HOUSE AND GARDEN 
March, 
1914 
A card attached to this tree bears the sign: “Seed has been planted here; please, give it a 
chance to grow." The betterment association is responsible for the seed sowing, the sticks 
spread to protect the grass, the sign and the wire guard on the tree 
It would seem, therefore, that a definitely organized associa¬ 
tion is a most effective means for local improvement. 
The formation of such an association is, by its very nature, a 
simple matter. The usual method is to call together a score or 
more of neighbors for the purposes of organization. 
After discussing the object of the Association, a Presi¬ 
dent and a Secretary-Treasurer should be elected. An 
Executive Committee of not more than five should be 
appointed, including the President and Secretary-Treas¬ 
urer. The Chairman of this committee should have 
full charge of the active work of the organization, and 
for that reason he should be chosen for his ability to 
get results, rather than for his prominence in the com¬ 
munity. A man who spends a large part of his time in 
the community will usually be better able to carry out 
the work than one whose business keeps him away 
during the daytime. 
The funds may be secured either by dues or by lim¬ 
ited assessment. In a few cases, money for specific pur¬ 
poses of this sort has been raised by entertainments and 
fairs. It is surprising how much can be done with $100 
a year. 
The name of the organization should convey its pur¬ 
pose, as Village Improvement Associations, Neighbor¬ 
hood Improvement Association, or Clean-up Club, and 
it is a good thing to include the name of the community, 
so that it may secure the benefit from the publicity which 
always follows successful work of this character. 
With the organization completed, a definite line of 
work laid out and sufficient money in the treasury to 
carry it through, the Chairman of the Executive Com¬ 
mittee should be authorized to proceed with the work. 
Laborers should be employed and their work per¬ 
sonally superintended until they understand clearly what 
is expected of them. 
By all means, keep a photographic record of the work 
of the organization. Pictures taken before and after improve¬ 
ment are always of interest to the members, and are of great use 
in interesting and securing new members. Their publication in the 
local newspapers stimulates an interest in the work in other sec¬ 
tions of the village. 
A set of lantern slides made from 
such views makes a splendid subject 
for an evening’s entertainment. 
The duties of such an organization in 
a growing community are extensive and 
numerous, and new opportunities for 
service will constantly present them¬ 
selves. It would be well to suggest 
here a few common problems which 
must be confronted, and to indicate a 
general method for effective solution. 
To the uninitiated it would seem that 
After twelve wagon loads of rubbish were removed from this lot, the under brush cut and seed sown, it became a 
beauty spot. The sign protects the place from nuisance 
Such a vacant lot as this may be a constant eye¬ 
sore to you 
