Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 115, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1919 — CLUB SMOKER BRINGS RESULTS [ARTICLE]

CLUB SMOKER BRINGS RESULTS

REMODELING OF VAN RENSSELAER CLUB ROOMS WILL START SOON. • «D ' • 4 IThe Van Rensselaer club “smoker” held at the club rooms Thursday evening, proved to be the most enjoyable social even held by the organization since the drafting process which, was placed in operation early in 1910 and which took so many of the members into the service. About sixty members were present. The presence of many members recently returned from military life lent an old-time atmosphere and the meeting produced the results for which it was given —that of gaining the consensus of opinion as to the advisability of remodeling the club rooms during on all objects introduced for the rapid advancement of the organization were prevalent and the present personnel shows the club to be a compact, progressive institution, one which is ultimately to become a leading factor in many movements inauguarated both by the city and county. Direct results were produced and the board of directors were highly pleased with the sprit of enthusiasm and personal interest shown by each individual member and feel that they are backed by a “get-to-gether” spirit that is bound to win. Plans for the improvement of the second and third stories of the building which they occupy were drawn up several weeks ago by an architect, but no action was taken until the opinion of the club as a whole could be gained. Another plan for the improvement of the lower floor only was presented but was rejected. A vote on the proposition found the members only too willing to increase the size of the quarters, and to remodel both floors and the work will be start-

ed within a very short time or just as soon as the contract can be let. Financially, ’ the club is in splendid condition and there is not the slightest doubt, now that the organization has survived the war days, but that it can become a power for good in the community. Constructed on a sound basis, composed of responsible business men and young men who are imbued with its possibilities, the club stands today ready to meet the requirements out of town guests or delegations sent to this city from other counties and towns. Commercial flubs and Business Mens associations produce results in any community but do not cover the field as generally as that of an organization which intersperses its business activities occasionally with thoe of a social nature. /At present the club boasts of slightly over one hundred members and it is planned to increase the membership still more. With ,'the completion of the work of remodeling there will be room for many more members, and it is believed that there will be many willing to join.

"7 The architect’s plans as now drawn provide for £ hard-wood dance floor on the third story which will be used as a gynasium at other times. Reading, billiard and card rooms will also be provided, a room for’ the board of directors where private meetings can be held and a balcony provided for orchestras will be situated on the stairs leading from the second to the third floor. The entire interior of the quarters will be re-decorated and hard-wood floors placed throughout, and the stairway leading from the street will also be rebuilt. On next Wednesday delegations from several counties will be in Rensselaer in the interest of the proposed state highway which is to .be built between -Indianapolis and Chicago. Following a talk by Mayor Charles G. Spitler, it was voted by the members to appoint a club committee to aid in entertaining the guests during the day and to provide for their meals, and to turn the chib over to them for their personal use during the day. The “smoker” in itself was greuv.jr enjoyed and the Italian accompanied by Lon Healy on the piano, lent an air of extreme pleasure to the evening’s program. _ ,