North Dakota Law Review/Volume 1/Number 6/Local Chapters of State Association
LOCAL CHAPTERS OF STATE ASSOCIATION
One of the problems that confronts every organized effort, whether fraternal, political or professional, is that of making effective the pronouncements of policy by the largest group. Rules, By-Laws, Codes of Ethics, Fee Schedules, and innumerable other things may be talked about, passed and promulgated, but effectual results will never be achieved until the means of administration are also provided.
North Dakota is a large State, and even the advent of the automobile has not reduced distances to such an extent that more than a small percentage of the total number of practicing attorneys may be expected to be present at the annual meetings of this Association. A still smaller percentage of them must carry on the business of the organization between times.
The Referendum was thought to be a way out, but that is a cumbersome, slow-working process, and its application here has never brought more than a bare majority expression.
Suppose that every County now had a local Chapter of the State Association. Then, suppose that a month before the meeting of the State Association a synopsis of the reports and recommendations of committees were transmitted to each local Chapter. Suppose, further, that each of these Chapters held a meeting at which these matters were presented, discussed and acted upon. And suppose, again, that these various viewpoints were presented at the annual meeting—and each viewpoint could be presented, whether there was one voice from the County to support it or ten—would not the resulting action at the State Meeting be more satisfying, and would not most of the problems of administration and enforcement disappear?
The advisability of establishing in every County in the State a local Chapter of the State Association, with definitely defined powers and functions, might well be considered at the coming fall session of the State Association.