CHICAGO ASSOCIATION

At the annual meeting, held on February 20, President Hopkins was the speaker, and there was the largest attendance in the history of the Association, over 225 men being present.

The following extracts from the president's annual report summarize the principal events of the year:

"As the meeting this year is later than last year, there have been 51 regular meetings.

"In addition, we have had eight special affairs: The Musical Clubs' concert and dance; the golf party; three football returns; the sons' lunch; the Christmas party; the ladies' lunch.

"I have not included in the above list the tremendous party given by Mr. and Mrs. George Leach. That affair was for Dartmouth men and their wives, but was conceived and executed entirely by the Leaches and all credit goes to them. The Association had nothing whatsoever to do with it except to attend in a body, and that is just about what they did. We can't say too much in appreciation of the hospitality shown.

"The lunch committee, under the active guidance of first our vice-president Cortland Bliss Horr, and later, Jimmy Vail, has provided excellent programs.

"The entertainment committee, headed by Frank Coffin, took care of all the special events mentioned. For the Musical Clubs party particularly, Frank was given splendid support by Ken Thomas, Bill Juergens, Cort Horr, Jimmy Vail, Charlie French, Bill Terry, and many others. Thanks to their efforts, there was a record turnout, receipts exceeded expenditures by $353, and everyone said it was the best of its kind they had attended.

"Ed Keeler has continued his faithful work in handling the student applicants committee. Last year, the committee passed on 129 applicants, of whom 52 were admitted. All were interviews. This was an unusually high number, due undoubtedly to the effect of the Chicago football game. This year to date 85 applicants have been referred to the committee. While the number of applicants has fallen off, the number admitted will probably be about the same, as the schools have come to realize that the marginal men have little chance of admission, and these are the ones who are not applying.

"Throughout the year, you have received 51 issues of 'Diddings.' All but four of these were written by our own Jack Childs, who has achieved a national reputation as a humorist par excellence. I don't know how he manages to keep up such a high standard of excellence in his copy, but we all know that he does, and the Association owes much of its deserved reputation for pep and punch to the hours spent by Jack week after week writing up the affairs of the Association for you to chuckle over.

"Little need be said of the work of Warren Agry on the Alumni Fund committee. He has kept Chicago so much in the lead that it has been referred to as the 'hot spot' of the fund. The efforts of Park Washburn Stickney in handling the Chicago Plan end of the Fund have borne fruit in increasing the number of contributors from 35 last year to 76 to date and the amount subscribed to $1820.

"The secretary-treasurer's job has been faithfully handled by Hal Braman, and after he left town, by Jerry Wood.

"On the face of the number of men on the mailing list to receive 'Diddings,' it might seem that the Association is losing members. There are 543 now, compared with 546 at the beginning of the year. The difference is due to another policy adopted, that of dropping from the list such out of town men as did not evidence sufficient interest to pay the $2.00 to continue receiving 'Diddings.' As a result, the list now includes all the 494 men in and around Chicago plus 24 out of town men who have paid the $2.00 subscription, and 25 complimentary.

"I have mentioned a few of the men who have been largely responsible for the present healthy condition of the Association. There are many more, but time does not permit my naming them.

"So much for the past. A few words as to the future, and you will have heard the last from me.

"The men nominated for office next year have been carefully selected. You are fortunate that such capable men are willing to undertake the task of serving you in what promises to be the biggest year in our history. Whoever the outcome of the election, you may rest assured the administration is in good hands. Next Monday, I shall breath a sigh of relief as I turn the gavel over to my successor and step down into the ranks of the has-beens. I hope as many of you as can possibly do so will attend that lunch to give the new president a rousing send-off.

"We can look forward to a big year. The treasury is in the best situation it has enjoyed for five or ten years. The budget is balanced, and regular income henceforth can be expected to more than cover the regular expenses. The active membership is larger than ever before. In addition to the regular activities, arrangements have already been made for the Musical Clubs to appear the first week in April, and in the fall, we have the football game with Northwestern and the Second Pow Wow. Not only should these affairs be highly enjoyable and inspirational, but with reasonable luck, they should add materially to the funds in the treasury.

"And most important of all, we are going to start the new year inspired by the presence here tonight at the largest annual banquet in the history of the Association, of our beloved President at his first appearance in six years.

From another source comes the following list of the new officers of the Association: President, Everett T. Marsh 'OB, 122 South Michigan Ave.; vice-president, Edwin R. Keeler '11, 230 South Clark St.; secretary-treasurer, Leslie Wagner '22, 105 South La Salle St. All correspondence should be addressed to the Association at No. 668, 122 South Michigan Ave.

President."