LEO BERG, head of the park and recreation board, explains details of the proposed recreational complex at the David Christiansen home, 1000 Center Street. Seated at left are Fran Powell and Clara Brecht, neighborhood project coordinator. Mrs. Powell is one of 50 “key” persons in the city assisting in the planning of the more than 70 informational meetings prior to the bond election Tuesday. (Photo by Steve Konls)

If the bond issue on the proposed recreation complex passes Tuesday, much of the credit probably should go to Clara Brecht.

Mrs. Brecht helped coordinate a series of almost round-the-clock informational meetings, part of an organized campaign in support of the complex.

A total of 70 such informal meetings will be held before Tuesday’s election.

MRS. BRECHT volunteered to coordinate the meetings along with Mrs. Gerald (Bonnie) Ubl, Mrs. Robert Halvorson and Mrs. Robert French. The city was divided int0 57 areas with a “key” person designated in each area.

The “key” persons in turn contacted hostesses in each section who agreed to open their homes to about 8 to 10 neighbors for an hour to hear details of the complex. The sessions often went well beyond the planned hour-long period.

One of several city and school officials usually was a guest at the coffees, presenting information on the proposed community recreational-physical education center.

Speakers included councilmen Harold Hippert and John Mowan, recreation commission head Leo Berg, City Manager Richard Salvati, City Recreation Director Larry Kobs, school board member Jay Marti, supt. T. R. Olson and Mayor Carl Wyczawski.

“WE’RE NOT trying to sell anything,” Mrs. Brecht said,describing the small neighborhood get togethers.

Mrs. Brecht said the meetings are designed to provide a casual and informal setting for the presentation of facts and statistics on the proposed recreational center.

The meetings focus on the proposed $3.73 million facility to be put to a vote Tuesday by New Ulm residents.

The city will pay about 62.2 per cent of the cost and the school district 37.8 per cent.

SOME COMMENTS at the neighborhood meetings have been unfavorable towards the recreation center but in most cases,Mrs. Brecht explained,guests have presented their views with good manners.

There have been two public hearings where opponents could vocalize their opposition.

When asked if opponents were excluded from the coffee, she said,“We don’t want to embarrass the hostess who has opened her home to neighbors. We don’t want fights or heated arguments.”

In soliciting key people in the sections to host neighborhood parties, Mrs. Brecht said, there were some polite turndowns. All in all, though, she thought the response was excellent.

MRS. BRECHT is not aware of any organized opposition to the complex. Since she is not in the public eye and is a relative newcomer to New Ulm, she surmises she might not hear very many opposing points of view.

Some people might be just too polite to disagree with her,she pointed out.

A weekend telephone campaign to call persons who at-tended the neighborhood parties and remind them to vote is in the planning stage, she said. But, Mrs. Brecht added, “Someone else will have to organize that.”

MRS. BRECHT moved to New Ulm from Edina about a year and a half ago with her husband, Charles, owner of the Gibson pharmacy.

The Brechts have a son, Charles, a sophomore at St. John’s University in Collegeville, and a daughter, Mary, a freshman at St. Olaf’s in Northfield and also a New Ulm High School graduate.

In Edina, Mrs. Brecht helped organize an election campaign for a school board candidate and also worked as a liaison person for the school board in a bond issue there. The bond issue passed the second time.

She also was active in civic affairs in Minnesota Lake, her husband’s home town, where the Brechts lived before moving to Edina.

“A CAMPAIGN like this takes a lot of hard work,” she said,and she credited her co-workers and the key section people for the program’s success.

“The secret in organizing is getting the right people to work with you,” she said.

What are the chances for the bond issue passing in Tuesday’s vote?

“I’m an optimist,” said Mrs. Brecht, and I think it’ll go.”

New Ulm Daily Journal

Feb. 7, 1975