The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-11
in
LECISLA TI0N.
YTHEB|.0 /.
Naylor
Makes Report To
Association

OF Trade members is recommended by
Secretary r. B. NayEor in his annual
report to that organization which was
submitted at the opening session ol
the body's fourth annual convention
at the Waldo hotel Tuesday He tells
in his report OF the efforts that have
been put forth 10 increase the boards
membership and to procure sugges
tions for general work. The report is
as follows:
Wheeling, Nov. 8, 1908.
To the Members of the West Virginia
Board of Trade:
The State Board of Trade assem-.
bles in its fourth annual convention
with larger and more Representative
membership tnan ever before in It's
history, and therefore with greater
powers for usefulness to the State
and its manifold interests than It has
had since the organization in Wheel
ling in 1905. There is every reason
to believe that the State Board Will
become still larger and extend Its
work into every phase of our indus,
trial life which marks for the up
building lof the state.
During the past year our efforts
have been largely devoted to build
ing up the membership and we have
met with gratifying success. Under
the revision of the constitution made
at Elkins. the Ohio plan of admitting
Ito membership individuals, firms aud
corporations as well as commercial
organizations was adopted with !
1yfewat serestiag r1ere people in the
state Board and thereby extending
its influence and creating a larger
fund with which to do tie work.
Following up this change the sec
retary, early in the year sent out
about 500 letters to business men
bankers, firms and corporations in
viting them to Join the movement
These letters we're accompanied witt
circulars, membership blanks, ant
copies of our annual report. TIL!
plan, however, did not work we'll ant
later field agent was secured wnt
succeeded in materially increasing
the membership. At tae July meet
ing Of the Executive Council the
treasurer, Mr.. Wilson, Mr.. B1ackford
and the secretary were authorized t
employ field agents to visit the towns
PERSONAL yand solicit memberships
This idea was carried out and wa.
quite successful. There were secur
ed in ali 140 members in II different
towns, and representing about ever,
line OF business and manufacturing
in the State. There Is no doubI
whatever bu what this list can BIT
/, greatly increased by continued work
along this line
After the Elkins meeting the an
nual report was compiled and 2OOt
copies printed by the News Publish
ing Co., at a cost OF nearly $4,000
These reports were sent out to all oul
constituent bodies and also to many
cities of the country in response tc
1 inquiries about the organization and
our State.
In June letters were addressed Il
all of our constituent ami active
members inviting them to express:
their views as to the most importan,
matters which the State Beard should
take up at this meeting. These com
munications met with a gratifying re
sponse and quite number of letters
were received setting forth the writ
ers' ideas as to various subjects waict
the Board should consider Follow
ing this a meeting of the Executive
Council was held in this city on Jul,
27th, which was attended by quorum
and which took up all of these sug
gestions and referred them to the
proper committees Of the Board A,
this meeting President Fleming an
nounced his committee appointments
which were confirmed and all mem
bers notified Of their appointment ant
all chairmen informed OF the matter!
which had been referred to the respec
tive committees. The subject mos
frequently mentioned in the communi
cations was the Bulk Sales law and /;
is hoped that the organization will
be able to secure this NEEDED legisia
tton at the next session Of the Legis
lature.
The Board has shown tts interes
in River and Harbor matters by
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