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of our communities weights and measures conscious, it will help more in our work than anything else we can possibly do.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION, PRESENTED BY W. S. BUSSEY, CHAIRMAN

In compliance with a resolution adopted by this organization last year, Dr. Briggs, President of the Conference, appointed a Committee on Weights and Measures Publicity and Education, composed of the following members: W. S. Bussey, of Texas, Chairman; A. J. Jensen, of North Dakota; M. A. Hubbard, of Virginia; A. Edward Snyder, of Terre Haute, Ind.; James E. McHugh, of Lehigh County, Pa.; Robert Williams, of Nassau County, N. Y.; and H. G. Boutell, of the National Bureau of Standards.

Owing to the broadness of the field to be covered by this Committee and the limited amount of time available after the Committee was appointed and organized, we do not have as much to offer the Conference in this report as we would like to have. However, your Committee is extremely anxious to get this important phase of our work definitely under way this year. Therefore, we shall make a few concrete recommendations and suggestions in this report, and we earnestly solicit the wholehearted cooperation and assistance of each and every weights and measures official in this country in an earnest endeavor to forward the cause of weights and measures publicity and education.

In making a brief survey of the field which this Committee is to cover, we find that our efforts must be directed along three different routes: First, the education of weights and measures officials themselves; second, the education of those persons connected with the various industries with which we deal; and third, the education of the consuming public.

Your Committee prepared and mailed a questionnaire containing some 10 questions. This questionnaire went to all weights and measures officials who were present at this Conference last year, and a few who were not. The questions were arranged to secure some definite information about what was already being done along these lines, in the various jurisdictions throughout the Nation. Some 26 of these questionnaires were returned properly filled out; 8 of them came from State jurisdictions, 4 from county jurisdictions, and 14 from city jurisdictions. Three was the largest number of questionnaires returned from any one State; 1 of these came from the State department proper, and 2 from city or county departments. These questionnaires clearly indicate that quite a lot of work is being done in some jurisdictions along educational lines, while in most jurisdictions very little is being done. Practically every questionnaire returned also contained some valuable information and helpful suggestions, and your Committee wishes to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation for your cooperation and help in returning these questionnaires to us so promptly and so full of helpful ideas.

From the information coming to your Committee, it is evident that there is a strong need for more educational work to be done among weights and measures officials themselves. We are convinced that in most jurisdictions the officials are eager for more knowledge of the work and are also most capable of learning; therefore, we feel that our first efforts should be along these lines and that we should especially

dedicate our talents and efforts for the coming year toward our own advancement in weights and measures knowledge and toward more efficiency in weights and measures administration.

Your Committee is also convinced that there is a tremendous need for more knowledge of weights and measures administration on the part of high public officials, and the leaders in those industries with which we are in constant contact. Our educational programs should reach these men through various channels, such as civic organizations and clubs, trade magazines, and all other avenues at our disposal. If the legitimate business man is made to understand our purpose, the battle will be almost won, for he can do more to help our weights and measures enforcement organizations than can any other individual.

The consuming public is the next group with which we must deal. There are many ways and means of educating the consuming public, but this is a big task and a never-ending one. We must avail ourselves of every opportunity to distribute weights and measures knowledge among this group.

Your Committee realizes that conditions vary greatly in different jurisdictions and that no set rule for educating any one of these three groups will completely meet the needs of every locality. We do feel, however, that a general outline for a constructive and progressive program can be worked out which will be definitely beneficial to all jurisdictions, and it is with this thought in mind that your Committee will recommend to you such an outline, and we sincerely hope that numerous jurisdictions will adopt it and give it a trial throughout the coming year.

No doubt the most difficult portion of this educational program to work out and recommend is that portion dealing with the weights and measures officials themselves; this is true owing to the wide variety of conditions existent in the several States. In some States we have only one inspector in the entire jurisdiction, and in such case whatever he does he must do alone. In contrast with this condition we have other States where we will find a single city with 75 or more inspectors; other city and county departments, as well as a State department, might also be found in this same State.

Your Committee feels that the matter of educating the weights and measures officials should be a constant endeavor, and in jurisdictions where the personnel justifies it, we strongly recommend that at least one general school of instruction be conducted each year, at which time all weights and measures officials in the jurisdiction should be present, if at all possible, as well as other individuals interested in the subject matter to be studied.

By September 1, 1940, your Committee will have prepared a course of study for the individual weights and measures official, assigning him a definite subject for each month of the year. This schedule will, with the cooperation of the individual official, improve his efficiency and enhance his standing among the citizens of his community.

Your Committee will have available by September 1, 1940, an outline of a course of study for a general school of instruction, as heretofore mentioned. We also recommend and urge that the various States follow the example set by Indiana in appointing a State Committee on Education to work with and assist your national committee. A number of State committees of this character can no doubt be valuable assets to the national committee, and we sincerely hope that

each State whose personnel justifies such a committee will cooperate with us to this extent.

As you know, the name given this Committee is "Committee on Weights and Measures Publicity and Education." Your Committee finds that there is one word in this name which is often misinterpreted, thus giving the wrong impression and causing an adverse psychological effect that is the word "Publicity." After all, we are not seeking publicity for ourselves, but we are seeking to publicize the importance of our work in such a way as to educate the public. So without a detailed discussion of the impression which a good many people get from the word "publicity," your Committee would like to recommend that its name be changed to the "Committee on Weights and Measures Education." Of course, the Committee can still continue to function in the entire field of publicity and education.

Your Committee will not attempt to sell you upon the importance of publicity and education in weights and measures work, as we are firmly convinced that you are as well aware of its importance as are the members of the Committee. Neither will we take the time to enumerate the multiplied hundreds of avenues available for the dissemination of weights and measures knowledge. However, we are going to recommend a simple educational program to be adopted and followed by the various jurisdictions, and, of course, you will understand that the suggestions in this outline are not maximum suggestions, and if a jurisdiction feels that it can take on a broader assignment, the Committee will be at your command to assist in the preparation of such a program. Likewise, if a jurisdiction feels that a less extensive program would be more appropriate under prevailing conditions, your Committee will also be ready to cooperate.

First, we want to urge that as many jurisdictions as possible adopt the course of study for the individual weights and measures inspector, which your Committee will prepare. Second, we suggest a general weights and measures school of instruction to be held at least once each year; the Committee will also furnish an outline for the course of study for this school, as well as other useful literature and material. The third item on our list for the enlightenment of weights and measures officials is our recommendation that the various jurisdictions keep in constant contact with each other throughout the year by means of correspondence. This correspondence will keep each official advised as to the actions taken by, and decisions made in, the respective jurisdictions. This policy has been followed to some extent by several jurisdictions during the past few years, and no doubt has resulted in a better mutual understanding of the many problems which come up. We also recommend an active weights and measures association in each State having an active department, and that an annual conference be held to be attended by weights and measures officials and all others interested in our activities. Finally, we recommend that each weights and measures official read regularly the Scale Journal Magazine and that each jurisdiction contribute news items and other interesting information to the publishers of the journal from time to time. Remember, your Committee wants also to cooperate with those jurisdictions already conducting educational programs.

Next, we come to our proposals for the education of persons connected with various industries. In our proposal and recommendation for the first year, which will be combined somewhat with the education

of the general public, we are recommending that at least six personal appearances be made by a member of the weights and measures bureau or some other capable speaker whose services they can obtain, to appear before civic clubs, business organizations, ladies' clubs, groups of school children, etc. This would mean that a personal appearance would be made every 60 days, and your Committee will have available proposed talks to be delivered upon these occasions. Our second proposal in this group is, that at least 6 newspaper articles appear in the press of the jurisdiction during the year, which, of course, would mean that only one article would necessarily appear each 2 months; the Committee will be glad to assist in the preparation of, and suggesting material for, such articles. The third and last item, which we are recommending in this group, is at least six radio broadcasts during the year, and by the same token, your Committee will have radio talks available for your use.

We well realize that this is not a very widespread program to undertake, but we thought our first recommendations along this line should be made comparatively easy to carry out; and as mentioned heretofore, in those jurisdictions where they feel that a broader program can be handled, you will find your Committee ready and anxious to cooperate in its preparation.

Your Committee feels that if uniform programs are presented throughout the Nation simultaneously, this unity of action will go a long way toward promoting our cause. We feel sure that every jurisdiction will want to cooperate with the Committee and undertake this program, beginning September 1, 1940, by which time your Committee will have all material available that will be needed and, of course, it will be definitely understood that the officials in each jurisdiction will be perfectly free to make any changes or alterations in the Committee's suggested programs that would better fit their local situation.

This Committee earnestly solicits your complete cooperation, and we sincerely hope that numerous jurisdictions will agree to carry this educational program forward. Of course, if it is impossible in your particular locality to carry out all of the suggestions which the Committee has made, then you can select those phases of the program which are possible for you to carry forward. In other words, the Committee will stand ready at all times to work with and assist the individual sealer or department in working out the proper program for his particular locality.

We must have the help of every sealer in this work, if it is to be a success, and we especially urge that all available copies of talks, radio programs, school programs, etc., be furnished the Committee in order that we may have the benefit of your experiences and in turn pass them on to others. We want to be in a position to assist any weights and measures official who calls upon us for help in any educational undertaking.

In addition to the program outlined for the several jurisdictions and individuals, your Committee recommends that we attempt to get one or more articles published in national magazines, said article or articles to be prepared not only to appeal to the consuming public, but to business executives and high public officials as well. In this manner, we would hope to impress upon more of our people the importance of

our work and the importance of having thoroughly capable and well-trained men in our weights and measures departments.

In closing, let us impress one thing upon your mind, and that is, that what this educational program amounts to depends entirely upon you, for each individual and each department will benefit from this program exactly in proportion to what they put into it. If you give it your sincere support and very best efforts, there is no question but what you will profit personally and your entire jurisdiction will profit with you. There is no doubt that the more you study your work, the more you realize its importance and the more pleasure you get out of performing your duties. Therefore, the harder you work at this interesting and important task, the more pleasure you will get out of life.

Secure one of the mimeographed copies of this report, take it home with you and study its proposals, and then let your Committee know that your jurisdiction is going to cooperate in this important undertaking.

Respectfully submitted.

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Mr. BAUCOM. I move that we accept the report of the Committee, and that we give them a rising vote of thanks for the work which they have done. I think it is a fine report, and that their proposals are excellent.

Mr. S. T. GRIFFITH. I will second that motion, and will add that I concur in the recommendation for the change in the name of the Committee.

Mr. BAUCOM. I accept that amendment of my motion.

(The motion was unanimously agreed to by a rising vote.)

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON SPECIFICATIONS AND TOLERANCES

Mr. MCBRIDE (reading):

Continued

SECTION ON VEHICLE TANKS

Add a new Regulation to be numbered 3, to read as follows:

3. The value of the smallest unit of indicated delivery on a meter used for the measurement of household deliveries of fuel oil shall not exceed 0.1 gallon.

Mr. BAUCOM. I believe that the word "retail" is better than the word "household"; I move that this change be made, and that the Regulation be then adopted.

(The motion was seconded.)

Mr. BUSSEY. As you know, tenths of gallons are not legal in all jurisdictions; however, I think binary submultiples are legal everywhere. There are certain jurisdictions which can not adopt the Regulation as written, but it has occurred to me that if "1 pint" were substituted for "0.1 gallon," the same purpose would be accomplished.

For the earlier portion of this report, see p. 97.

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