know that those who buy stock are guaranteeing the future of the Packers in Green Bay, not putting money into an old cause. It is impossible to give exact figures at any particular time as to how much the Packers are worth. This varies from day to day. But at the present time the financial picture can be stated simply as this: All bills are paid. The Packers are a going concern. The corporation has certain fixed assets, like the franchise or like equipment, but these are fixed assets and cannot be turned into cash. The corporation needs cash to expand its operations in the new era of professional football and to guarantee its continuance over a period of years…REVIEW PAST HISTORY: Perhaps the best way to describe the Packers’ need for money is by reviewing past history. The last time the corporation reorganized was back in 1933. That was in the depths of the depression. The corporation faced a crisis when a spectator won a large court settlement against the company after an accident in the bleachers at a game. And the firm the Packers carried their insurance with for such occasions went into bankruptcy. The Packers went to the people of Green Bay and raised $12,000 through the sale of stock. Before that time, stock had been issued with blocks of season tickets and no one even knew who most of the stockholders were. The old stock was wiped off the books and new stock issued to those who put up the $12,000. There are 468 shares, owned by 111 stockholders, which are outstanding today. With this capital stock the Packers have grown into one of the biggest businesses in Northeastern Wisconsin. It is a corporation which does a gross business of over $600,000 a year. It owns a franchise in the NFL. It owns thousands of dollars worth of equipment. Over five million dollars worth of business has gone through the books in the last 15 years. The big need of the corporation now is a much broader corporate base to support its activities. And that is the reason for the stock drive…EXPECT CUT IN COSTS: There is every indication that professional football will be on a much more efficient basis, now that the “war” between the two leagues is over. All operating expenses will be on a much saner level. The Packers saw the financial reserves they had built up over the years dwindle to nothing in the four years of the pro war. But through the great help of the fans in raising some $35,000 (after taxes) in the Thanksgiving Day booster game last fall, through a series of cuts in expenses the latter part of last season, and through the liquidation of the Rockwood lodge property, the Packers emerged from the “war” clear of debt and with their colors still flying. Now it is a question of financing a bigger organization with which to enter the post-war era. The fans who buy stock in this drive will be guaranteeing the future of the Packers for years to come. This last fall and now is the first time the Packers have had to go to the people for financial help since 1933, and they expect it to be the last time.

LAMBEAU WOULD PLAY CARD-PACK GAME HERE

APR 3 (Green Bay) – E.L. (Curly) Lambeau, the new head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, left Green Bay today after coming here Saturday to attend a birthday party for brother Ollie, which Curly termed a “family gathering”. Lambeau, who returned to the midwest only recently after contacting prospective Cardinal players on a tour of the east and far west, had little comment on the professional football situation in general, but said he “would like to play the Packers here in Green Bay,” and added, “I’ve got to get into that stadium again.” (Since the Packers and Cardinals were placed in separate conferences of the NFL at the Philadelphia meeting in January, the teams will not meet during the regular season and officials of both clubs have indicated they would like to arrange a non-league meeting in August or early September.)

PACKER ANSWER NO. 2: STOCK PURCHASER GETS THREE THINGS FOR HIS MONEY

APR 4 (Green Bay) - Anyone investing money in Packer stock in the forthcoming drive will get three things for his money: A voice in corporation affairs; part ownership in this great community enterprise; and that satisfaction that comes from taking part in the effort to guarantee the Packers will never leave Green Bay. In addition to that, he’ll get a decorative stock certificate he can frame for hanging in his office or place of business or in his favorite corner at home. There are some restrictions on his ownership of the corporation which are inherent in any such community enterprise. After all, the purpose of the Packer organization has always been to bring the best in football entertainment to the people of this area; and not to make money for any individuals. The founders of the Packers felt that such an idea could succeed only as a community, non-profit enterprise. That has been the secret of their success over the years, the fact that they were owned and operated mainly by the fans themselves. That was their great reserve of strength in times of need like this. No large group of fans are going to go all out in their support of an institution from which only a few are profiting. That is why Packer stock is non-profit stock. The stock sale also was carefully set up a way that control of the corporation will always remain in the hands of the real Packer fans. No one person or individual can own more than 200 of the 10,000 shares, insuring that no individual or small group of individuals can control the voting at stockholders’ meetings. A committee consisting of the corporation officers is also charged with scrutinizing each sale of stock to make certain the interests of the corporation are protected. Each share purchased will entitle the owner to one vote at stockholders’ meetings. It will make him eligible for election to the board of directors, to the executive committee, even to the presidency of the corporation. But no owner will ever reap any financial reward from his stock. No dividends can ever be paid on it. And in fact, if the corporation was ever liquidated – a possibility which no officers of the present corporation have ever contemplated – any assets which remained would go to the Sullivan-Wallen post of the American Legion for the specific purpose of a community soldiers’ memorial. The Green Bay Legion post has been in the Packer picture from the beginning. For a number of years, fans benefitted greatly from this, since they did not have to pay admission tax on their tickets. Later, the tax laws were changed, and the Packers were no longer exempt from this tax. But the main reason the Legion was in the picture is this: In setting up any non-profit corporation, you have to designate to whom the funds would go if there ever was a profit or a liquidation. The Legion was selected because of the great help its members had always given the Packers, such as serving for nothing at games as ushers and gate tenders, etc. In years in which the Packers have made money, the Legion has received a share of the profits. Other profits went into capital reserves to meet losses in bad years. But the Legion has a vested interest in the assets of the present Packer corporation. The present stockholders, who kept the Packer organization going back in 1933, when it was in receivership, also have an interest in those assets, mostly sentimental. In decided to sell new stock, the Packer organization felt it could not throw out the interests of its old friends, the Legion and its present stockholders. That is why the new stock that has been issued is identical, with the stock sold back in 1933.

HOTELS BUZZ WITH MEETINGS AS PACKER STOCK DRIVE APPROACHES

APR 4 (Green Bay) - This is the last week for organization before the big Packer stock drive in Greater Green Bay, and meetings noons and evenings are keeping Green Bay’s hotels busy. The drive will kickoff next Wednesday morning, April 12. It will be one of the most intense public solicitation efforts in the history of the city. Max Baier’s committee from the North side met Monday night to pick out their cards. That group will hold their own kickoff meeting next Monday night and plans to make about 500 calls in their area. Another group of workers also met last night with Stock Chairman L.H. Joannes and selected some 115 cards among the larger employers of the city. Darrell Lemond and Rhode Stathas are in charge of a committee which will contact all the taverns in Brown county. This group will hold its final organizational meeting Thursday noon. And another special group has been set up among the truckers and warehousemen in the city, headed by Lyle Sturgeon and Fee Klaus, both Packer alumni. They are meeting Wednesday noon…RALLY AT AUDITORIUM: The publicity and promotion committee met Monday noon under John Torinus as chairman and discussed final plans for the big public rally next Tuesday night with Chief Quarterback Verne Lewellen of the Alumni club. The rally will be held at the Central Catholic High school auditorium, starting at 8 p.m. Wilner Burke and his Packer back will lead off the program with a half-hour pep show, and then there will be a parade of Packer personalities to tell the public just what’s what about the stock drive. Speakers will include Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, Packer Coach Gene Ronzani and his assistant, Charley Brock, halfback Tony Canadeo and Packer all-time great Don Hutson, President Emil Fischer, Drive Chairman Max Murphy and the chairman of the whole stock sale, L.H. Joannes. Joannes will present a chart depicting the financial operations of the Packers for the last 15 years and will outline the history of the corporation in that period. The whole rally will end up in a question-and-answer period when fans will be invited to ask any questions still in their minds. The battery of speakers will serve as a panel of experts to give the answers. Final arrangements were also made by the publicity committee for a large scoreboard for the drive to be erected on the courthouse lawn next Monday. It will be in the shape of a football field, with a halfback moving up the field to depict the progress of the drive. The Wisconsin Public Service corporation is arranging to provide floodlights.

SIDELINE ANTICS OF CURLY MAY BE ATTRACTION AT CITY STADIUM

APR 4 (Green Bay) - The sideline antics of one E.L. (Curly) Lambeau – sometimes worth the price of admission – may be presented at City stadium next fall. The setting would be slightly altered, since Lambeau would be on the other side of the fence – the field, that is. The former head coach of the Packers and presently doing same for the Chicago Cardinals said while visiting here over the weekend that “we’d like to play the Packers next fall”. Asked where he thought the non-league game should be played, Lambeau answered: “In City stadium, of course; that’s the natural place and besides I’d like to get back there again.” Since the Packers and Cardinals play in opposite conferences, the two clubs won’t meet on a league basis next fall. Seeing Lambeau on the visitor’s side would be an odd sight, indeed, since he’s never cavorted directly in front of the north stands. By the same token, it will be unusual, indeed, to see a newcomer – this time, Gene Ronzani, the Packers’ head coach – on the south side. Anyhow, Lambeau said: “Any game announcement would have to come from the Packer management”. Ronzani recently revealed that he’d be “very much interested” in playing the Cardinals. Asked about Pat Harder, the Cardinal fullback, Lambeau said “the operation on his knee will make him a new man; he was doing knee bends eight days after surgery”. It’s interesting to recall Curly wanted to get Harder in a trade last fall for the Packers. The Cardinal said no dice. The Cardinals, incidentally, will train again at Wayland academy in Beaver Dam. “It’s only 85 miles from Green Bay,” Lambeau laughed. The conversation got around to the schedule and Lambeau drooled that the Cardinals will play three tough league games in Comiskey park – the Bears, Eagles and Browns. We reminded him that that opposition sounds plenty tough. Said Curly: “So what, tough games mean big crowds; big crowds mean big money with which to buy good players; and good players bring championships.” Fortunately, it can be added, the NFL has a little item known as the draft in which teams without ready pocket cash can get a chance at the “good” players. Big money “talked” during the recent war, but not now as far as players are concerned. While Lambeau moved out of Green Bay, the new Packer mentor, Ronzani, continued his tour of eastern schools in search of player signatures. Among the eastern athletes drafted by Green Bay are back Jack Cloud of William and Mary; end Carlton Elliott of Virginia; quarterback Arnold Galiffa of Army; guard George Mattey of Ohio State; back Don Delph of Dayton; back Herman Hering of Rutgers; and center Chuck Beatty of Penn State. En route, Ronzani will probably stop at Notre Dame to confer with Larry Coutre, the quick-opening back. Ronzani may also swing into the south and Texas for chats with quarterback Tobin Rote of Rice; Leon Manley, guard from Oklahoma; end Roger Wilson of South Carolina; Gene Lorendo, end from Georgia; center Gene Huebner of Baylor; tackle Earl (Strawberry) Rowan of Hardin-Simmons; end Ben Zaranka of Kentucky; and Ray Mallouf, the veteran quarterback who lives in Texas. Thus far, two new Packers have been announced – fullback Frank Kuzma and tackle Robert Mealey, both of Minnesota. Seven of the draft choices are participating in spring sports and can’t be touched. Ronzani’s business out east also may include a conference or two with prospective Packer assistant coaches.

PACKER ANSWER NO. 3: NEW BLOOD ON BOARD TO RESULT FROM STOCK CAMPAIGN

APR 5 (Green Bay) - An infusion of new blood among the personages on the board of directors and executive committee of the Green Bay Packers will be one of the direct results of the Packer stock sale. The membership of the present board and committee reflects the present limited stock ownership of 468 shares. Naturally, with so many stockholders coming into the fold, the new board which will be elected at the annual stockholders’ meeting in June will reflect the new list of stockholders. There are 25 members of the board of directors. At the present time, they represent the principal businesses in Green Bay which have been long-time Packer supporters, plus individuals who have been active in the corporation since it was formed. There have naturally been changes in individuals over the years, but, as a class, they continued to represent these two main elements. It is probable that several members of the new board will represent stockholders outside of Green Bay, since there has been such wide interest in the stock sale in other communities in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan…ELECTED BY DIRECTORS: The Packer executive committee is a committee of 12 elected by the board of directors from its own membership, and is designed as a smaller, more compact group which can assemble on shorter notice to handle business matters as they arise. It is a policy making body, of which the club’s officers are members. Its policies are put into effect by the club’s officers and employees. Officers of the corporation are elected by the directors. They include a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer. It is expected that Coach Gene Ronzani will be elected a vice-president so that as an officer of the corporation he will be able to sit in at league meetings. The executive committee some time ago broke down into four sub-committees to supervise various activities of the club: stadium and grounds, finance, contracts and publicity, and representation in the league. These sub-committees, too, are policy-making bodies, subject to the confirmation of the entire committee. Directors and officers receive no salary or other compensation except for the secretary-treasurer, who receives a nominal fee because of the many extra hours he must devote to that job. The new coach, Ronzani, was hired by the executive committee. It is the committee’s job to provide him with the funds with which to operate. They may outline in general the limitations on contracts he may sign with players, such as the overall payroll, but Ronzani has a free hand in the selection, training and disciplining of those players. Ronzani also was given a free hand in his choice of assistant coaches…WORK OVERLAPS AT TIMES: Business details of running the Packers are handled by President Emil R. Fischer and Secretary-Treasurer Frank J. Jonet. F.L. (Jug) Earp is in charge of publicity and promotion and is a full-time employee of the corporation. Carl Mraz handles ticket sales, assisted by another full-time employee, Earl Falk. There is a full-time stenographer in the business office. Naturally, all of their work overlaps at times, but there is close coordination between all of them. The ball players sign contacts with the corporation, but through Coach Ronzani as its agent. These contracts are standard ones for the entire NFL. Trainers and equipment make up the balance of the employees of the corporation. Of course, there are also a number of part-time workers during the season, such as additional ticket sellers and the staff to handle the crowds at games. This then is the Packer family. Each has a specific job to do in the organization. Some work at it for fun or as a civic duty, others as a full-time employment, but all are dedicated to putting the Packers on top of the heap on the gridiron.

PUBLIC RALLY TO "KICK OFF" $200,000 PACKER STOCK DRIVE

APR 5 (Green Bay) - The big kickoff in the Packers’ $200,000 stock drive is scheduled for next Tuesday night in the Central Catholic High school auditorium. And it won’t cost you a dime! The big KO has been announced as a public rally for the purpose of generating steam for the Packers’ stock campaign, which will open on all fronts the next day – Wednesday April 12. The rally is open to the public – men, women, boys, girls and the little ones, if you wish. A football program lasting between an hour and a half and two hours is being arranged. Presiding at the meeting as toastmaster will be Chief Quarterback Verne Lewellen of the Packer Alumni club. If you’re on the youngish side, it can be reminded that Lewellen ranks as the Packers’ all-time punter and one of the all-time greats in the league. The rally will open at 8 o’clock. To provide the proper atmosphere, the Packer Lumberjack band, directed by Wilner Burke, will put on a half-hour show. After the musical program, Lewellen will call on a number of speakers who will give you the complete stock picture as well as some dope on the 1950 team from the man who knows best – Head Coach Gene Ronzani…CHART TO BE SHOWN: Joining with Ronzani will be Assistant Coach Charley Brock, halfback Tony Canadeo, who will give the players’ standpoint, and Don Hutson, the immortal pass receiver. Other speakers will include Mayor Dominic Olejniczak, President Emil R. Fischer, Drive Chairman Max Murphy and the chairman of the entire stock sale, L.H. Joannes. Joannes will present a chart showing the financial operations of the Packers for the last 15 years and will outline the history of the corporation in that period. As a climax of the program, fans will be invited to get everything off their chests in a special question-and-answer period. Fans will be invited to ask any question still on their minds and the battery of speakers will serve as a panel of experts to give the answers…Drive Chairman Max Murphy can still use more workers on the Packer stock drive next week. Since he and his committee had been unable to contact everyone, volunteers will be more than welcome. Anyone interested can call the Packer ticket office, Adams 6180, or Murphy’s office, Howard 1080…STOCK STUFF: Fans can watch the progress of the drive on the courthouse lawn starting next Wednesday. A large scoreboard, in the shape of a football field, with a halfback moving up and down the field to depict the progress of the drive, will be installed there Monday. The Public Service is providing floodlights…Jug Earp, the Packer publicity chief, is busy getting stock committees together in nearby communities. He was at Shawano, Clintonville and Seymour in the space of six hours Monday night. Scores of groups throughout the city are meeting almost every day this week to get ready for the big drive.

PACKER ANSWER NO. 4: FOUR LEAGUE GAMES IN GREEN BAY 1950 EXPERIMENT

APR 6 (Green Bay) - Season tickets will be sold this year for four league games in Green Bay and two league games in Milwaukee. Shifting of one league game to Green Bay is an experimental move in answer to a demand from the fans for more games in Green Bay. It is doubtful if the Packers will ever play all of their games in Green Bay. The idea of playing some of the home games in Milwaukee started back in 1933. Two or three games in Green Bay were drawing big gates, but the others were lagging. The idea of greater seating capacity at Milwaukee and of reaching a great number of fans in southern Wisconsin was an appealing one. The Packer executives know that they are at least somewhat to blame for poor crowds in Milwaukee last year. The Packers played poor ball there the last two years, and, after all, the corporation is in the business of selling football entertainment. The corporation believes it needs the support of all of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, including Milwaukee, to stay in the league, and it believes Milwaukee fans will support the Packers there if the Packers do their part in putting on some worthwhile shows. While season tickets for 1950 Packer league games have been on sale since the first of the year, an intensive drive to sell out City stadium and State Fair park will be launched as soon as the Packer stock sale is out of the way. Season ticket sales, of course, are the financial backbone of any football club's current operations, and the Packers have always done well at selling season tickets in comparison with other clubs in the league. In 1947, they practically sold out the park, selling 20,000 season tickets for three games. The financially strong clubs in the league have traditionally been those which have a heavy season ticket sale like the Chicago Bears, Washington Redskins and Packers. No reduction in prices is offered for buying season tickets in advance. This is generally the same throughout the league. But the buyer has a preference on seats and the definite knowledge that he will be able to get into the gate for games which always sell out like the Bear game in Green Bay. He can also get the same seats the next year if he acts promptly. Carl Mraz is in charge of ticket selling under the supervision of Secretary-Treasurer Frank J. Jonet. Earl Falk is in full-time charge of the Packer ticket office in their new quarters at 349 S. Washington street. The Packers also have a downtown ticket offices in Milwaukee. The office here is open five days a week and until noon on Saturday this time of year. Anyone wishing to order season tickets can do so at any time and pay whatever he likes down. Tickets for individual Packer games next fall will not be sold until two weeks before the opening game. Prices are $2.40, $3.60 and $4.80 for single games, and $9.60, $14.40 and $19.20 for season tickets to the four games here.

PACKERS, CARDS HERE AUG. 16

APR 6 (Green Bay) - Curly Lambeau's Chicago Cardinals and Gene Ronzani's Green Bay Packers will meet in a non-league football game at City stadium in Green Bay the night of Aug. 16, it was announced today by Packer President Emil R. Fischer. The game everyone has been talking about since Lambeau moved from the head coaching job with the Packers to the Cardinals last February is expected to fill City stadium. Reduced prices over those for regular league games will prevail, with the seats being priced at one, two and three dollars, plus tax. The Wednesday night encounter will be the second on the Packers' non-league schedule, which opens with the Cleveland Browns at Toledo Saturday Aug. 12...ONLY MEETING THIS YEAR: It will be the only meeting between the Packers and Cardinals in the 1950 season since the two clubs were put in opposite conferences in the new merged NFL. The game is a "natural" all the way through. It will be the first opportunity fans in the Green Bay area will have to see the first edition of Ronzani's Packers. It will see Lambeau pacing the north side bench after 31 years on the Packers' side of the field, and it will be the first test for the powerful Cardinal team with Lambeau at the helm. "We have been working on arrangements for this game for some time," Fischer said, "and from the beginning we wanted it for Green Bay as a present to our loyal Packer fans. We think it will be the beginning of a great football bill of fare ever offered fans in this area, and we believe we will pack the stadium."