Word: membership
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Judging by the clutter of posters on entry bulletin boards or by the gauntlet of fast-taking young politicos that Freshman must run after registration, one might conclude that participation in political clubs at Harvard is widespread and vigorous. In fact, however, dues-paying membership of all groups totals less than 18 per cent of the College, and even this figure ignores double-membership and the flock of joiners whose last "activity" may be plunking down $1.50 for the privilege of belonging. In the Liberal Union, for example, only 15 of 50 members "regularly attend business meetings," and such...
Motives for signing a membership list range from the hope of launching a lifetime political career to "having an activity" for grad school applications. Many students like the comfortable feeling of belonging, of registering approval for a political philosophy--no matter how vague--and some freshmen would rather pay $1.50 than contend with a persuasive recruiter. The desire to learn more about "the issues" and about practical politics lures many, and the prospect of meeting important government leaders attracts others. Visions of doorbell-ringing, debates and speeches, coffee-hours and committee meetings--all these dance in their heads...
...memorandum to his Public Relations Committee, president Derek T. Winans '60 outlined the club's goal: "Since the 1956 debacle, we literally lifted ourselves by our bootstraps and simultaneously scored impressive gains in organization and membership. In short, we have been laying the foundations for that drive toward national prominence and widespread influence which will bring to the HYDC in the years to come its due recognition." One of Winans' specific objectives is to "acquire sufficient prestige and influence within Massachusetts so as to use our endorsement as a major weapon in the fight for more honest government...
Bayley realizes that students "don't like mudslinging at elections," and hopes, by "creating a new public image," to increase membership to at least 200. Perhaps if the members and officers worried a little less about who became club president, and more about who was elected to Congress and what they were doing, more students would show interest...
...single card or check for almost all goods and services. The granddaddy of the credit cards, Diners' Club, has recently added health resorts, beauty parlors, charm schools, theaters from Broadway to Los Angeles, even boxing arenas and ballparks; for the fiscal year (ending March 31) it expects membership to rise by 425,000 and hit more than 1,000,000, billings to be $140 million, up 54%. American Express, which recently signed 3,753 auto dealers to honor its cards on repair jobs, has attracted 600,000 members. Hoteluminary Conrad Hilton has signed Socony Mobil...