Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-11-13

f" 41@AA<Au1 a. i0O1h14Ilo,
Elected President
William A. Somers was elected
president of the Norwich Chamber
OF Commerce, succeeding William H.
Cruickshank, at the annual meeting
OF the chamber, held Friday evening
In Buckingham Memorial. Other bus
mess transacted included the election
of vice presidents, secretary and treas.
urer, six directors to serve two years,
auditors. and the hearing of the re-
ports of officers and committees on
the results accomplished by the cham
her during the past year.
+ Report Of Past Year.
I The enthusiastic gathering was call
ed to order about o'clock by Presi-
dent CruickShank and the minutes of
the previous meeting were read by
Secretary C. W. Pearson. President
Crufckshank's report on the year
activity was as foilowS:.r
Officers and Fellow Members:
/. AT the commencement of the Cham
Der of Commerce year just now fin
ishing, in the face of the activities
which even at that time could easily
be foreseen, / felt a great reluctance
about assuming the honors of an Of
fee Con account of business RESPONSE
bilities which prohibited my getting
away as much as felt such an office
work of which would of necessity have
to be performed by my fellow officers
and directors.
As you gentlemen can recall in so
many past instances, private reluc-
ance "cuts no ice" lin goth century
language) in the Norwich Chamber of
Commerce, it is the duty of each
member to perform to the extent of
his ability every obligation he is ap-
pointed to, within the needs of the
association.
Anticipating to, small extent the
report of our secretary, it is with
pleasure that I mention at this time
some eff the activities of the. year
My pleasure is still with me, as it
is with you past presidents, of rep
reSenting our local in the state cham
Der. of standing shoulder to shoulder
with men that represent the red blood
in 40 such bodies as ours in this
commonwealth of Connecticut. of hav-
ing a voice in shaping the policies for
goth century. present day use, that
show on their very face that they
are above any personal, sectional, or
political faction.
Before coming to local topics wish
to call your attention to one matter
OF interest to every business man
and also every honest man as well.
Six years ago our local attempted
its first effort in getting better
NOIlcclIOn Dill, SO-CdlleQ, passed. we
were unsuccessful in two legislatures
but neither lost heart nor changed
our secretary, who grew more forecful
with each defeat.
Pursuant to- our orders a year ago,
our secretary on the floor of the con-
vention hall swept all opposition be-
fore him until the state association
voted to back the effort of getting the
bill through the legislature, reducing
the amount of weekly wage exempt
from attachment from SIS to SIS,
which was finally enacted into a law
last May by large majority of votes
1t is a qualification to watch the
benefits of cooperation when we look
back a year ago to the Farm Bureau
OF our county which was then less
than year old and compare the pres
ent, its second year, with it's in
creased "get-to-gether" spirit now
apparent through the oranges, county
tons, boys and girls clubs; cow test
ing associations, farm surveys. etc.
etc, under the leavening work of the
county agent and his assistants
Who can. prophesy what benefits the
coming year may see accomplished
with continuing interest of the Cham
Der of Commerce and New London
County Improvement League t-.~--e
Returning to strictly local interests
after the winters grind, the unbend
ing at the Eastern Connecticut ban
ouet, etc, it did not take long to
rally the forces to active. interest: on
a work that had been already under
taken in. nearly every other city in ouI
state, Building and Loan associa-
ton. -. " = n
In this also no one dared to prophe-
sy. in advance what favor 1t might
meet with. .
There were some indeed, if you re-
Y14ar1har Whn Y1rnnhoSind q "a lure
but our farm friends tell US that "all
signs fail in a dry time" and maybe
that will be given as an excuse for the
failure of their prophecy, for certain
it is, that the Norwich Building and
Loan association is an accomplished
fact and is now nearing the COM
mencement of it's second period, with
as interested. faithful and efficient Of
f1cers as any such association. in our
state.
L trust it will not be arraiss in a
message Of this kind to entreat every
member present who has not done SO
to look into the soundness of this as
ISOLATION for investment of savings
and the preparation for future loans
for building purposes and that you may
recommend it to your acquaintance
After the summer outing and va
cation period was past and before the
rush of receiving Christmas merchan-
disc, there remained a chance for just
one more centralized effort for the
benefit of Ola Norwich.
You are all in perfect remembrance
of the need that was presented to us
at that time and of the Norwich
Housing campaign = of the $40, 00G
pledged to make a start toward the
solution of the housing problem and
of the character of the five men elect
ed to the directorate
Their election bespeaks our conf
3ence although in its very nature. its
early development cannot be given
broadcast publicity that can be pub
slished in many undertakings before
the public, we have confidence from
the honesty and experience of the mer