The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-02-28
MAKE PLANS
TO BOOST CITY
ANNUAL MEETING OF CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE HELD.
TRUSTEES ARE ELECTED
Secretary Decker's Annual Report
Meets With Approval-Erfert Tells
How They DO Things in Missouia.
shortaTalk by Elrod.
From Wednesdays Daily.

From Wednesdays Daily.
Enthusiasm, good will and a feel
ing OF cooperation in making Billings
q bigger and greater city, prevailed
at the annual meeting OF the Billings
Chamber OF Commerce held in the
council chamber of the city hall last
night, when a new board Of trustees to
serve the ensuing year was elected
and plans for an extensive advertis-
ing campaign were discussed.
Secretary Decker's report was read
and approved by the members and "
cry speaker during the evening re-
ferred to the excellent showing made
by the organization in the report. At
the suggestion Of w. B. George a vote
Of thanks was extended to Mr.. Deck.
er for his good work.
After the reading Of the sport Aus
tin North, w. B. George and a number
Of other members made short talks
urging cooperation and push and en-
ergy on the members and especially
the trustees, all OF whom admitted
that they had been somewhat negli-
gent in giving Secretary Decker az.
~ststance and support. Mr.. George said
In his talk that the trustees as well
az the members needed to .'ginger up
II the best interests Of the chamber
of commerce are to be subserved.
Committee Elects Trustees.
Following these talks, President
O'Donnell, on motion, appointed a com
mittee of five to elect Is trustees.
Austin North, Clifton Ham, Charles
Chapple, w. B. George and Chris .Ye-
gen, were members of the committee
and they elected the following as trus-
tees: R. E. Shepherd, j. d. Lose
kamp, B. G. Shorey, R. c. Cardell, F.
G.. Keil, w. S. Garnsey, P. A. Rib, T.
M. Kehoe, E. B. Camp, DIR. W. X. Sud
duth, H. w. Rowley, Gwen F. Burla,
Clifton Ham, l.. G. Babcock and G. G.
Bever.
After the election Of the trustees
the president instructed the secretary
to notify the members of the electing
committee to meet in the near future
and elect a president, secretary, vice
president and treasurer.
F. F. Erfert, secretary of the Mis-
soula chamber Of commerce, who is in
Billings attending the horticultural
meeting was called on for a short talk
on the methods used and the progress
OF the Missoula chamber of copmerce!
and gave a talk which was very much
appreciated by the members as it con
tanned many helpful suggestions and
urged upon them the need of hearty
cooperation of everyone.
Mr.. Erfert stated that the Missoula
chamber of commerce has something
like 80 active and enthusiastic mem,
bers. He said that for many years
Missoula has admired and attempted
to follow the push and energy dis
played by Billings men and the Bill
ings Chamber Of Commerce.
Spokane system.
We have amended our bylaws and
adopted q system Of governing ou1
chamber Of commerce, which is fol
lowed by the Spokane chamber Of
commerce with great success" Mr.
Erfert continued. "The system adopt
ed in Spokane and followed by Mis-
soula is to have the chamber Of com
merce governed by an executive com
mittee OF IL members, appointed from
the various branches of business, who
meet at lunch every Tuesday and dis
cuss the affairs of the. organization
and transact the business of the cham
Der Of commerce.
THE success OF this method is at
tested by the fact that the Spokan,
chamber of commerce is n of tn,
most successful commercial bodies ii
the west and employs Sc clerks be
sides a secretary. The chamber o
commerce, there has q standing an,
an influence that is remarkable II
municipal and county affairs, in tina
it represents the wishes Of the bust
ness men and property owners.
Making Progress.
THE Missoula chamber Of CON
merce has forged ahead at a remark
able rate during the past six week
and II the progress continues at thi
rate 1t will be necessary to emplo,
two secretaries regularly instead o
one as at present.
Mr.. Erfert concluded by urging &C
operation and the spirit OF good vii
upon the members OF the local organ
ization and assured the members tina
WI ! Ell