Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-09-08
MUST HAVE MEMBERS
TO PUSH THE WORK
The Board of Trade Needs
Much New Blood.
To Help 1t in the Work
of Advertising Amer
icus and the County
of Sumter.

With the first breath of cool er
weather an active committee of the
Americus Board of Trade will make a
thorough canvass of the city for new
members of that organization, with
the purpose of putting it in better IL
nancial shape to push the work Of
advertising Americas and Sumter
county, and also of infusing into It
that spirit Of enthusiasm which comes
from large membership, covering
every interest Of the city.
Thds was decided on at the meetine
Of the Board on Tuesday night. Tha
condition of local affairs was inform
ally discussed and the expression wa
general that it would be a disastrous
hing to permit tae Board Of Trade to
subside into a do-nothing organiza
ton or gradually dry up from lack Of
cooperation on the part of the citi-
zens of Americus AS never before
was felt the city needs the stAm-
alus that comes from concerted ac-
ton.
1t was tie opinion of those gather
Il at the meeting Tuesday night that
1t least fifty more members should IL
dded to the membership The enti :
proceeds from these members could
De applied to the advertising funds of
he Board and an active campaign
made during the next year.
The secretary's report submitted ai
he meeting, was as follows:
70 the Board of Trade:
Gentlemen: There las been no
-egular meeting of this body during
ne past two months. Three meetings
yerecalled, but the attendance was So
mited that no business was trausaat-
ID. 1t is not an unusual thing 70.
Boards Of Trade to practically cease
heir meetings during the hot season
many Of. their members being alb
ent and the conditions SO untavora
),e for public GATHERINGS Now thai
he fan season is mere with cooia?
Weather in prospect il the naal future
nd with business about to become ac-
We in all departments of trade, il
}ehooves those who feel an active in
crest in the affairs Of the organiza
ION to renew their efforts and by thei.
'ttendance and zeal demonstrate tha4
hey are aware of it's Importance to
he community's general interests and
iesirous to put it in a position w1el
t can accomplish much along def.
lite lines for its welfare.
While there have been no meetings
or several weeks the advertising Of
he city and county has not entirely
eased, although at the present time
Il contracts for this purpose have ex-
):red. Excellent results We're OBJ
aimed from the advertising done ii
everal papers, while from others til
esults were not such as to Justify a
continuance. 1t has been found from
,he experiments made that the best
Mediums for advertfaing along the
ines laid down for Sumter county are
le Southern agricultural papers, ana
{ 1me of the leading weekly papers with
! general circulation. From one ad-
ertisement in one agricultural paper
numerous replies were received so
letting copies of the pamphlet issu ID
" the Board of Trade and requestins
information as to lands. In every in
tance pamphlet was sent and a let.
er giving full list of the real estate
dealers Of the city. If the Board of
trade were to carry an advertisement
regularly in half dozen leading pa
9ers of this type it is a safe assertion
hat not a month would pass in which
there would not be from one hundred
70 three hundred farmers brought in.
to direct communication with this
organization and supplied with pamph-
Let's and other matter.
The finances of TIE Board of Trade.
though, did not permit of contfnu-
ance of the advertising scheme and al!
expenditures in that direction have
ceased until there is money in tina
4 easury to justify resuming it. During
the past sixty days it has been found
difficult to collect funds. many men,
bers being away and others postpon-
ing payment until fall. The member
Snip, too, is so limited that the funds
are not adequate for any heavy or con
tinued advertising. There are 113 on
the roll, but of these it is probably
safe to say not less than thirteen when
approached for the payment of dues
will refuse and drop from The organ
ization. One hundred members wiz
hardly provide $1,000 a year, the az
erage dues not being over SO a yea.
Something sholld accordingly be done
to increase the membership, if the
work that has been laid out is to Sc
carried through. The only way to
accomplish this is by means of a Wig
orously conducted campaign By a small
but thoroughly enthusiastic committee.