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ORGANIZATION MEETING 10:45 A.M, Saturday, April 4, 1956

L. W. St. John called the meeting to order and gave a brief summary
of facts relative to developments prior to the calling of this meet-
ing. He suggested that he had’ invited the N.C.A.A., the National
Federation, the Canadian 1.C.A,A., the Canadian A.A.U., the A.A.U.
and the Y.M.C.A. to send representatives to this meeting as follows:
eight representatives in addition to the chairman and editor from
the N.C.A.A., four from the National Federation, one from each of
the Canadian groups, two from the A.A,U. and two from the Y.M.C.A.
The first four groups had indicated a desire to cooperate on this
basis in the formulation of playing rules and had sent representa-
tives. The A.A.U. and Y.M.C.A. organizations had expressed unwill-
ingness to participate on the proposed terms.

Mr. St. John appointed the following nominating committee to draw
up a slate of officers: William McK, Barber, Chairman, J. H.
Crocker, W, E, Meanwell and H, A, Swaffield.

Motion: Tower -- Crisp: That Dr, John Brown, Geo, Hepbron and A, HE,
Metzdorf be elected to the newly organized committee as members at
large or in some similar capacity in recognition of their long service
to the various basketball organizations. This motion was discussed
by various members of thé committee and a substitute motion was pro-
posed by Mr. Salmon, Mr, Crisp withdrew his second to the original
motion and seconded the following substitute motion: "That due to

the long and faithful service to the game of basketball that Dr.
Brown, Mr. Hepbron and Mr. Metzdorf be offered honorary membership

on the present basketball committee." This motion was carried.

The nominating committee withdrew and Mr, St. John made some com-
ments. He said in part: "I am appealing to you gentlemen to
function unselfishly in matters pertaining to the rules. You must
forget your particular immediate affiliations and think of all of the
groups that are affected by the type of game which will be required
according to the rules you set up. You must think in broader terms
than merely for the team in which you are personally interested, You
must act for the best interests of the game of basketball. In this
basketball rules committee we are trying to secure harmony between
all the: groups that are affected and to this end we desire as
members, men who view the game from a broad angle and who represent
all types of organizations that are vitally interested in the de-
velopment of the game, The basketball coach is not always a good
rules committee member. He often has a tendency to view the game
from how a given rule will affect his own coaching and his own bas-
ketball system. His views are often colored by the effect on his
prospects for next year. He becomes a valuable member only when he
is able to control his individual point of view. In this committee
we are attempting to preserve a proper balance by having representa-
tives who view the game from all angles and by dealing with the

game as it is played across the country. We hope basketball legis-
lation will be influenced most by the effect it will have on player
welfare. We must also consider the spectator angle and the prob-
lems of administration from the standpoint of the official and of
men who manage the games in schools and other organizations. We must
also seek to standardize and simplify the problems of the coach."