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was to get on the stock-option plan and this was indeed exclusive. Thanks to my getting on it around 1952, I was able to retire in 1963 at age 60, which would have been next to impossible otherwise.

But I'm getting ahead of my story. The Elfun Society was founded in 1928 at Association Island by Gerard Swope and one of its major objectives, as I've long been told, was to operate an investment fund for the benefit of the members. In 1928 the market was in its super-boom and things looked rosy.  Then came the collapse in 1929 and a great many of these peoples went to the cleaners. I have a vague recollection of hearing a few of them bemoan what happened many years later. I think these original offerings were called Electrical Trusts and then in 1935 when the market was definitely on its way to recovery, along came Elfun Trusts. After I got in in 1941, I began buying Elfun Trusts on a payroll deduction plan, and I have bought them at other times, so that today I have over 5,000 units which are worth around $75,000. In good itmes, it pays 8-10%, in bad times 2-3%, nothing exceptional but it is a little cushion fund we have there to back us up and the money is available anytime. Right now we are moving into I hope reasonably good times and our Elfun dividend should more than cover the cost of our winter vacation. In my long Elfun career, I was chairman of the Erie Chapter and served two years on the Administrative Committee which included a term as national treasurer. I was very active but since retirement my interest has gradually waned until I now go to few functions, much of this because of my physical condition wherein I don't see perfectly and hesitate to do much night driving particularly after having something to drink. My angina also works against me because of the weather. And then we are away a good deal. But probably the most influential thing is the fact that after 14 years of retirement, the turnover in Elfun here has been very great and when I go to a meeting now, I don't know 95% of the men there, a big majority even by sight. The same is true of the Erie Yacht Club where I was once commodore and knew everybody. But back in 1941, I desperately wanted to get into Elfun and become one of that exclusive group. I remember talking to Miss Giblin one day along about that time and she commented about some Elfun meeting that was to be held that night and I told her I wouldn't be there, I wasn't an Elfun. And she commented, "Isn't that stupid. You're one of the best men they've got." That endeared her to me and it wasn't too long after that that I was taken in at long last.

That pretty well winds up the tale of my 1941 GE experience, which I wanted to tell all in one string because it all hangs together pretty much. Now I'll switch to the personal side of my life during 1941. Unfortunately I have little to go on but I'll do the best I can. At least I think that I have the high spots.