The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1910-01-25
1he North Dakota Retail Hardware Dealers Association

the purpose of ~anging details of
tn this convention /''ax dispose of 9th
the first and only Ia. Mz the com
mittee during the yea.>
"In lieu Of the fact tfaSonM 81.
tive committee has met but S..ssZr
not wish to imply that everythh..
been all sunshine but it does se.> /
that conditions surrounding our mem-
bers be in much better shape than
formerly, or it would have been
necessary for the committee to have
met more frequently throughout the
year.
New Members.
1T Is my impression that the men,
bership Of this association is now as
large as we can profitably make it by
using the mails to secure additional
members. I have employed this sys-
TEN diligently in the past for the pur-
pose of building up our membership
and up this year have thought It
worked out admirably, but when your
outlay for postage, printing, etc., does
not equal fees received from new
members. other ways should be con-
sidered to accomplish the results de-
sired. In several states prizes have
been offered to travelling statesmen Sc
curing the largest number of new
members throughout the year and II
no other method can be suggested, /
would recommend that a suitable
amount be appropriated to purchase
desirable gifts for statesmen turning
in the largest number of applications
for membership in our association.
Conference of State Secretaries.
you have, in all probability, read
IN the trade papers, reports of the
conference Of the secretaries of all
state hardware associations .held In
Chicago last July. regret exceed
1ngly that circumstances were such
that 1t was impossible for your sec
retary to attend this meeting as ]
consider such meetings are extreme
ly beneficial to the secretaries in car
rying out successfully the work and
objects of the association. Similar
meetings are contemplated for the fu-
ture and l believe where it is possible
arrangements should be made for
your secretary to be in attendance.
Hardware Exhibit
"As this is the first time that we,
as an association, have attempted to
conduct an exhibit in connection with
our convention, l feel that We have
been very much favored in securing
the large number of high class exhtb-
It's that we have and l further feel
that every hardware merchant in at
tendance should take advantage of the
excellent opportunity presented by de-
voting all the time possible to the ex.
htbit hall and familiarizing himself
with the many lines displayed.
In arranging the prgram for the
three days of this meeting, the com.
mittee thought best to have all busi-
ness sessions in the afternoons thus
leaving the mornings and evenings
open to visit exhibits. A program OF
amusement has been provided at the
exhibit hall in the evenings, thus com.
bintng both business and pleasure.
"1f it is thought advisable in the
future to conduct exhibits in connec.
tfon with our convention, would
recommend that consideration be civ.
en- to desirable buildings for exhibits
WHEN deciding on location for our
meetings, ais we could easily have as.
signed at least fifty per cent more
space this year If we had a BUILDING
OF greater capacity than the one we
are occupying and the expense of ar.
ranging and conducting It would have
been no greater than the present one
Hardware Mutual Insurance
II feel my report to you would he
incomplete without calling to your at
tention the Hardware Mutual Insur-
ance feature of our work.
There are eight companies organic.
ed at the present time doing business
In the following states: Minnesota
Iowa. Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Ohio
Washington, Wisconsin and the Ma
tlonal. These companies, while not
organized under the North Dakota
state laws will accept policies from
our members in good standing.
Souvenir Program
Il feel 1t my duty to again this wear
call your attention to the, souvenir
program for this convention. This
book, as well as all other former is
ouSSS "OuAu nave UcCu IutpOSSlOl0 naO
it not been for the liberal patronage
of those advertising in it. AS an as
sociation we have always endeayored
to give our patrons as near as pos
sible, full value for the money expend-
ed, but in addition to this, 1 feel as
individuals that we should show by
actual demonstration that we value
their assistance by placing our busi-
ness with them, providing all other
conditions are equal.
Changes in Program
ut is with much regret that I am
compelled to advise you that owing
to unexpected business matters, it
will be impossible for Frank Baackes.
sales manager of the American Steel
& Wire company, who was to address
us during some of our sessions, to be
with us. feel that we are very un-
fortunate in this respect as he is an
unusually bright and interesting
speaker.
Our Assisting Friends
I'VE are to be especially favored at