This photo reminds me of something I'd forgotten about.
When I was growing up as a JW, there was a 4'x4' curtain on the wall next to the stage, but instead of there being a window behind it when you opened it, there was a tote board. They'd open the curtain and swing the board out toward the audience. On it was a record of all the literature,hours,studies conducted and meeting attendance for the year to date. There'd be an entire part in the meeting once a month where the brother would stand in front of the board and review it with the audience and they'd compare our Halls activity to the rest of the Halls in the country and remind us where our quotas were lacking.
I also remember there'd be "campaignes" for certain literature or for offering magazine subscriptions to the householders. I could never get up enough nerve to ask someone if they wanted a subscription. After all, why anyone who wasn't a Witness want to read the magazines let alone have a years subscription to them.
I remember all those nice older sisters and brothers who'd take those of us who were kids of women with unbelieving mates, out in service and would keep such careful record of our activities in the territory they'd have checked out. I saw one of those old Brothers recently (at least 80 by now) after all these years he was still at it. It was a dark foggy rainy morning and as I waoted at the light near a lone bus stop on a rural road I saw him step out of the darkness wearomg the same dark overcoat and black fedora and offer a tract to a startled terrified man who was standing alone waiting for the bus. This old brother's two kids by the way, turned out to be total train wrecks yet he is out at the crack of dawn recommending his way of life to total strangers.
I realize I have a whole lifetime of odd JW tales to tell that would mean nothing to anyone except maybe a former JW. I guess that's why I came here.
