NALC Home Page		 Kansas City Club of Litho & Printing House Craftsmen

Meetings

For information or to make a reservation, please call:

Bill Lantz at 816-225-3851

Boston Cincinnati Cleveland Connecticut Valley Dallas Detroit Fort Worth Grand Rapids Houston Kansas City Louisville Milwaukee Orange County Rio Grande Valley San Antonio San Francisco Twin Cities Washington, D.C.

Officers

President

Bill Lantz
6700 NW 50th Street
Parkville, MO 64151
816-225-3851

Kansas City Litho Club History

The first meeting of the Kansas City Litho Club was held May 2, 1960.

W.O. (Toby) Morgan, N.A.L.C. Coordinator was on hand to discuss the function of the organization with about 80 interested man. Al Lilja was chosen acting president and some 40 men applied for membership. On May 20, the N.A.L.C. convention accepted the Kansas City club as a full-fledged member.

The certificate of Incorporation was issued June 28, 1960. The purposes for this corporation is formed are to disseminate knowledge and information respecting lithography and the lithographic industry to members thereof and persons interested therein; to further and to advance the science and the craft of lithography and to provide a means of social contact among lithographic industry.

The Kansas City Litho Club was organized and continues to progress with cooperative effort toward:

  • The interchange of ideas in the best interests of the lithographic industry.
  • The desire to bring in educational programs, seminars and technical forums to our members and interested people within the trade.
  • The wish to promote better understanding by sharing our knowledge and effectively communicating new ideas and trends to fellow craftsmen.
  • The will to create an atmosphere of good fellowship in our social events. Our monthly meetings are the focal point for the exchange of ideas and cooperative association.

The Kansas City club grew rapidly in membership through the 1960's to a total membership of nearly 150. The N.A.L.C.'s 20th Annual Convention was hosted by the Kansas City Club in 1965. Dr. Harold Mandi, clinical psychologist with the Division of Industrial Mental Health of the Menninger Foundation, presented a program to the Litho Club delegates at the convention. Ten printing teachers in the Kansas City school system were enrolled in a 17 week course of instruction in lithographic techniques under sponsorship of the Kansas City Litho Club. At that time most printing teachers confessed a general lack of knowledge of lithography. This program was meant to familiarize enrollees with the offset printing press, basic camera and platemaking techniques. It was a testimonial to the dedication of the Litho Club.

The Kansas City Litho Club was recognized as N.A.L.C. Club of the Year in 1968. The club had a strong Junior Litho Club established with the vocational schools in the area.

The most active involvement in the N.A.L.C. of a Kansas City Litho Club member was Robert Schaeffer. Robert was the second president of the Kansas City Club in 1962. He became active in the N.A.L.C. in 1963 as head of the by-laws committee and was nominated as National Treasurer. He served as Second Vice-President, First Vice-President and in 1966 became President in Columbus, Ohio at the 21st Convention. He continued his service to the N.A.L.C. as a member of the N.A.L.C. Foundation and Advisory Board. In 1977, Robert Schaeffer was recognized as the N.A.L.C. Man of the Year.

The biggest event of each of the early years was the Christmas Dinner Dance and Installation of Officers. The attendance at the event would approach 200 people. The club had a variety of programs for the monthly meetings. A list of the best would have to include: Mother Cecilia Koehler, a retired nun from Ursuline Academy in Paola, Kansas, who had a second career as a famed graphoanalyst, Mr. Richard W. Underwood from N.A.S.A. Manned Space Center, who gave a slide presentation entitled "Photography from Manned Spacecraft" see the earth from 100 miles and from 250,000 miles, and a tour of the General Motors Assembly Plant. There were of course many more pertinent programs and tours.

The Club began a decline in the mid to late 1970's. In 1979 and 1980, the Kansas City Litho Club merged with The Kansas City Club of Printing House Craftsmen and formed The Kansas City Club of Litho and Printing House Craftsmen.

Other NALC Local Clubs

NALC Home Page
NALC Table of Contents