2
THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
I feel that we accomplished a great deal at our last General Council meeting,
held in Salem last February 12 th and 13 th, and that the Association has now
started to function as a unit.
The organization of any association requires a great deal of time and effort
by its members and I cannot praise too highly my predecessor, W. W. Stiffler,
also I. A. DeFrance, our Secretary-Treasurer, and all other officers and members
for their work. Once an organization gets under way it is much easier to carry
on. I feel sure that our present officers will do their part.
The first objective of the Association is to have a State-wide merit system of
Civil Service Law enacted by the State Legislature, which will convene January,
1943. Such a law will be beneficial both to the State and to the employees.
Our second objective is to perfect a strong organization of State Employees
and we should bend every effort to the end that all State Departments will be
represented 100 per cent. This can best be done by every member appointing
himself a committee of one to sign up at least one new member. I am sure we
can do this if we put our shoulder to the wheel.
In trying to achieve these objectives at this time, we are working under
severe handicaps, but they are not insurmountable. The shortage of gasoline is a
factor in keeping some of our members from attending meetings. The fact that
we are at present engaged in a war for our very existence is another. Interesting
meetings with outside speakers and other entertainment will help to keep up
attendance.
I take this opportunity to ask all our members to work to increase the
membership either by having various departments, not at present represented,
form new chapters or associate themselves in chapters already formed. A large
membership is vital to the success of our organization.
A. J. FORD, President
OUR FIRST ISSUE
This is the first issue of "T he Ore
gon State Employee,” the official pub
lication of the Oregon State Employees
Association. Bulletins have been issued
before but the increasing membership
justifies the new venture. The Oregon
State Employees Association, with the
motto "W elfare of State and Em
ployees,” feels it is devoted to a high
and honorable purpose. To sponsor and
promote the merit system in State gov
ernment, and those things which will
build an improved and more efficient
State government and a more capable
and responsible State service, is our aim.
It is our conviction that great benefit
will accrue to the State, both in im
proved service and actual reduced cost
of government.
Public employees should be good citi
zens and honorable men and women.
They should sense a responsibility for
the maintenance of the merit principle
in government and the need of intel
ligent application of modern methods
to government administration. They