The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-01-15
THE NORFOLK NEwsJoURNAL FRIDAY JANUARY Is 1909

the midst OF our years work. ana AT
very critical time President Dur.
land was necessarily, on account OF
business affairs, taken from the city,
and MIR. Rothc. vice president, filled
the presidents chair but "A few months,
and the same unavoidable CirCum
stances occurred in his affairs that
took him from the city. The directors,
ON the resignation OF these officers,
placed at the head of the Commercial
club MIR Albert DcEuer, who Is a very
earnest aud conscientious worker for
the upbuildng of Norfolk, but untor
tunatcly his term of office has been
Of such short duration but little could
be accomplished in such "a short length
uf time
Another thing that has bothered the
club to some extent, was to select "A
meeting place and a time of meeting
that was best suited to the greatest
number of the club. our quarters,
while held at the Calumet rooms over
the Richards block, were very
pleasant, whore we met at the noon
hour that has proven the most sue.
Ccsslul plan Of meeting OF any yet
tried Since that time the directors
have met in the office Of the secretary,
thus saving the expense of the room
rent that had to be paid at the Calu.
met meeting place.
At this opportunity, | am DESTROYS
of making a few statements that
hope win remove from the minds Of
some people who have an idea or at
least il has been rumOrcd on the
streets. that the Commercial club d.
rcctors were spending money that be-
luugcd tn the club for their meals at
these noon sessions | have been
present at every meeting of the Com
mcrcial club and collected the money
from each one individually, and paid
for these meals, amounting to total
Of $5I75. In addition to their own
meals they have paid for visitors who
were invited when they were there
on business. Sl95 This money
had no connection whatever TO the
Commercial club fund In addition to
paying this money the Commercial
club members have held thirty regular
meetings besides a number Of special
meetings These sessions have lasted
on an average OF two hours, making
bcrs including the secretary. All
members of this board are men who
are holding important positions re-
Cciving large salaries from their firms
or businesses. and counting their time
at a normal figure, not including the
committee work. they have given to
the city in labor 5000 worth of their
time. and | believe this is not CNag
geratod in the least, and know that
during the year many times they have
been called from their business to at
tend special meetings and on com
mittCe work that meant many dollars
TO them in their own business.
Since my term as secretary, or at
the commencement of my term, there
were ninety shares paying in, and at
the height of our work during the
summer. we reached the number of 2iO
shares; since that time we have
dropped to IA shares or virtually as
it stands now, just double the shares
that we had at the commencement of
the year.
The members have been very
prompt in paying their dues, and there
is every cent paid to January. /, 1909.
Trusting that this statement will
meet your approval and thanking the
directors for their courtesy to me dur
ing the year. with kindest regards and
best wishes for the directors and the
Commercial club members, beg to re-
main, Very truly yours,
J. d. Sturgeon,