Canvassing for Scholarships
By E. R. PALMER
On the twentieth of September I enjoyed the privilege of attending the opening exercises at Healdsburg College. One item in the program was of special interest, and it may furnish a good suggestion to our publishing houses, schools, and conferences that are working for the upbuilding of both the publishing houses and the schools. Before the close of the school last year at Healdsburg, the Pacific Press Publishing Company, the California Conference, and Healdsburg College entered into a joint arrangement for giving scholarships for a year's schooling at Healdsburg to such students as would accomplish a certain amount of work in the canvassing field during the summer. This was the proposition: “Students from Healdsburg College who will enter the canvassing work for the summer vacation and deliver books to the value of two hundred and fifty dollars, sending in the full amount to the publishing house, will be given a year's scholarship at Healdsburg College, including all the regular expenses.” The California Conference and Pacific Press Publishing Company each gave a small per cent on all orders taken, so as to make up the full amount to the school. For a beginning the result was very satisfactory, and by this simple means the canvassing work was made very popular in the college at the opening of the term. There was hardly a failure on the part of those who undertook the work, and these young people put up the best record that has been made in California for a long time. The following is a brief summary of the work of those who obtained the scholarships:— |
HOURS |
ORDERS |
VALUE |
|---|
| H. S. Carter |
429 |
401 |
$695.20 |
| Floyd R. Moore |
460 |
287 |
$453.75 |
| Clide Raaths |
130 |
209 |
$313.50 |
| Chas. W. Fusch |
288 |
199 |
$300.75 |
| Inez Hoiland |
97 |
199 |
$259.00 |
| W. B. Findley |
not given |
|
$255.40 |
This enterprise was a success in many ways; a large number of books were distributed, six intelligent young people earned a year's schooling during the vacation, and what is still more valuable, they have been in a grand school as they have labored from house to house. It was a very refreshing experience to meet them and hear their experiences. They learned how to shake hands with a good firm grip; they have undertaken something definite, meaning perseverance and hard work, and have won; and this success will be to them a constant assurance that they can succeed at any good thing. These young people have our congratulations, our confidence, and our love, and we trust that their good work will prove a blessing to them and to the people for whom they have labored; and may not this experience prove a helpful suggestion to other publishing houses, schools, and conferences, and may not this success be an inspiration to hundreds of students who ought to undertake some good, solid work like this during the next school vacation? E. R. PALMER,
Sec. Gen. Conf. Publishing Committee.