WOMEN’S CLUBS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XVIII, 31 October 1896, Page 570

WOMEN’S CLUBS.

(BY

EDITH DICKSON.)

The increase in the number of women’s clubs is one of the characteristics of social life. They are found in the city and country. They are organised for every imaginable purpose and are of all grades, from the severely intellectual and literary circles to those that have no other aim than amusement. It is hard to estimate the good that is being done by these organisations. Many women have received a fair education in some branch of literature, history, science, or art, through the study of them in clubs. The greatest benefit ties in the friendly acquaintance that grows up in these circles. Women that for several years spend an afternoon together once a week or a fortnight, in the study and discussion of some common topic of interest, come to know each other better than they could in a lifetime of acquaintance carried on by formal calls. Out of this knowledge grows a friendliness and mutual helpfulness that are the best results of club work.

While in connection with many clubs profound study is done and brilliant papers are prepared by the members, it is possible for much less ambitious circles to be both extremely useful and pleasant. Many busy women that have little time to spare for study and that lack the training that would enable them to write essays with ease, think that the work of clubs is beyond their ability. In reality they are the ones that would receive the most help from membership in such circles. Overworked women find rest in the social visit that they enjoy in their clubs and they gain a needed intellectual stimulus from the literary programmes presented. If the latter consists of nothing more than reading aloud from some book that has been selected, followed by conversation in regard to it, the hours so spent will be full of improvement for women whose cares leave them little time for reading. These facts point to another benefit connected with these clubs that was not thought of at their first organisation. That is the mutual help and pleasure to be derived from the acquaintance of clubs in different places with each other. Those in widely-separated communities that are doing the same work can be aided by learning each other’s methods and by exchange of programmes. Older and stronger clubs can be helpful to younger and weaker ones. In any case it is well for the originators of a club to have in mind a definite idea of what they wish to undertake before inviting too many others to join them, or they may find themselves committed to something entirely different from what they had intended. The success of a club largely depends upon its start. It is difficult to change its character after an organization is once made ; therefore, care and thought should be taken to give it a right send off. Two of the most important points to be decided at the outset are the general purpose of the club and the size of it. Other matters can be postponed until later, but these should be determined at the beginning, in order to avoid difficulties.

If the object of the club is to be the serious study of some subject, only those interested in such work should be invited to become members. A little forethought will prevent the introduction of undesirable members.

The amount of formality, in the shape of a constitution and officers, necessary to the successful carrying on of a club depends largely upon its size and work. Many small clubs get along without constitution, by-laws, or officers, but this way of proceeding is not to be recommended. It is a little more trouble in the first place, but a great saving of it in the end to have a society properly organized. As a few can transact business better than many, if a clnb is intended to have more than a dozen members, it is an advantage to have a small preliminary meeting for organization before inviting a large number to join. Suppose two or three ladies that have found a plan for a club decide that twenty is the limit of the number they can admit. It is much better not to invite more than a dozen to the first meeting. The business to be transacted at that meeting should be carefully planned beforehand. A simple constitution should be prepared stating the object of the club and providing for the necessary officers, their duties, terms of office, etc. A copy of the constitution and by-laws of some other club can usually be obtained as a guide. When the business meeting is held, it is necessary to appoint a temporary chairman- until a constitution is adopted so that permanent officerscan be elected. Then a committee on a constitution is usually appointed. There should be on this committee some of the persons that have a draft of a constitution already prepared. If this has been well provided for in advance, the constitution can be read and adopted without loss of time, and the officers elected.

A president and secretary are needed in every club and often a treasurer. Sometimes in addition to' these officers there is an executive committee, one of whose duties it is to prepare the programmes for the meetings. The officers may or may not form part of this committee.

One important regulation at the beginning of a club's existence is to admit no members that do not perform their regular part of the work. In old clubs members that become unable to keep up their work from sickness or other causes are often retained as honorary members, but it is bad a precedent to admit persons that wish to be excused from the duties of members. Some clubs have the names of candidates for membership presented to the executive committee and decided upon by them, in order to avoid the discussion of candi-

dates before the whole club or the unpleasantness of a possible rejection by ballot. A good presiding officer is important in securing the success of a club. She should have firmness and executive ability joined to a tact that will avoid giving offence. A club well started and provided with a president possessing these qualities is likely to be prosperous.