The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-19
PRESIDENT BUSHNElLS ADDRESS
Radical Recommendation Made by
State Association President.

state TTCSIuSHt'
President II. B. Bushnell, in his an
nual address before the state asso-
citation, said:
Gentlemen: | believe that this, our
fifth annual session, is opening with
every promise of being the success
which has been hoped for it. The
work of preparation has been accom-
plished under no small difficulties,
illustrating in this state organization,
that conditions prevail so customary
in local clubs, that this work falls to
few hands and the enthusiasm of one
year is with difficulty stretched to
the next. When the executive board
was called by personal letter to meet
to arrange the dates for this meeting,
the response on the part of the mem
bers of the committee was unanimous.
That is, not a member came to the
meeting and the problem of working
out the details of this session was
left to me. have done the best that
| could to assemble a list of topics
and speakers of more than local repu-
tation to handle them. Having done
this through individual main strength
and awkwardness ! feel entirely at
liberty to congratulate myself, that
left alone TO work out the salvation
of this session, have done better than
| dared to hope or expect when forced
to face the proposition, In the work
of preparation for this session, in
carrying out the details of publicity
and promotion, Secretary Buechler
| has been untiring in his work, taking
the program as rapidly as worked out
and putting it before the clubs Of the
state in a way to command their at
tentiOn and support And the Norfolk
committee on local arrangements,
headed by Mr.. Sturgeon, has been
aggressively at work ever since the
dates for this meeting were fixed. So,
from discOuraging outlook two
months ago, we are getting together
an enthusiastic body of business men,
and | feel confident that when the
events of this session close with the
speeches from men of both state and
national reputation tomorrow evening,
the state association of commercial
clubs will have set a new high mark
for session of interest and infOrma-
ton and the city of Norfolk will have
won new laurels as host at a most
eventful meeting.
You will pardon me if speak with
more than ordinary directness upon
the work of this association and some,
thing of the future, as 1t appeals to
me, after serving for three years as
your president. We have been build
ing in these years; moving in an
ascending climax to each of these
annual meetings, but everything has
centered in the annual meeting. The
question is, ought we to be satisfied
with working up to enthusiastic con
ditiOns once a year or is there to be
a larger and more permanent field OF
practical usefulness for this associa
ton.
Commercial clubs are growing il
numbers, growing in permanence
growing in individual work accom-
plished in difficult localities. Since
the organization of this state asso
citation we know more of each othe
land the legitimate work of CONNER
cial clubs through our mutual ac
quaintances and the publicity tina
has been given club work. | am o
the opinion that we have reached tn,
point when we are to either be salts
fed with present work, satisfied Il
hold that which we have and confin,
ourselves to the work of making thes,
annual meetings equal their prede
cessors or else we have reached tn
point of embarkation into new an
more vigorous activities along line
heretofore untouched. In my Opinion
: the time has arrived at this session I
- settle this question. Two years ag