“I have just read an article in the March number of _The World’s Work_,
on the Story Tellers’ League movement, have heard of the Story Tellers’
League, or read a chapter in Mr. Wyche’s book, ‘Some Good Stories and
How to Tell Them,’ on the Story Tellers’ League, and should like to
organize such a league in my community. How shall I go about it?”
This is a question that comes almost every day to some officer of the
Story Tellers’ League.
The method of procedure in organizing a Story Tellers’ League is a very
simple one. The first step is to call a meeting of as many prospective
members as can be gotten together. A chairman and secretary _pro tem_
should then be elected and the meeting called to order. The organizer
should then state the purpose of the meeting, ask for the enrollment
of the names and addresses of those who wish to join and have these
recorded by the secretary.
The next step is the nomination and election of permanent officers,
usually a President, First Vice-President, Second Vice-President,
Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer. Upon the
election of these officers, the chairman and secretary pro tem resign
in favor of the elected officers, and the League is then duly organized
for business.
The adoption of the Constitution and By-Laws is next in order. The
Constitution deals with the name, object, membership, officers, etc.,
of the League; while the By-Laws provide for the dates of meetings,
dues, time and mode of the election of officers, and such other
rules and regulations for the conduct of the League as may be deemed
desirable. An Executive Committee may then be appointed to look
after the general business of the League, such as the arrangement of
programmes at the meetings; the planning of entertainments and special
exercises, and various other matters of this nature. The officers of
the League are usually _ex officio_ members of the Executive Committee.
The League when organized should be reported to the President of the
National Story Tellers’ League, with the name and address of its
President and Secretary, so that it may be enrolled with similar
Leagues throughout the United States.
Some leagues issue Year-books which may be had upon application to the
Secretary. The National League will shortly issue a year-book giving
general information in regard to the story telling movement, with list
of the League’s suggestive programmes.