Gary Johnson

Gary has been in a hospital in California for the past month. He had surgery & is in very serious health. If members of other chapters would like to send getwell cards, to wife Carrie, she will make sure that he gets them. Carrie will return to California to be with Gary soon.

Gary Johnson
6244 W. Shawnee
Spokane, Wa.99223

Keep him in your prayers. Thank you .
Jeri & John Shagen ,Pres.
Spokane chapter # 34

IT'S A FACT

The 2000 Annual I.F.A. Convention was the second time in the 78 year history of the Footprinters that two conventions were held back-to-back in the same geographical area. Grand President Elmer A. Steinmeyer, Oakland Chapter #7 was elected Fifth Grand Vice-President in 1935 and Bodie A. Wallman, Oakland Chapter #7, was elected Fifth Grand Vice-President the following year. Grand Conventions were held in Oakland in 1940 and 1941.
In 1993, Jerry Redford, Peninsula Chapter #35, was elected Fifth Grand Vice-president and the following year, 1994, Michael F. O'Leary Sr. was elected 5th Grand Vice-president, with their conventions being held in the Peninsula area in 1999 and 2000.

During the late Grand Historian Ross Allen's tenure in office, he sent notices to the chapters stating that he would like to have the names of all members who had 5O-years or more of membership. Dick Thomson, Grand Historian sent the same message to all chapters last year as it was considered a good idea to recognize those members who have supported our organization for so many years.
Although only a few Chapters have responded, we can begin our list with what we have and appeal to those Chapter Secretaries who read this message to submit the names of those members who should have appeared on this list. In the future, we may be able to give some background on those members who have contributed so much to our organization since its beginning in 1929.
Here is the list we have accumulated so far, beginning with the member who has the most years in the
Footprinters:

Note: The historical notes contained in the following articles are taken from the writings of Grand Historian Michael Strazzo, recording for 1951 and 1953.

"Several chapters have seen fit, and rightfully so, to take up some form of civic duty as an objective and a reason for their existence, over and above the idea of cooperation among the members. This has been, and probably will be in the future, a more personified objective, such as the Fresno Chapter purchasing and operating a lake, where groups of underprivileged boys were taken for two weeks vacation. Each group consists of 15 boys, with no cost to the boys whatever.
"Cheyenne Chapter #23 is doing good work by holding a picnic in Cheyenne Park each Halloween, thereby taking children off the streets.
"Denver Chapter #20 has done a great deal for the school patrol, purchasing uniforms, etc.
Sacramento Chapter #4 has done a great deal of charitable work and, during the war, outfitted a solarium at a sanatorium in the mountains.

The first convention held by the Footprinters was in Fresno, California, September 22, 23 and 24, 1932.
During 1932, the Association became strong enough to raise the necessary money to finance their convention.
In 1954, the Board of Trusties, at a Mid-Winter meeting in San Francisco, decided against a "Centralized Project", with an assessment of all the members to maintain the organization. The vote was 8-1(Shades of Jake Bilbo).
The general feeling among the members was that each Chapter should determine what type of project or community activity it wishes to participate in, believing that the local chapter is best fitted to expend their funds, so that the chapter will derive the maximum benefit from their distribution.
History was made by Los Angeles Chapter #2 on January 22,1955, when, under the dynamic leadership of Chapter President George Stoner, they conceived and successfully carried out an international 2-day meeting of their chapter in Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
This meeting was an outstanding milestone in the history of our organization, marking it the first time a meeting of the Footprinters was held in a foreign country.

During the early days of the Footprinters, men were not asked to join, they just became members when they received a hand-drawn cartoon or one cut from a magazine and signed, "
I.F.A.
Philip Geauque, our first Grand Secretary, drew the cartoons and mailed them out.
The following are two samples that were mailed.

Not too long after IFA organized a foolish application blank was compiled, along with a small rubber-stamped footprint, which was stamped on the face of the same.
The following are a few of the questions members were asked to complete on the application form.

How many toes do you have?
Any new toes lately?
Which Foot are your toes on?
Are these the original toes?
Of what use is the little toe?
Now, where were you born and why?
Any suspects?
Do you still claim that you have never been convicted of any and all misdemeanors?
If your answer to the above is "yes", then you should have been.
Do you have any idea why this organization exists?
Do you still want to get in?
Are you suffering with any of the following complaints? Flat Feet, Cold Feet, Goose Flesh, Very Close Veins, High Arches, Fallen Arches Corns, Broken Toes?
DO you drink?

On the last question, John Brunings, of San Francisco, answered the question as follows: The date was June 30,1931.
"Only on two occasions - when I am, alone or with company."
The concluding statement on the first application blank read as follows:

"I, having read and answered all the questions in this application, do hereby and hereto place my signature in the space provided for same. It is agreed, understood admitted and acknowledged that this is a free and voluntary statement, made by me without any fear, threats, inducements or promises in the presence of a visiting or non-visiting member or the town Constable, and I understand that I am, to receive all the rights, lefts, socks and other benefits accorded members and that I can be expelled at any time, subject to reinstatement providing that I have a good alibi.