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ASSOCIATIONINSIGHT Portable Sanitation Association International News BIWEEKLY EDITION APRIL 28, 2021 Page 9 The Chartering Congress and First Annual Meeting of the PSA…continued from page 8 Active members—those organizations engaged in "leasing, renting, and/or providing service for Portable Sanitation Facilities"—were required to pay both an initiation fee and flat dues based on the number of units available. Associate members—"suppliers to the industry of equipment, facilities, supplies, and services"—were charged higher annual dues than active members, but they had no initiation fee. Reminder Notice Sent Prior to Chartering Congress Between the second organizational meeting and the first Chartering Congress, the founders continued to reach out to portable sanitation companies they hoped would become involved with the new organization. A few interesting and humorous notes from these communiques were as follows: • "The Organizing Committee promises: (1) a good program (2) unusual company (3) your money's worth." • Are you curious as to the "unusual company?" • "Rates for the Congress at the Marriott Hotel—Twin Bridges are $22 per night single occupancy and $28 double occupancy and, as always, wives stay free." • Thankfully, times have changed and women in the workforce have made a profound impact on our world and in the PSAI. They are no longer "add ons." Hotel prices for PSAI events haven't changed much over the years. The 1971 rates quoted translate to $144 and $183 in today's currency. • "SPECIAL NOTE: Don't worry about the Washington Peace Marches, Sit-ins, etc. on the Chartering Congress Weekend. We have lots of them here— but always in town and downtown. The Chartering Congress takes place across the Potomac, in Virginia. COME TO THE CONGRESS." This last remark is certainly reflective of the zeitgeist of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Just a year earlier, on May 4, 1970, there was a tragedy at Kent State University when 13 unarmed students were shot (four fatally) during an anti-Vietnam War protest by National Guardsmen. During the period these notes of encouragement were going out, the PSA planning committee was probably aware that some of the largest protests to date in Washington, DC were taking place April 19–24, 1971. Another large action would begin the very same weekend as the PSA Chartering Congress. Known today as the "1971 May Day Protests," more than 40,000 protesters were in DC the night of May 1 to commemorate the Kent State deaths and demand an end to the war in Vietnam. By the end of those protests on May 5, some 12,000 people had been arrested. As far as we know, all PSA people were long gone by the time the arrests began. Chartering Congress and First Annual Meeting: April 30–May 1, 1971 After months of preparation and planning, the historic event began! Records show the "Portable Sanitation Association Organization Charter" was presented to Chairman Irvin Juster by James Low, Executive Vice President of the American Society of Association Executives. The PSAI is still a member of ASAE, so it is interesting that our association began with recognition from this important group. Representative Bella Abzug speaks to May Day protesters May 5, 1971. Continued on page 10