. After discussion, the Chairman called for a vote on the amendment which was carried and the subsequent vote on the recommendation as amended resulted unanimously in favor of the .recommendation. The Chairman then ordered .that this recommendation would r.eplace Article 33a-I in the original report of the Committee on Revision of Statutes.
Chairman Kierschner then asked whether any other recommendations or suggestions with reference to the proposed Revisions of the Statutes had been received. No further suggestions having been offered, the Chair reminded the Convention that all of the articles of the proposed revised Statutes had been collectively or separately adopted as submitted or had been amended and adopted as amended. He ordered that the next parliamentary step would be the adoption of the revised Statutes as a whole as amended. A motion to this effect was promptly made from the floor and seconded. The Chairman declared that the vote on this motion would have to be in the nature of a roll call of Federal Votes. Whereupon the roll of Districts was called and the vote resulted as follows:
DISTRICT New York Central States New England Illinois
St. Louis .... . . . Lake Erie
Western New York .. Middle Atlantic Wisconsin Pittsburgh New Jersey Midwest Minnesota Upper Mississippi
North Pacific . . . .. Southern California
VOTES 10 32 19 17 4 45 17 10 5 37 4 4 2 44 2 252
FOR 10 32 19 17 4 45 17 10 37
PRESENT (But Not Voting)
4 Absent
2
44
Absent 241
AGAINST
0 The Secretary accordingly reported the result of the ballot as follows:
241 Votes "For"; 5 Votes "Present" and No Votes "Against".
The Chairman then declared that the Proposed Revised Statutes as submitted by the Committee on Revision and as amended by the Convention had been adopted and would take effect two months after adoption in accordance with the provision of the present Statutes.
The Chairman then explained that the adoption of these revised Statutes would require an election of National Officers by the Convention in the manner prescribed by the newly adopted Statutes, which officers would take office at
the expiration of the terms of the present National Officers. The Chairman further recommended that a suitable procedure would be the appointment of a Nominating Committee to consider this situation and present suitable nominees for the various offices to be filled, in accordance with the provisions in , the revised Statutes. He also advised that the Convention Committee on Health and Physical Education and the Committee on Cultural Education to the effect that they too would have to present nominees for Chairman of National Health and Physical Education and National Chairman of Cultural Education, respectively.
The Chairman further advised that the right to present the names of additional nominees from the floor of the convention would be permitted in harmony with the provisions of the proposed statutes.
Turner Heeschen then made a motion to the effect that the Chairman be authorized to appoint a Nominating Committee as suggested by the Chair, such Committee to consist of at least one member from each of the Regions represented at this Convention. This motion was seconded and carried. The Chair stated that he would be pleased to appoint such a committee promptly after this session of the convention, after consulting with the Vice Chairman and Honorary Chairman.
Chairman Kierschner then directed that the Sergeants-at-Arms, Turners Phillips and ·schaal, collect the ballots on the election of the Trustee for the American Turners Endowment Trust and that they were to act as Tellers and report the results of the vote at the next session of this Convention.
After a few important announcements by Frederick H. Meyer, of the New York Turn Verein, relative to the Kommers which would be held as a part of the social program at 8: 3 0 P.M., the Convention adjourned at 5: 15 P.M.
to meet at 10 A.M. on Saturday, September 2nd.
FIFTH SESSION
Saturday Morning, September 2, 1950
This Session was called to order at 10:40 A.M. by Chairman Kierschner, who called for the reading of the minutes of the Fourth Session of the Convention. These minutes were read by George Jacquin, Assistant Secretary of the Convention, and were approved subject to the correction of a few typographical errors, by. motion duly made and carried.
Chairman Kierschner announced with regret, the sudden passing in Detroit of the father of William Ludwig, first Vice President of the American Turners, who had been present at the first four Sessions of the Convention. The Chairman stated that Turner Ludwig had asked to be excused to permit him to fly home.
A motion was made, seconded and carried that the Secretary of the Convention be instructed to send a telegram to Turner Ludwig expressing the sincere sympathy of the delegates of this Convention. In accordance with these instructions, the following telegram was sent by the Secretary:
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"The forty-third National Convention of the American Turners expresses deepest sympathy to yourself and family in your present bereavement.
Alfred F. Kierschner, Chairman."
The Chairman announced that, in accordance with a resolution adopted in the preceding Session, 'he had appointed the following Turners as a Nominating Committee to make nominations for National Officers and National Councilors to be elected by this Convention: William Voelker, George Jacquin, Charles F. Miller, Herbert Heider, Dr. Carl B. Sputh, Anthony King, Henry D. Lueke, Herbert Hoefer, Otto K. Nell and Karl Schaltenbrand.
The Chairman then called for the Report of the Finance Committee of the Convention. This report was submitted by Turner Koenig, Chairman of this Committee as follows:
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE CONVENTION
To the 43rd Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
The Finance Committee met with the following members present: Chairman Rudolph Koenig, Secretary
J.
Edward Schenz, Fred W. Weigel, Bert Davis, Max Spanier, Peter Amann, Carl Steinkopf, Charles Holzschuh, John Munch and Thomas E. Koehler.The Committee examined the American Turners Financial Statements as prepared by Charles L. Coe, Certified Public Accountant, of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, and the Annual Report of the National Executive Committee, covering the period from January 1, 1949 to December 31, 1949, and finds that the General Fund Balance Sheet, Income and Expense Statement and Depart- mental Income and Expense Statement, and Physical-Cultural Education Fund Balance Sheet and Income and Expense Statement, therein contained, were prepared by said accountant from the accounting records of the National Executive Committee, which were not audited by him, and
1. The Committee recommends that, in the future, all such statements and reports should be properly audited, and that all money and bonds on deposit be certified by the depository.
The Statement of the Treasurer in Per Capita Tax indicates that the Peoria Society is no longer functioning as a member of the American Turners, and that twenty-eight other Societies have not paid any per capita tax for the year 19 5 0, and
2. The Committee therefore recommends that the Peoria Society be dropped. (This recommendation defeated by the Convention)
3. The Committee further recommends that more efficient efforts should be made to collect the per capita tax.
The Committee has noted that most all of the Societies, whose per capita tax has been reported in said Treasurer's Statement as not having been paid, were represented at this convention, and that such statement is evidently incorrect in that respect.
4. This Committee further recommends that no more membership cards should be forwarded to the Societies than are necessary.
On Turner Topics, the Statement of the Treasurer discloses an operating loss of $4000.00 without the donation of $1200.00 from the Jahn Fund, and 5. The Committee recommends that the Secretary should check into these expense items, especially printing costs of $12,417.88.
The Physical-Cultural Education Fund Statement discloses a loss of
$1079.04 over and above the per capita tax income of $5503.25, and other income of $675.33, and that expenses amounting to $1346.99 could have been saved by the elimination of individual National Championships, and
6. The Committee recommends that the expenses of such activities be kept within the budget of per capita tax income, and that a more detailed form should be used to itemize travelling expenses in view of the variations in statements of miscellaneous expenses.
The Commitee finds, in looking over the material furnished, that there is
$359.43 per capita tax due from 1949. It also shows receivables of $32,249.75 which is not necessarily the amount actually due as there will be membership cards returned.
The net operating income shows $1446.99, and the general operating fund would show a profit of $473 5.22 had there not been an operating lo-s of 5178.44 due to Turner Topics. There also was an income (not profit) from the sale of supplies of $1038.28; and the net income of the General Fund was $ 5 9 5. 0 6.
Respectfully submitted,
Rudolph Koenig, Chairman J. Edward Schenz, Secretary
It was moved and seconded that the recommendations of the Finance Committee be considered separately. This motion was carried.
The several recommendations were then read and considered and voted upon in succession, pursuant to which Paragraphs 1, 3, 4 and 6 were adopted by voice vote. Paragraph 2 was rejected by voice vote of the Convention.
Paragraph 5 was laid on the table by motion made, seconded and carried to permit consideration by the Convention Committee on Physical Education.
Final action on the Report as a whole was held in abeyance pending the recommendation of the Convention Committee on Physical Education.
The Chairman then called for the Report of the Convention Committee on Cultural Education which was submitted by John Kovats as follows:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON CULTURAL EDUCATION
To the 43rd National Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
Committee organized by electing John Kovats Chairman and Anna Heitz Secretary. The following delegates were also present: Frank C. Scholl, Louis Baker, Christ Bleidistel, Peter Ternes, George Foerster, Charles F. Miller, Carl Anderson, Herbert Heider, J. Rotzsch, Carl W. Ungerathen, Walter Thompson, Edwin Knappe, E. Mattes and Otto K. Nell, Dr. Geo.
J.
Haub, Alternate and Mrs. Eleanore B. Crost, Alternate. Also present were Grace Dreher representing the Ladies Auxiliary, and Dr. E. A. Eklund, Ex-Officio.1. We recommend the acceptance of the supplement which Dr. E. A.
Eklund submitted to the 43rd National Convention as an addition to the printed report which appeared in the Annual Report of the National Executive Committee.
2. We recommend that the 43rd National Convention of the American Turners urge the holding of Cultural Festivals, that each Society and each District schedule on their calendar of events at least one Cultural Festival each year, and that during a National Festival year all efforts be made to participate, but not conflict with in the National Cultural Festival.
3. We recommend that the National Executive Committee furnish a prize to the Society in each Region which; on the basis of the Annual Cultural Competition of the American Turners, has accumulated the largest number of points in its Region.
4. We recommend that the "Rules Applying to Cultural Education Competition of the American Turners, Revised to July 1, 1949 by the Cultural Rules Committee, be ratified by the 43rd Convention as the official rules of competition of the American Turners, and that the National Cultural Rules Committee be authorized to make changes from time to time as are dictated by experience, with the approval of the National Executive Committee.
5. We recommend that Paragraph 9 of Article 6 and Paragraph 5 of Article 7 of the Rules Applying to Cultural Education Competition of the American Turners, Revised to July 1, 1949, be changed from "four months"
to "six months".
6. We recommend that Paragraph 9 of Article 14 of the Rules Applying to Cultural Educational Competition relating to Essay Competition be changed to read: "The Theme of the essay must relate to some phase of the Turner Movement or Turner Activities."
7. We recommend that the National Cultural Rules Committee reduce the number of entries permissable in Ceramics and Handicraft Competition from six to three in each class, to bring these rules into harmony in this respect, with the rules for Needlecraft, Painting and Photography.
8. We recommend that the National Cultural Rules Committee revise
the classifications set up in Needlecraft Competition to conform as nearly as feasible to other Needlecraft Guild competitions and to expand the number of classifications to provide for competition in all classes for which there is a justifiable demand.
9. We recommend that the Trustees 0£ the J::ihn Educational Fund be invited to ..sponsor a National Poster Contest preceding the 1951 National Festival and furnish a prize. The subject of these posters to be some phase of the Turner Movement and the winning poster to be used as publicity and promotional material for the National Festival.
10. We recommend that $25 .00 be awarded for a suitable prize to each prize-winning song in the past Turner Song Contest and that the balance of
$125.00 of the $200.00 allocated to this contest by the Jahn Educational Fund be used to publish a new Turner Song Book.
The members of this Cultural Education Committee pledge their cooperation and active support to those in charge of arrangements for handling the National Cultural Competition in Buffalo July, 1951.
Respectfully submitted, John Kovats, Chairman Anna Heitz, Secretary
This report was considered and adopted by Paragraphs and was then adopted as a whole by voice vote of the Convention.
Turner George Jacquin, Secretary of the Nominating Committee stated that this Committee had met in preliminary session and had issued a request that the delegates submit recommendations for nominees for the different National Offices for which the Nominating Committee was required to nominate candidates.
Turner Paul Phillips reported that the Tellers had completed the count of the ballots for the election of Trustee for the Endowment Trust, and reported that the election resulted as follows:
Frederick H. Meyer . . . 17 8
Henry W. Kumpf. 73
The Chairman accordingly declared that Turner Meyer had been elected to fill the six year term as Trustee of the American Turners Endowment Trust.
At this point, by unanimous consent, the Chairman declared the Convention adjourned at 12:30 P.M. to reconvene at 2:00 P.M.
SIXTH SESSION
Saturday Afternoon, September 2, 1950
This session was called to order at 2: 15 P.M. by Chairman Kierschner who asked for the Report of the Committee of the Convention on National Publication and Publicity. This report was submitted by Turner Waldemar Eickhoff, Chairman of this Committee as follows:
REPORT OF THE "NATIONAL PUBLICATION AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE
To the 43rd National Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
We, your committee of National Publication and Publicity, submit the following report.
The following delegates met and organized this committee and elected Waldemar Eickhoff Chairman and Celeste Goerlach, Secretary.
The following members of the committee were present: George W.
Wahnsiedler; Waldemar Eickhoff, Joseph Strohmeyer, Herbert Roemelt, Robert Lowry, Celeste Goerlach, William Nicolai, William Goepfert, Fred Bartels, Henry Lueke, Karl Schaltenbrand-member ex-officio.
The following resolutions were adpoted:
WHEREAS, the American Turners have benefited immeasurably as an active National Organization by making direct contact with individual members through the medium of the Turner Topics, and
WHEREAS, the individual members of the American Turners have come to understand better the things for which our National Organization stands, through reading articles and discussions on our aims and ideals in Turner Topics,
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it resolved that the National Executive Committee be empowered to continue sending Turner Topics to all members through the collection of fifty cents per capita tax which shall be earmarked for this purpose.
Be it resolved - that all articles of letters addressed to the Editor, the subject of which is of a controversial nature, shall not be used in our National Publication - "American. Turner Topics."
If, however, in the opinion of the Editorial staff of our Nat'l Publication it would be constructive for the Turner cause to Publish certain of such articles or letters, then at the beginning of each article or letter the following statement, printed in bold type, shall appear-
"Opinions expressed in the following article or letter, being of a controversial nature, are those of the author and do not necessarily coincide with the views of the National Executive Committee of the American Turners as a whole."
We recommend that the individual societies of the American Turners send to each of its members in the services of the Armed Forces a copy of the Turner Topics at the expense of the local Society.
Respectfully submitted,
COMMITTEE ON NAT'L PUBLICATION AND PUBLICITY Waldemar Eickhoff, Chairman
Celeste Goerlach, Secretary
Pursuant to a motion made and seconded to adopt the report as a whole, there followed considerable discussion on the wisdom of eliminating «Contro- versial" articles from Turner Topics and further discussion concerning the desirability of including a definition setting forth what is meant by "Contro- versial" for the guidance of the National Executive Committee. When a vote was called for, however, this Report was adopted as submitted, by voice vote.
At this point a motion was made and seconded that the Convention take up the Report of the Nominating Committee as soon as this report is ready to be submitted. This motion was carried by a voice vote.
The Chairman then called for the Report of the Committee on National Affairs. This report was submitted by Turner Carl Hein, Secretary of this Committee as follows:
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS
To the 43rd National Convention of the American Turners, Greetings:
The committee was called to order by Temporary Chairman Dr. Carl B. Sputh.
The Committee organized with Dr. Carl E. Sputh of Indianapolis as chairman and Carl Hein of Cleveland as Secretary.
This Committee: makes the following recommendation.
1. That men going into military service during the National emergency be exempt from paying per capita tax to the national body.
2. We recommend that societies exempt members in military service from paying society dues.
3. (See end of this report)
4. Whereas the 42nd National Convention of the American Turners recommended that the American Turners and the Women's Auxiliary of the American Turners give consideration to the amalgamation of these two groups into one organization with membership on an equal basis so that more effective work for Turnerism may be done for the entire family and
Whereas a Joint Committee consisting of Mrs. Ida Mae Lange, Emma D.
Fenske, and Louis 0. Greiner, was appointed by Turner Walter T. Meisner, Chairman of the 42nd Convention and
Whereas this Joint Committee thoroughly studied this proposal and reported its findings to this Convention Committee on National Affairs, and Whereas this Convention Committee has given thorough consideration of the report of the Joint Committee, this Committee has reached the following conclusion: