The President's Message
As I write this there remains but
five months before the next legisla
ture meets in January, 1945. Much
work remains to be done in the interim.
Our first objective should be to con
tinue our membership drive. A t the
present time, we have 18 chapters in
our Association, two new chapters since
my last message and several more in
prospect. Our membership is increasing
but we should have 5000 members by
next January and we can have if every
one, officers and members alike, puts
forth every effort.
I am frequently asked, "What would
you do with the dues from 5000 mem
bers?” Our present dues are set as they
are to pay our way as we go. When
the membership increases, the dues can
be reduced'. The more members we have
the less it will cost per capita to main
tain our Association budget. The dues
are subject to revision by the delegates
to the General Council at any time.
It is not generally understood ' that
we are independent and have no affil
iations. We are organized on a state
level and can see no benefit in affilia
tion commensurate with the cost, eith
er in money or in loss of independence
of action or thought. We are an Ore
gon association for Oregonians, self-fi
nanced, self-officered and self-govern
ed. We have no affiliation with the
craft unions. Many of our members
however carry membership in them and
cooperation with them is our rule.
Primarily we are associated together
to promote and protect the welfare of
our members. An advance in the wel
fare of the employees will increase their
efficiency and skill and result in benefit
to the state through an improved pub
lic service. The merit system and a re
tirement plan are our immediate objec
tives. Many of the states already oper
ate under the merit system and provide
a retirement plan and it is only a mat
ter of time until Oregon, too, will fol
low their example.
A. J. FORD
Marion Chapter No. 18
Congratulations, best wishes and a
hearty welcome to our newest chapter.
Arthur W. Lamka was elected presi
dent; L. S. Covert, vice president, and
Fred S. Bynon, secretary-treasurer. The
members of the new chapter are em
ployees of the State Engineers, the Cor
poration Commission, the Insurance De
partment, the Fire Marshal and the Tax
Commission, all of which departments
have offices in the State Office Build
ing in Salem. The name "Marion” was
selected for the new chapter.
Forrest Stewart, Association Execu
tive Secretary, and Floyd Query, Chair
man of the Membership Committee, as
sisted the new chapter, in its organiza
tion at a meeting held August Î4,.1944,
at the Salem Chamber of Commerce.