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Show RJDEC WORK OF COMMUNITY CLUBS "BetMy Ann Association" of Brighton, Illinois, Doe Much to Boost Little Village. (Br P. O HOI,IKN, Former Dean of Iowa State Collese.) Community clubs play an Important part In the development of civilisation. They present the greatest of opportunities oppor-tunities for the co-operation of town and country to the lasting benefit of each. They enable the residents of the town and those of the rural districts dis-tricts to jfet together and do things for the welfare of all that otherwise would not he done. This arousing of common Interest In common Interests brings the members mem-bers of the community closer together, socially, industrially and economically. In movements of this character every small town should feel vitally Inter-; Mtedi for it can extend Its trade territory ter-ritory many miles by uniting with the farmers In community wellfnre work. This work tuny take one form, or It may take another, but the life of nny community organization depends upon having something to do that Is worth while. Ity the assistance of farmers, the town of Brighton, Illinois, a village of only 000 people, has worked wonders In the way of community road build-1 Ing. For ten years the people "of Brighton have been Joining hands with their rural neighbors In co-operative work that not only has bettered the whole community, but has given the town a commercial and educational standing equnl to that of many cities ten times Its size. The community organization, which hasthus united town and country, bears the unique title of "The Betsey Ann Association." It has given the community 27 miles of excellent roads, a $15,000 accredited high school, a $5,000 community building and a neighborhood spirit which knows no township line or corporate boundary. I The Betsey Ann association Is lncor-' porated. but not for profit. It has 105 members, divided about equnliy between be-tween town and country, and Its membership mem-bership fee Is only 25 cents. The executive exec-utive committee consists of nine mem-, hers, of which not more than five can bo residents of the town. The first Improvement inaugurated by the association was the purchase of a fire bell. This bell was christened by a telephone operator, Miss Nell Flanagan. She gave It the name of Betsey Ann, which title has since passed to the association. During the second week of August, each year, the association holds a two-day two-day picnic In a large tent. Concerts, dramas and other forms of entertainment entertain-ment are given by local people from j J5 I Twenty-8even Miles of Road Improvement Improve-ment Around Brighton, Illinois, Work of the Betsey Ann Community Association. both town and country. These picnics are always attended by 2,."i(K or oon) people. All concessions are run by the association and all the profit goes Into the treasury. About $."IK) is realised each year. The money is spent In road improvement. One year the association built a mile of rock road, extending eastward from the town limits. Bach year a contract for dragging, at frequent Intervals, In-tervals, nine different roads, for a distance dis-tance of three mtles from town, Is awarded. Each members of the executive execu-tive committee has charge of a three-mile three-mile strip. An appropriation of SUM) is annually made for this purpose. These 87 miles of good roads an? the visible results of the Betsey Ann laeOClgtlOll. They maUe it possible for Brighton to visit and to entertain her neighbors. They connect the town with the farm and make the Interests of one the Interests of the other. They have made posatblo the community building. 'liny have made a reality a high school, for both town and country children, from which graduates are admitted to any college. |