The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-07-10
ANNUAL MEETING
 OF AD CLUB HELD Primary SystemAdopted for
 Election of Officers sPARROW'S ADDRESS
President Reviews Work of the First Year and Predicts Bright Future for Organization With Con-
 tinued Co-Operation


 Birmingham Ad club was held last night in the Chamber of Commerce building. John A. Sparrow was in the chair and J. K. Sterne. in the absence of the secre- tary, filled that office.
 Last night was the first anniversary of the club and the regular business be- fore the club was the formal adoption of a constitution and bylaws. The con stitution provided for election of offf- cers by the primary system-all candi- dates coming before the club and the two men receiving the highest number of votes to be recognized candidates at the general election to occur at the next reg ular monthly meeting. The primary will occur at a meeting of the club to be called by the president for next week.
 Following is the anniversary address delivered by President John A. Spar row:
 "The Birmingham Ad club was organ ized on the evening of July 1T, 1911, In the room in which this meeting Is be- ing held. Consequently the meeting to- night is the annual meeting of the body.
 "A brief review of the past F months will show that we have accomplished mueh and that the club has reason to feel proud of the place which it has made for itself among the live organiza- tions of this city.
 For the first three months of its exist ence the club was apparently in a pas sive state. but the work of organization was quietly going on. The usefulness of tho club to the community began with the creation of the protection commit tee. about the middle vr September. This committee went resolutely to work to stamp out fake advertising in Birming- ham, and 1t has unduestlonably saved the advertisers of this community many thousands Of dollars. During the com ing year 1t is believed the work of this committee will be still more effective.
 'The weekly luncheons of the club were inaugurated a little later and have proved very successful. At times the attend ance has exceeded the capacity of the room in which the luncheons are being held and 1t Is quite probable we shall either have to enlarge our present quar- ters or seek new ones. Prominent bus mess men of the city are guests at these luncheons and almost invariably express themselves as we'll repaid for the at tendance On one occasion we had the Honorable Maurice Francis Eagan, the United States minister to Denmark with us and gentleman who travelled for nearly POO miles with Mir. Eagan says he talked more about the Ad club than any thing else he had come in contact with in Birmingham. I merely cite this to show the impression made by our lunch cons upon visitors
 We have recently made the luncheons of more practical benefit by devoting a portion of the time to q study of the educational course mapped out by the National Association of Advertising clubs The papers read on topics suggested by the educational course and the discus sons which follow are always interest ing, not only 10 professional ad-writers, but to the lay members of the club. The value of these luncheons cannot be overestimated. They are now perma- nent feature of our club work.
 "As the details of our municipal ad- yertising campaign fin Dallas are still so fresh in the minds of the membership of this club, and also of the people of Birmingham, shall not refer to 1t ex- cept to say that now, after all the bright hues have faded and our achievement stands out in the cold light of the past, we can continue to congratulate ourselves on what we did. At Dallas we did not hesitate 10 sacrifice our interests as a club for the advancement of our city. We put Birmingham first in everything. and are proud that we had sufficient breadth of view to do so. Our experi- ence at Dallas should enable us to do things for Birmingham on a larger scale whenever the opportunity presents it. self
 '1n the matter of social, entertainments the club has sustained the prestige of tho dinner n (ia I Haverty of Atlanta. our entertainment of MT. E. St. Elmo Lewis. and our grid iron dinner to the Atlanta and Montgom- cry clubs on the night of our departure for Dallas were All creditable functions, and have raised the club in the estima- ton of our guests. Having justified our existence and made our standing in the community sure by our work for the city, it is now our duty to enter upon wider field of usefulness to our membership. We can do this by careful study of the educational course. Twelve months hence the efficiency of advertising in Blrmng- ham should be much greater than It is today, and will be, If we work earnestly and inteligently. While thus centering on study, we should neglect no oppor- tunity to assist in civic movements in which our technical knowledge can be useful.
 During the first year of our existence our board of directors has had to act in many emergencies. Results have usual ly justified them, but we have now reached the period when such procedure Is no longer necessary or justifiable. The success of the club depends upon the preservation of the spirit of democracy, and the recognition of the rights of all members. The adoption of the consti- tuition. which will be submitted during the course of the evening, with the amend ments that will be offered should place the club upon an excellent working basis.
 'In conclusion I wish to say that the success of the Birmingham Ad club dem onstrates the power of the cooperative spirit. The credit for what has been done is not due to a few officers, but to the club as a whole.
 "The record of the club for It's first year should inspire us to greater effort, and I believe l am safe in predicting bril- liant and successful year ahead of us
 We will now proceed to business"
 At the regular Tuesday midday lunch con, following the study programme, w. A. Simms made an interesting talk on "Advertising by Cities and Communities. 1"