Hoo-Hoo Has Been Streamlined bv Men Who Know Their Job

Frcat W. Trower San Francisco. California

March 9,1939

Mr. Larue J. Woodson

Arcanoper, Supreme Nine

International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo

San Francisco, California

Dear Larry:

Herewith I send you my application for reinstatement in Hoo-Hoo and my check to cover same. You have kindly shown me the minutes of the joint meeting of the reorganization committee of Hoo-Hoo and the members of the new Supreme Nine held at Minneapolis, January 16, 1939; also the by-laws of the Order adopted then; and the various financial statements covering the period from June 1933 to January 26, 1939; all of which I have carefully read. It is especially gratifying to note that by strict economy and wise management the reorganization committee has paid out of its quite limited receipts more than $3600.00 to beneficiaries of the former funeral fund; thus discharging a debt of honor to widows and heirs of deceased members.

Having closely followed National Hoo-Hoo affairs for many years, until my resignation in 1927, I want to express my admiration for the excellent job that has been done, not only by the reorganization committee during a most difficult period, but as regards the new set-up for the International Order of Hoo-Hoo, just incorporated under the laws of Minnesota. Two things stand foremost in this respect. First, the wisdom shown in drawing up the by-laws, and second, the high quality of the new officers and the men who have been risponsible for bringing the Order through the trying ordeal of recent years, and establishing it on a solid foundation. The underbrush has been cut away, leaving the trees a good chance to grow. Nonessential by-laws have been de'leted, the modern Hoo-Hoo has been streamlined, by men who know their job. For example, the former by-laws provided for a sort of consulting supervision by Past Snarks of the lJniverse; and they were supposed to receive regular reports from headquarters. Even if it had been fully complied with, this tended toward "ruleby the dead hand." Now, there has been reestablished what I think is a wise provision for cooperation with the secretary and Supreme Nine by a board of three councilors living in or near the city designated as fnternational Headquarters. These three councilors are respectively, the pesident, vice-president, and treasurer of the corporation, and are elected by the Supreme Nine each year, who are in turn elected by the annual delegated convention of the entire Order.

The knowledge and experience of Past Snarks is still available to any officer or member who may desire their aid, but they are no longer tied in with the management of HooFIoo, except in the by-law which provides that in the committee on legislation and good of the Order at annual conventions, three of its nine members shall be Past Snarks. I hope the lumber press will soon publish, and each member receive a copy of the admirable new statement of the purposes of the Order.

A first-class business administration is now in operation. Hoo-Hoo has profited from the lessons of past mistakes. The old Black Cat fraternity nearly lost three of its nine lives. Now, with Longfellow, we may say "Let the dead past bury its dead." We face the future with confidence. for an Order as loosely organized as was the old Hoo-Hoo, that has survived the storms and stress of 47 years, has surely demonstrated the basic value of those principles of friendship, confidence and cooperation on which it was founded. But good personnel is just as important as good machinery. In the 35 years since I joined the Order, I have never known it to have a better qualified group of business men filling its important offices, than those now in charge at Minneapolis headquarters and in the various jurisdictions and districts. Many of them I have known personally or by reputation for a long time. The active chairman of the reorganization committee during these past five difficult years is general manager of the largest lumber and timber concern in the world. The secretary-manager of the National Lumber Manufacturers Association attended the Minneapolis convention of Hoo-Hoo last August and took an active part in its work. The confidence and devotion of all these able men demonstrates their faith in Hoo-Hoo and its purposes. The secretary of the new HooI{oo, W. M. Wattson, served in the same capacity for the reorganization committee since its inception in June, 1933. He is a lumberman whose integrity and ability are well known to all Minneapolis Hoo-Hoo; and all officers throughout the United States and Canada will find him eager to assist them in their duties.

One of the declared purposes of Hoo-Hoo is "To encourage and assist in the establishment of }foo-Iloo Clubs and aid in the direction of their activities." During the past few years many of these clubs became inactive; others have grown and kept up their fine work. Among these latter is our own East Bay Club No. 39, which greatly resembles the Twin Cities Club at Minneapolis, the Spokane and Washington, D. C. clubs. While Hoo-Hoo International was being reorganized, many members of our club lost contact with the Order as a fraternity; others have not known of the history and connection between the two. Some of our club members have asked what Ihternational Hoo-Hoo could do for us that is not already well done by our club alone. That is a fair question and must be fairly answered. I think the new Hoo-Hoo by-laws wisely deals with this matter of club relationship in very general terms, leaving much to future developments. Hoo-IIoo members in clubs are given the same basis for representation at annual conventions that is allowed members outside clubs. Of course the Order must retain control of the use of its name. Hoo-Hoo International gave our club its charter and original by-laws, and helped us get ourstart.Our club is an outstanding success because $'e put into practice those principles for which Hoo-Hoo stands. When a parent has been through a wasting illness it is not customary for the children to fail to help towards recovery. Our club will naturally want to be a part of that larger membership which embraces all clubs; just as the individual member and local lodge of any fraternity are pleased to feel they are in contact with fellowmembers outside their own home town. It is the duty of International Hoo-Hoo to promote the formation of new clubs where their existence is justified. Every such club adds to the value of membership in any one club. And one of the most important of your duties as Supreme officer in six Western States is to aid existing clubs and form new ones. We must remember that there are many members of Hoo-Hoo scattered throughout regions where it is not feasible to maintain successful clubs. But such men appreciate the opportunity to visit a club meeting whenever possible.

I congratulate you on your appointment of Bert Bryan as Vicegerent for Northern California. No finer selection could be made, and he will have the strongest possible support from the rank and file. You and he are past presidents of Club No. 39 and thus continue as active members of its board of directors. I do not doubt that this problem of relations with International Hoo-Hoo will be worked out gradually in the spirit of sincere and loyal cooperation which distinguishes our club. The present leaders of the Order stand for the same ideals and purposes that have animated ourclub. At one time California had over 1600 members, the largest number in any State. That is a record we can again aim for, holding to the standard of quality rather than quantity, so 'rvell preserved in the new eligibility clause; which is substantially the one adopted at the Fresno Annual in 192t. The 1924 Annual at Minneapolis was another important milestone in our progress toward a better Hoo-Hoo. We must preserve the fine spirit of harmony and good-will that prevails among us; members of No. 39 must be allowed to feel free tojoin International Hoo-Hoo or not. We do not want any one of them to feel uncomfortable if he prefers for the present to delay his decision about joining or reinstating his former membership in the Order. My thought is that the question of new members for Hoo-Hoo is not one of high-pressure salesmanship, but rather of voluntary decision for each man. With only one or two concatenations per year in each important lumber region, membership will become a thing to be desired, rather than to be forced upon anyone. The name Hoo-Hoo and the Black Cat button are known the world over as the insignia of affiliation with one of the greatest industries benefiting mankind. We must put more young men in positions of resrponsibility in the Order.

It is said that "Thoughts are Things." The word Concatenated means "linked together." I have often been impressed by the strong ties of sentiment that have long bound members of Hoo-Hoo together in warm friendship. Such things are among the greatest values in life. To borrow a thought from Lincoln, the mystic chords of memory still vibrate with the theme of unselfish friendship. The song may be bnded or the singer gone, but the melody of that thought lingers on. Hoo-Hoo has been a potent, though sometimes invisible, force in the development of cooperative effort in the many branches of our great industry, which has so much to do with building the homes and habitations of mankind. Now, with a revitalized organization, we can look forward confidently to the task of aiding once more our forest industries in the solution of the pressing problems that need the helpful elements which Hoo-Hoo organization and principles can give. With my very best wishes for success in the constructive days and years that lie ahead, f remain,

Sincerely,

Frank W. Trower, No. 12835. Trower Lumber Companv

AL KOEHL WILL VISIT N.Y. WORLD'S FAIR

Al Koehl, well known Los Angeles manufacturer of millwork, is now one of Southern California's most ardent aeroplanists. The other day he took his father, John W. Koehl, for his aeroplane flight, and the elder Koehl got a great kick out of it.

Mr. Koehl is going in April to take in the New York World's Fair. He is going to New York by boat through the Panama Canal, and will fly back.

NEVf RESIDENT MANAGER

T. K. Oliver, formerly manager of Feather River Lumber Co., Delleker, Calif., has been appointed resident manager of Fruit Growers Supply Company's millat Susanville.