Outstanding Local Voluntary Organizations in the 1960s: Their Distinguishing Characteristics

This study compares two samples of voluntary organizations drawn from Mas sachusetts cities and towns: a sample of 45 outstanding organizations and a sample of 52 average organizations. The two types of organizations are similar on several dimensions such as age, membership size, basic structure, formalization, annual budget, net worth, permanent office space, annual dues rate, regular newsletter, annual conventions, yearly elections, uninvolvement in public policy issues, mem bers' length of time in the organization, and interorganizational relations. Out standing organizations are, however, distinguished by higher selfratings of prestige, higher average member education and income, being part of a larger state or national organization, more active member participation, more meetings per year, more types of sociability and entertainment activities, fewer cliques, less conflict among leaders, more use of membership cards, lower apathy, more significant role in decision making of both leaders and rank-and-file members, more committees, more likely to have a residency requirement for membership, and more selectivity of membership.