Social events with admission by card should fill a big gap. Since such meetings would be characterized by perfect decorum and might advantageously be opened to sincere friends as well as members of the minority, the administration of the card-issuance should not be too troublesome...

(And from a more recent letter):

It amazes me that in January, 1955, you had five hundred more members than you have today. Has any determined effort been made to diagnose the causes for this situation? Could it not be because this five hundred has been disappointed in the hope and expectation of finding some practical help? Theoretical and historical aspects of the subjects are available to anyone with opportunity and intelligence to run an index in any good library. Pleasing little poems and stories add a veneer of pretty decor, but, after all, nothing more than that.

In the meantime, the five hundred (unlike the gallant six hundred) have to ride alone, which is the tragedy of the situation. If nothing is done to ameliorate this aloneness otherwise than through a monthly printed page, where, in Heaven's name, lies the advantage of continuing the association? Frankly, I am seriously considering joining the five hundred. Mr. M. Riverside, Calif.

ASSOCIATE WANTED

for a new, small-scale, newspaper publishing venture. Experience not essential. Can you invest money, work, premises, equipment? We will print general, political, business, sporting and society news, run some advertising. Expect no profit at first, good profit eventually.

Monwell Boyfrank, Box 554, El Segundo, California.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The several letters above are samples of the many received in similar vein, year after year. We had pointed out to Mr. M. that there were five hundred more subscribers in 1955, not members, saying, "It has been our experience that the flurry of curiosity about the Magazine, which led to peak sales in 1954 and 1955 has gradually subsided to a solider status of deeply committed, working Members, and genuinely interested serious readers. ONE has never claimed to offer a direct solution to the problem of meeting people.' Neither our educational, publishing nor research programs are directed to that end, and our social service work is concerned with other objectives also.

"We are too vividly acquainted with the experience of such European groups as have attempted to cope with this method to wish to undertake it ourselves. It is our feeling that this is an individual question, involving individual choice and individual taste far too intimately to be attempted group-wise."

As to branch offices, the Corporation is not yet large enough to manage them. We neither minimize the needs nor the urgency, but it must be borne in mind that any organized activity for the homophile in U. S. (or Canada) is not yet ten years old, whereas other social institutions have been building their structures for centuries.

one

Dear One, Inc.:

For some months we have promised to check over our financial set-up to see what we could do to help you.

Now, after receiving your "One Confidential," and after reading the article entitled "To the Friends of One" by the Board of Directors, we have decided to offer some of our suggestions as answers to your problems of how to raise the much needed funds.

We unfortunately do not have well-to-do friends, but feel sure that perhaps many readers and subscribers do have, and think that the idea of an approach to them is good. If you have a good "approach" letter to offer, we might send names to you of people who might assist.

The idea of sending a personal representative to the larger cities seems like a good one, and if followed thru, we will be glad to meet him and assist here.

We do think that a drive to increase membership is good. If a person has a membership they can't help but feel the responsibility that is theirs and want to help further.

We both enjoy "One" Magazine, altho not always every article, but we feel that you are doing a wonderful job for the cause. In order that you may have more full-time help we are hereby pledging to send you $25.00 each month. Enclosed is our first check;