Minneapolis Spokesman

Council Of Clubs In Role Of Helper For Worthwhile Projects

Editor's Note: The Twin City Council of Clubs is becoming influential in the life of the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. A staff writer last week began a story on how the organization has grown from 21 to 38 clubs in the past two years. This week the article is concluded here.
(Continued from September 9, edition)

The idea of coordinating the many clubs in the Negro community was born with the Mpls. Socialites Club. Willard P. Jones, still an active member of the Council, is generally credited with being the "father" of the group.
The formation meeting of the then "Twin City Council of Social Clubs" was held at his house; Mr. Jones became acting chairman, and the Mpls. Socialites financed the infant organization until it came of age. Annette Robinson (now Mrs. Victor Galloway) was appointed acting secretary.
The primary idea behind the movement at that time was synchronizing social events given by the various clubs so as to avoid conflict in dates. 12 clubs responded and thus became the nucleus of Twin City Council of Clubs.
Jones claims he got his encouragement and idea from an editorial in the Spokesman and Recorder newspapers.
Perhaps the first broadening of the Council's range of activities was more or less forced upon it. Andrew Clark, Jr., was then president of the group, and he found thrown into the Council's lap a clear cut case of discrimination by a St Paul merchandising firm to a socialites club member. At a regular Council meeting it was voted to utilize collective Council strength to remedy the situation. Significant adjustments resulted from the Council's action in the case. This gave birth to the realization that a body such as the Twin City Council of clubs, owes the Community of which it is a part, more than more club event coordination.
Yet, the organization moved slow in revising its formal program to meet the new demands until 1958, at which time the aforementioned speech of Mr. Scheiner

was made. By this time Wayne Glanton (representing the Northern Lights Bowling League) had been elected Council President.
Glanton, along with other "new blood" of the executive Board began to outline and develop a broader and more forceful program for the Council to pursue. The ultimate result has been the present growth and acceptance of the body.
Coordination of club functions is still an important phase of the Council's program. A calendar is maintained with the events of all affiliated clubs entered.
Clubs must first check with the official calendar before choosing a date for an affair to be given.
Dates are entered strictly on a first-come-first-served basis. The whole idea is providing protection against clubs unknowingly sponsoring events in conflict or competition. It also is a means of focusing the affair of the individual club to the attention of the joint membership.
No penalty is provided for violation of the calendar, but with few exceptions, clubs comply completely. Mrs. Hattie Gross (Crescentdos Club), Asst. Secretary, is the official custodian of the Council Calendar.
The role of the Council in civic and community affairs is not "cut and dry." The organization is committed merely to, in the words of its president, "lending its collective strength in support of worthwhile civic endeavors that affect the whole of the community and race of our membership."
The Council makes no attempt to enter this field in competition to the established agencies; instead
Criticism Sparked New Effort By Clubs Council
(Continued from Page 1)

It merely attempts to give added strength and support to the agency already directing the program.

The NAACP is a typical example. The Council is committed to support its entire program. It has an official representative on the board of directors of both Twin City branches. Alfred Barnes (Twilite Social Club) is Council liaison on the Mpls. Branch's Executive Board, while Mrs. Peggie Garnier (Credjafawn) serves in that capacity with the St. Paul Branch.

In addition to assisting with the general membership drives of the two branches this year, the Twin City Council also launched a strong intra-club NAACP membership drive, aimed at signing the memberships of all its affiliated clubs.

Another one of the Council's more successful community support programs was launched in support of the Minnesota Council of Civil and Human Rights and its efforts toward obtaining passage of "Open Occupancy" legislation in the state legislature. The Council organized and staged a "Fair Housing March", in which it was successful in dramatizing the community's concern for this legislation with a well publicized canvass of the community. Literature was distributed and contributions were accepted, as television and radio stations gave city-wide coverage.

Over $500 was collected and turned over to the Minnesota Council on Human and Civil Rights.

The Twin City Council is avowed non-partisan. Its program, however includes one of voter registration and issue education. "Our political aim is merely to develop a constructive voter education program, pointing up candidates for public office who consistently oppose legislation of our interest without fear or favor," says Little.

Willard P. Jones, as Chairman of the Council's civic committee, directs this program.

The Council furthers its civic education by having prominent speakers address the Council on important subjects of the day. Speakers are found to be readily available for the opportunity of speaking to such a representative community group.

The Council's Hall Directory has proved to be both a club service and a civic endeavor. This comprises an up-to-date directory of the major halls and banquet rooms, and their prices, in the Twin City area. The committee in charge of this function is headed by Obie Kipper (Associated Negro Credit Union). It has been instrumental in encouraging clubs (and sometimes reluctant proprietors) to utilize facilities not previously used by Negro groups.

Being basically a coordinating organization, the Twin City Council is reluctant about sponsoring functions in its own behalf. The feeling is that it has a duty steering clear of competing with its affiliated clubs in sponsorships.

However the Council does sponsor one gigantic social event each year—THE PRESIDENTS' BALL.

This is designed to honor presidents of the many clubs. Although only in its third year, this affair has already become one of the Twin Cities most talked about social event.

Another recent milestone in the rapid growth of the Twin City Council is a monthly publication which it calls "The Twin City Council Newsletter." It is mailed to all of its affiliated club members, boasting a readership of more than 1,500 per issue. The primary aim of this publication is to speed up the process of contact with the individual club member. It also provides a medium of publicizing functions sponsored by the various clubs.

With the tremendous growth of the Council and its effectiveness within the last two years, what does the future hold for this organization? What are the ultimate goals and aims of this unique organization in our community?

Matthew Little (Royal Twenty Club), present President of The Twin City Council, has this to say on the subject:

"The ultimate aim of the Twin City Council of Clubs is nothing more or less than to unify the entire Twin City Negro community into a more cohesive force through its already organized civic and social clubs. As a people we are great joiners.

"Getting our many clubs supporting unified efforts offer unlimited advantages to the individual clubs and the community in general. This is not a new idea. Many of our larger eastern cities have used this approach for years.

As we become more cognizant of our potential, through unified strength, the ultimate result can only be a stronger and more purposeful Negro Twin Cities."

"Three-fourths of the earth's surface is water and one-fourth is land. It's clear the Good Lord intended a man should spend three times as much time fishing as he does mowing the lawn." Wayne Goble.