

p|^>.-i.;V;-V:V-- 



and Labor 



By following the lead of Agriculture's Abundant Prac- 

 tices, Industry and Labor Can Do Much to Minimize 

 Present inflation, Shuman tells 5,000 Farmers 



President Charles B. Shuman 



THIS, the 33rd Annual Meeting of 

 the Illinois Agricultural Association, 

 culminates a third of a century of 

 successful service to farmers of Il- 

 linois by your great organization. 

 To you, the delegates, members and 

 friends attending this annual meeting, I 

 extend an official welcome and urge that, 

 as in the past, you make this convention 

 your own. Our progress through the 

 years has in great measure been due to 

 the fact tiiat the Farm Bureau members in 

 Illinois have actively guided the policies 

 of the Illinois Agricultural Association 

 and its affiliates. Your interest and par- 

 ticipation in this convention demonstrates 

 your determination to continue that guid- 

 ance and control. 



Consistent Gains Through 1947 



The problems, activities and accom- 

 plishments of your organization have 

 become so many and varied that this an- 

 nual report is, of necessity, only a brief 

 summary. The detailed financial and 

 operational reports of the Association 

 and its affiliated organizations have been 

 presented at the several annual meetings 

 and conferences held during this conven- 

 tion. As you study these reports, you 

 will be impressed by the consistent gains 

 and successful operation of all phases of 

 your organized activity during the year 

 1947. 



As we look back to attempt to evaluate 

 this year just completed, we are forced 

 to conclude that "inflationary" is the 



word which characterizes 1947, — infia- 

 tionar)- prices; inflationary wages; and 

 inflationary thinking! Despite these dif- 

 ficult conditions, the overall policies of 

 your organization have remained con- 

 servative. This is a great tribute to the 

 caliber of the folks serving you as mem- 

 bers of boards of directors, officers, staff 

 and employees of Illinois Agricultural 

 Association and associated companies. I 

 am sure that I reflect the thinking of the 

 entire membership when I express our 

 apiireciation to this group of people, who 

 serve us in various capacities, for their 

 continued loyalty and hard w:ork. On 

 the other hand, we with official or staff 

 responsibilities know that this year could 

 not have been successful except for the 

 cooperation and support of the loyal 

 Farm Bureau members of Illinois. 



This year has brought a continuation of 

 the rapid growth in membership and its 

 accompanying responsibilities. This rap- 

 id growth has resulted in several internal 

 organizational and operational problems, 

 the most important of which will be re- 

 ported. A little over one year ago, the 

 voting delegates approved the purchase 

 of the building which is now the home of 

 the Association and most of the affiliated 

 organizations. This was the largest fi- 

 nancial transaction in the stor)' of the 

 organization. Early in 1947 we secured 

 possession of a major part of this build- 

 ing and completed an extensive remodel- 

 ing operation. The moving of the offices 

 to the new quarters in the early summer 

 was no small operation. Due to the 

 existence of a few longer term leases, it 

 was necessary for Illinois Farm Supply 

 Company to remain at the old location 

 until the remaining space is available. 

 It also was essential that the operating 

 office of Illinois Grain Corporation be 

 maintained at a location near the trading 

 center. With these exceptions, we are all 

 now well established in our new home. 

 I am happy to report that the new home 

 of the organization is already paying divi- 



dends in increased efficiency, more satis- 

 factory working conditions and greater 

 security. 



Activities in 7 Divisions 



At the last annual meeting, the voting 

 delegates approved the adoption of our 

 employees' retirement plan. During the 

 year the board of directors have approved 

 the details of the plan and placed it in 

 operation. This is a huge task not yet 

 completed. The plan, as measured by 

 most standards, is satisfactory. It will 

 prove of increasing value to the Associa- 

 tion from a competitive standpoint with 

 other organizations and also as an order- 

 ly, automatic means of retirement for the 

 employees who have given the best years 

 of their lives in service to farmers. 



Last year we reported that a study was 

 being made with the intention of im- 

 proving the functional operation of the 

 organization. We now have the plan as 

 evolved from this study in operation and 

 it is resulting in increased efficiency and 

 a clearer delegation of responsibilities. 

 The activities of the Association quite 

 naturally fall into seven divisions. Of 

 these the Legal, Secretary, Treasurer, 

 Comptroller and Organization depart- 

 ments were already established. The two 

 new divisions created were Marketing 

 and General Services. 



Organization Division 



At the head of this important division 

 George E. Metzger, field secretary, serves 

 as Secretary of Organization. Under his 

 general direction are the Organization, 

 Rural Youth. Special Services and Pub- 

 licity departments. 



The Organization department has con- 

 tinued to provide an active, aggressive 

 membership acquisition and maintenance 

 program. Practically all counties in the 

 state have responded and cooperated with 

 the result that the membership in the As- 



12 



L A. A. RECORD 



