NAB reports (Jan-Dec 1934)

which he has conducted the affairs of the Association’s office.” (Prolonged applause.) Now, Mr. Bellows. MR. BELLOWS: Two more resolutions. This resolution was submitted by Deane S. Kintner: “Whereas, There has been presented at the Twelfth Annual Con¬ vention of the National Association of Broadcasters an exhibit of the new ‘Crippled Children Broadcasting Chain,’ comprising nearly one hundred stations which are using on the air the weekly Radio Bulletin issued by the International Society for Crippled Children, Elyria, Ohio, and “Whereas, This bulletin is available to all stations without charge and consists of latest authoritative information to the public on the care, cure, education and prevention of crippled children. “Be It Resolved: That the National Association of Broadcasters hereby expresses its interest in this new source of sustaining pro¬ gram material as still another type of public service which is being rendered by the broadcasting industry.” Your Resolutions Committee considered this and very regret¬ fully suggest that it be not adopted simply because it opens the way to every known kind of request of this sort to the Association. While everybody has sympathy with this work, your committee feels it can not go on record supporting one thing of this kind without opening the way to all kinds of requests of this sort, so your committee recommends it be not adopted. CHAIRMAN SHEPARD: You have heard the suggestion of the committee. Does anybody want to make a motion? MR. WILLIAMSON: I move it be not adopted. DONALD WITHYCOMB (KPO, New York) : I second it. (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) MR. BELLOWS: The next is Resolution No. 8. I held this for the last. “Resolved: That the National Association of Broadcasters hereby approves and adopts an amendment to the by-laws of said Associa¬ tion which was duly submitted to its members in advance of the meeting at which this resolution was adopted, as provided by said by-laws, said amendment being as follows: “To repeal By-law No. 1, and substitute therefor the following: “Effective October 1, 1934, quarterly dues shall be payable each January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1, on the following basis: “(a) Each member operating stations authorized to operate 40 hours or less per week shall pay a sum equal to one-third of the highest rate published by such member for one quarter hour of broadcasting time. “(b) Each member operating stations authorized to operate 41 to 60 hours per week shall pay a sum equal to one-half of the high¬ est rate published by such member for one quarter hour of broad¬ cast time. “(c) Each member operating stations authorized to operate 61 to 80 hours per week shall pay a sum equal to two-thirds of the highest rate published by such member for one quarter hour of broadcast time. “(d) Each member operating stations authorized to operate 81 hours or more per week shall pay a sum equal to the highest rate published by such member for one quarter hour of broadcast time.” Your committee moves its adoption. MR. DAMM: I second the motion. CHAIRMAN SHEPARD: Any discussion? (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) CHAIRMAN SHEPARD: That is the end of the committee’s report. CLARENCE W. HAYES (WHBC, Canton) : I have a resolution I should like to present to the convention. CHAIRMAN SHEPARD: The rules under which this conven¬ tion is run, which were written by the Executive Committee, clearly state that all resolutions must be presented in writing. The Chair can not recognize any resolution not in accordance with those rules. MR. HAYES: This does not have anything to do with the activi¬ ties of the Association. CHAIRMAN SHEPARD: I am sorry but you are out of order. We will be glad to receive it if you pass it up in writing. The Chair would once again like to call your attention to the fact that there will be a code meeting in this room tomorrow morn¬ ing at ten o’clock. I hope you will plan to stay over and be present. (President McCosker took the chair.) ARTHUR C. PRITCHARD (WWL, New Orleans) : Mr. Chair¬ man, a point of order. The Chairman just ruled that a resolution could not be presented because it was not submitted in writing. I don’t believe he understood what the gentleman wanted to pre¬ sent. This resolution pertains to the death of a member. PRESIDENT McCOSKER: Is this a message of condolence? MR. HAYES: Yes. PRESIDENT McCOSKER: I don’t like to reverse the ruling of my predecessor but I believe we should consider a message of condolence. MR. HAYES: Mrs. Melrose of Station WJAY was here at the convention. As you may know, Grant Melrose died about a week ago and I think it would be fitting for the convention to send some message of condolence. MR. HUBBARD: Let’s have it put in the form of a resolution and include Pat Convey and all others who have passed on. MR. GILLIN: I second the motion. (The motion was put to vote, and was carried.) PRESIDENT McCOSKER: The installation of officers sug¬ gests to me both a pleasant and unpleasant duty. Before asking these gentlemen newly elected to come to the stage, I want to take just a moment to say a very sincere and very personal word of thanks to you all first for the honor that was conferred upon me two years ago and continued last year and, secondly, I want to say a very sincere word of thanks not merely of polite speech but one which I feel very earnestly and very deeply to the associates I have had in office. Their help has been invaluable; it has been continuous and it was spontaneous. And, in view of the fact that the only fellow I ever knew who got any place alone said “We” in naming his plane, I feel that any progress that has been made has been made merely with my assistance and not on my own initiative by any means. Now, I think sign-off speeches should be short. I want you to know that while I am not continuing in office, I am continuing as a member of the Board of Directors and I will make an effort to exert what influence and effort I may be able to be permitted to exert, due to my regular activity at WOR, but this is in no sense a sign-off of interest — it is merely passing out of the presidency. Thank you. (The convention arose and applauded.) PRESIDENT McCOSKER: I would like to have the newly elected officers and newly elected members of the Board of Direc¬ tors, please, come forward. Mr. Loucks impressed upon me the informality which has char¬ acterized the installation of officers and I wouldn’t depart from that informality. That is not my intent. I do want to say a word, however, about Mr. J. Truman Ward who is succeeding to the presidency. I have known Mr. Ward more by observation than by intimate contact. I would have preferred to have had a great deal more contact with Mr. Ward than I have had but such contact as I have had in the last several years as an associate on the Board of Directors leads me to say very sincerely that I think we are all to be congratulated on his election to the presidency and his acceptance thereof. He is an earnest, intelligent, high class gentleman, in my opinion. He is Vice President of the Life and Casualty Insurance Company of Nashville, Tennessee, and Executive in Charge of WLAC since its inception in 1926. He is a native of Nashville, a man who worked up through the ranks, commencing as agent for the insurance company in 1922. He was elected a member of NAB in 1929 and has signalized his residence in Nashville by a tremendous amount of civic endeavor, and I am very, very happy to present him to you as the new President. (The convention arose and applauded.) PRESIDENT-ELECT WARD: Mr. Chairman, ladies and gen¬ tlemen, and members of the National Association of Broadcasters: I assure you that I appreciate more deeply than I can tell you the confidence which you have bestowed in me by your action yes¬ terday and by the honor which you have paid me. I want you to know, however, that I will not rest upon the honor or take too lightly the obligation which has been placed upon me. I fully realize the pressing problems of the Association. I fully realize that the Association is larger than any individual or any group within the Association. It will be my purpose to work for the Association. So far as I know, I was not nominated or elected by any individual, any group or any clique either within or without the Association. I pledge you that, that being true, I will work to the best interests of the Association to the very best of my ability. I fully appreciate also the responsibility which I have in follow¬ ing in the footsteps of your former President, Mr. Alfred J. Mc¬ Cosker. His success in office, the way in which he has led the Association through the trying problems which he has faced during the past two years, is indeed commendable and I fully realize that Page 652