A Facet of America's Greatness

inerica has been called a nation of joiners . We are. I don't know that anyone has ever made an exact count of all the voluntary organizations and associations in the United States, but my guess is that there must be a million or more . Upon coming to Norman a few years ago, I learned that there were over two hundred and fifty organizations in this community of modest size . I was particularly impressed by an incident which happened at a meeting of one of the local organizations to which I had been invited to speak in the fall of 1948 . My wife was seated next to the president of the organization and more by way of conversation than anything else, she asked, "What is the purpose of your organization?" "Purpose?" responded the president, a charming, gracious lady, somewhat taken aback by the question, "Why, Mrs. Franklin, I don't know that we have a purpose." She was obviously a little embarrassed at the implication of her admission and, after thinking it over for a little while and after consulting with her vice chairman whowas seated next to her, she explained to my wife that they did have a purpose after all but that she had momentarily forgotten what the purpose was. I have often reflected on that incident and, while it is a little amusing, it is also significant of a universal attitude of the American people that they have no fear in organizing voluntary associations even when they may not have a particular purpose in mind. I do not mean to suggest that the overwhelming number of these one million or more voluntary organizations and associations in the United States do not have a purpose. Indeed, I am convinced that most do have definite purposes and often fulfill in substantial measure the needs of those who compose the membership . The significant fact is that Americans, by tradition, can't seem to help getting together even when they may have no clear understanding of the purpose for their organization . Essential to the formation of voluntary organizations are : first, a climate of freeBy CARL MASON FRANKLIN