The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1908-01-10
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
Review Of the Year by President Burn
ham,

Review Of the Year by President Burn
ham.
Possibly as we are each of us en-
giving the major portion of our time
to our individual success, we are apt
to think that as a city we have not
accomplished much, that progress has
not been as prominent as it should
have been, yet like the individual, who
takes an invoice, or makes compare
tive statements, when we stop and
take an invoice of the improvements
and new enterprises which have be-
come a part of the commonwealth dur
ing the past year, we find after all
that we have done "tolerably well.
This can be called "invoice time" for
our Commercial club
| am very glad to see so good a rep
resentation of Norfolk's business men
out this evening; it is encouraging to
see an interest, and no doubt it will
act as an incentive to your newly elect
ed directors to push the work of COM
mercial progress yet harder in the
to accomplish anything for the general
public. The least that can be accord
ed to the men who act as directors of
commercial club is to give them
credit for at least trying to advance
the welfare of the community. They
very often give their time to the meet
ngs of the board at a practical sacri-
flee of their own immediate, individual
interests, yet with a knowledge that
every citizen should, when called upon,
do his part towards the upbuilding of
the city, they willingly do it, if there
is at least measure of appreciation
of their efforts. BY this l do not mean
that it would be possible to do all
things in so perfect a manner that no
fault can be found, nor do l mean that
it will even under that condition be
possible to please every one, nor do |
/ mean to convey the idea that 1t Is
necessary to praise all acts Of the
board, but do mean that credit should
be given for what has been accom-
plished and loyal support and COM
ment be given to them so that one
large harmonious body can work in
unison for a larger and better town
We may differ as to the manner of ac-
complishing this end, but am conf
dent that any member of the club will
at any time find willing listener
among the board for any project that
he may have that will advance the
welfare of our growing city. Think
this over, gentlemen, and see if each
of you have done your share in as.
sisting the board during the past year
and see if after taking stock you do
not find that you possibly have been
taking the easiest side of it, finding
fault" All of us are apt to console
ourselves after having elected our rep
resentatives, we have then done all
that is necessary. 1t is not so far from
good resolution day" to make new
resolve" and do not break it, but let
it be, Resolved, that |, individually,
will bring to the attention of the di-
rectors of this club any idea that l
may have that might be to the advant-
age of this city, and if l do not do so
IL
doing nothing"
At the time of organization of the
present board it was decided to hold
regular meetings on each Tuesday
morning, and with very few excep-
lions these meetings have been held
Every person coming before us with
any proposition has received courteous
treatment and in every case where the
project was for the general good of
the city has received favorable consid-
Grafton. At these meetings the score.
tary brings to the attention of the
board anything that has come to his
| knowledge by correspondence or 9TH
erwise, and makes suggestions as to
what he thinks should be done, as
does each member of the board. From
this policy came the five thousand cir.
culars advertising the industries of
| Norfolk and her wants as to others.
The printing and distribution of eight
hundred badges to decorate our citi-
zens who attended the fall festivities
of the surrounding towns, affording a
positive proof that our citizens had
paid them fraternal call, and yelling
an invitation for them TO return the
same when we were keeping open
house, The making of seventy-five
commercial travellers members OF the
club, who are now doing their share
towards the upbuilding Of Norfolk, by