FARM BUREAU: RELATION TO COUNTY AGENT 213 



more than four million dollars in dues ought to be sufficient 

 evidence that the organization is a fact. How then is this 

 force applied to the solution of county problems? 



THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE^ JOB 



An organization scattered over so wide an area as a 

 county must necessarily depend very largely on a small 

 elected executive committee. From seven to nine members 

 is usually thought sufficient. Larger committees work with 

 less facility and do not add appreciably to the wisdom of 

 the decisions reached. 



While this committee should, as far as practicable, repre- 

 sent the different sections of the county and the various 

 phases of the county's farm interests, it is more important 

 that its members pe so located that they can meet once a 

 month if necessary and be able to give the work of the 

 bureau their time and best thought. It is especially im- 

 portant that the president and the secretary-treasurer be 

 located near the office and not too far apart, for both must 

 see the agent frequently and usually both must sign all 

 bills. It often happens that a village business man with 

 farming interests a bank cashier for example located in 

 the town where the office is may be able to serve as secre- 

 tary-treasurer, thus establishing a desirable town connec- 

 tion and perhaps facilitating the business of the committee 

 as well. 



Having made a budget, the first responsibility of the 

 executive committee is to raise the necessary funds to meet 

 it. It must also supervise the expenditure of the money. 

 Keeping careful records of its disbursement is very im- 

 portant as more trouble is likely to arise over a little finan- 

 cial laxity than almost any other one thing. People will 

 not readily forgive error or oversight in handling, not to 



