The Maccabaean
In the District Organization
HE Proposed Constitution, based on the district plan, ₪ is now being discussed earnestly in Zionist circles, is a constitution of the entire Federation, but not of the single District. It, therefore, involves the external form only of the District Organization, but not the inner structure thereof; it concerns itself with the relation of the District to the Federation, but does not indicate how the work will be carried on within the District.
The explanatory notes which were sent out with the constitution, indicate the many advantages which must necessarily be derived from the new system. They contain, however, no reference as to what might be gained in case the District should form its inner construction along certain lines. Increase in membership, closer relations between the various elements in the District, permanency of organization, concentration of activities—these and similar advantages indicated in the explanation are things that must come with the District system, even if the working methods should undergo no change, and the number of our workers should remain proportionately the same as now. .
But the working methods shall not remain the same. They shall be improved. The District system makes this possible. This, however, is the inner affair of the District and has therefore no place in the constitution of the Federation. It was, therefore, intended at first to draft a standard constitution for the District. Such a constitution was really drafted, but finally it was found inadvisable to present it now, because it deals with possibilities which may be many and varied, and should not, therefore, be confused with the chief problem—the District organization.
However, although these possibilities cannot be propounded officially, it is nevertheless worth while to dwell on one privately, merely to illustrate how the District would be in a position to carry on its activities more systematically and attain better results than heretofore.
It is an open secret that the number of active members is exceedingly small even in the “active” societies. Half a dozen workers is a good number; frequently the entire work of the society falls upon two or three members, at times even upon one. And this lack of active forces forms one of the main deficiencies of our organization.
Zionism is not at fault. Our ideal is beautiful and lofty enough to arouse a readiness to sacrifice. Nor are the Zionists to blame. The larger number of them would willingly do their bit. At the bottom of this is the incidental character of our form of organization, and the lack of system in our work.
The Society does not know how much work to demand of the member. It is a kind of blank note, an indefinite obligation. Whoever allows himself to be dragged into the work can hardly get out of it; therefore, if he ever drops it he never cares to return to it.
Nor is the work sufficiently appreciated. The inactive member has the same voice at the business meetings as the hard worker. Sometimes the passive member is valued even more than the active one, for the latter is considered as "bound" to stay and be active, while the former may slip away at the least friction. On the other hand it frequently happens that those who do least are loudest; this has a demoralizing effect upon the members.
(Continued on page 199)
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