The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-01-15

the midst OF our years work, and at
a very critical time President Dur.
land was necessarily, on account OF
business affairs, taken from the city,
and Mr.. Rothe. 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, Mr.. Albert Degner, who Is very
earnest and conscientious worker for
the upbuilding 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
Of 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 where we met at the noon
hour that has proven the most sue.
Cessful 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 few statements that Il
hope will remove from the minds of
some people who have an idea, or at
least it has been rumored on the
streets, that the Commercial club d.
rectors were spending money that be-
longed to the club for their meals at
these noon sessions. have been
present at every meeting of the Com
mercial club and collected the money
from each one individually, and paid
for these meals, amounting to a total
Of $5l.75. In addition to their own
meals they have paid for visitors who
were invited when they were there
on business, $l95. 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
a
bers including the secretary. All
members of this board are men who
are holding important positions re-
ceiving 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 eXag-
gerated 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
mittee 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 240
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,
SerrptarV