Procrastinators' Club of America
| Formation | 1956 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Les Waas |
| Founded at | Philadelphia, PA |
| Type | Club |
| Locations |
|
Secretary-treasurer | Joseph Weiss |
The Procrastinators' Club of America is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and describes its purpose as promoting "the philosophy of relaxation through putting off until later those things that needn't be done today."[1] It was established in 1956 as a joke by Les Waas[2] who eventually registered it as a business in Philadelphia in 1966.[3] Waas remained the organization's president until at least 2011.[2] Waas also worked in advertising, where he wrote the Mister Softee jingle played by its ice cream trucks as well as more than 970 other jingles.[4]
Membership[edit]
In 1987, Waas joked the club had "about a half-million members in the United States, although only about 5,000 have gotten around to joining."[5] The club had an international membership of about 6,000 people in 1995[6] and 12,000 as of 2011.[2]
The club does not appear to have a webpage. As of 1995, members could join by sending a $20 membership fee to a Philadelphia post office box, and would receive a newsletter called "Last Month's Newsletter".[6]
Events and protests[edit]
The club crowned Beth Swinand its 1956 Miss Procrastinator in November 1957.[7][8] At the meeting, the club decided its Christmas party would be held in April, although it postponed choosing the exact date.[9]
In 1966, the club held an anti-war demonstration, against the War of 1812, with signs saying "Procrastinators protest the War of 1812!" and "Dolly Bird - Tell Pres. Madison We Want Peace!".[10] The club's newsletter announced that the protest was a success because "a treaty has now been signed."[11]
During the United States Bicentennial, the club vowed to picket the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, who cast the Liberty Bell, with signs "We got a lemon" and "What about the warranty?" The foundry told the protesters that it would be glad to replace the bell—so long as it was returned in the original packaging.[12][13]
In 1976, the club awarded the Betsy Ross Bridge in Philadelphia the "Award to Come Later" award for its long delayed opening.[14]
in 1991, the club picketed a seafood restaurant because of its early bird special.[15] Waas held a blank sign because he hadn't gotten around to writing anything on it.[15]
Lester Morton "Les" Waas, the founder of the club, died in 2016 aged 94 years.[16][17]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Kunerth, Jeff (11 March 1986). "Procrastination: It's Never Too Late To Wait". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ a b c Steel, Piers (11 March 2011). "The art of keeping up with yesterday". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "PENN File search page". PENN File. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
- ^ "Adman Waas, 94, created the ubiquitous Mister Softee jingle". Associated Press. The Roanoke Times (Roanoke, Virginia0. p. 9.
- ^ Dunn, Michael D. (March 1, 1987). "Procrastination week here again, late". The Tampa Tribune. p. 8-B.
- ^ a b Lineberry, Patricia; Watson, Pernell; Peck, Jeanne (30 August 1995). "Procrastinate? Don't Put Off Joining This Club". Daily Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "Procrastinators Pick New Queen". The Times-News (Twin-Falls, Idaho). November 14, 1957. p. 8.
- ^ "Beth Swinland is crowned". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 13, 1957. p. 43.
- ^ "Procrastinators Plan Yule Party in Spring". Associated Press. Longview Daily News (Longview, Washington). November 14, 1957. p. 17.
- ^ (10 March 1966). Club Protests War of 1812, The Lantern (Associated Press)
- ^ Sutton, Jane (21 June 1987). "Come to Think of It, You Ought to Really Read This Story Tomorrow". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
- ^ "The Liberty Bell". Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- ^ Kelly, Dennis (5 November 1982). Procrastinators attach great wait to problems, San Bernardino Sun, p. D1
- ^ (17 February 1976). Procrastinators make virtue of delay, Press-Republican (UPI)
- ^ a b Miller, Jill Young (December 16, 1991). "Too Late the Heroes". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. D1.
- ^ Perry, Richard. "Les Waas, Mister Softee’s Songwriter, Dies at 94". The New York Times. April 27, 2016.
- ^ Yang, Tia S. "Les Waas, legend in advertising, known for jingles". Philadelphia Inquirer. April 23, 2016.