name, the Visa. The number of members grew; activity increased, and even the women joined in with a group of their own.

For a short time the director of Visa's program was O. Mäki, but in 1912 Halkola was still leading the men's group and Oscar Sundell was also engaged to direct both men's and women's groups, and he remained with them until 1927. Work-outs were held regularly, and program presentations became more frequent, and as the organization's fame grew, membership mounted. During the winters activity tended to be less, because many of the men were out of town on winter jobs, but in the summers there was always a heightened tempo, especially after the move to the Workers' Opera in 1916, at which time many younger, American-born Finns began to join the organization. With athletic activities growing in importance in other communities as well, it became possible to arrange a competitive sports program, and out of this grew an organization sponsored by the Visa, the Midwestern Workers' Gymnastic and Athletic League. The league sponsored several large festivals and meets and arranged training programs, with the first session for coaches held in 1925. For years, however, Visa continued to hold its pre-eminent position, and its membership continued to grow further. Soon a special section for children was started, with Hilja Sundell serving successfully as its director.

In its most flourishing period the League counted over a thousand members, and whenever they all marched briskly down a city street in their white uniforms, to the music of bands, and with the Stars and Stripes and the flag of the socialists carried before them, they were an inspiring sight. But in spite of all this success, dissension appeared within the Visa, too. In 1927, political differences made all the members resign and join the newly founded Finnish American Athletic Club.

The FAAC had been founded that same year, 1927, and began its activities with a flourish. It had no shortage of leaders, with Oscar Sundell in charge of physical fitness programs and women's and boys' activities, Kust Joki leading the men, and Hilja Sundell in charge of the girls' activities. Classes were held Tuesday and Friday evenings and Sunday mornings, and as the biggest club in the region, an average of 200 active members attended the various practise sessions.

In addition, the FAAC also had its own basketball team, also started in 1927, with Jack D. Salo as its coach. In its firs` year of competition, the team won 17 out of 22 games, and the team's success continued to grow : in 1929 it won the New Year's

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