The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-14
BOARD OF TRADE WORK
CLEARLY OUTLINED
Professor Alfred /. Smith of Tuck School,
Dartmouth College, Addressed Barre
Board of Trade at vincitia Club
Last Evening

tion and finance, Dartmouth college, be-
fore gathering of more than 100 mem
bers OF the Barre Board of Trade and
their guests in the rooms of the Nincitia
club last evening. While the speaker
stood up and clearly indicated some OF
the avenues through which success may
be attained in cooperative community
effort, the first step in the rejuvenation
of the local organization was being ae-
complished, for the audience listened
most attentvely and after Professor
Smith had concluded his remarks, there
seemed TO be a general feeling that the
very excellent suggestions received are
well worth using.
The smoke talk, for such it was, and
wholly informal, too, served to bring to-
gether some of the men who have been
the wheel horses in the Board of Trade
movement hereabouts in the past. Then,
too, the message brought by the speaker
had the effect of reawakening interest in
the organization among people who prob
ably never realized its latent possibili
ties in the past II. c. Woodruff intro
duced the speaker and after the latter
had finished, an open forum was declared
and queries concerning board of trade
methods Were freely made. Cigars were
passed around during the evening and |
after the smoke talk. a substantial buf- |
fet luncheon was served.
Professor Smith prefaeed his remarks |
with brief description of methods EN-
ployed in large chambers of commerce, I
citing several cities where community I
organizations are successfully carried on. /
In every town, he said. there are those I
who are ready to point the finger of /
seorn at board of trade, but if its
members are persistent and strive ear
nestly to follow we'll defined. lines of /
action, the organization will soon be con-
sidered as an active, digniiied community
asset Confidence win not be long in
coming to it.
There are three essentials, he said, to
the success of board of trade. The ,
first is the character of the city, not the
character of its scenery its industrial
nor yet it's commercial insti-
tutions; but rather the character of its
people. i. e.. its civic pride. The idea
that the individual owes everything to !
the group is one of the basic principles !
Of society A community can be swayed :
RS easily as a mob and any community h
organization will do well to mould pub !
lie opinion in its favor. Bitter factional .
iealousies must be eliminated. Members !
should have the proper point of view +,
md clinging ever to the motto, "We can !,
accomplish anything in this town if it is
worth while"
Officers of the board of trade must not
accept Office solely because certain
amount of honor attaches to position,
Tor should committee members accept
with the idea of being
merely fgureheads. Prompt payment of d
Iues and regular attendance at meetings e
re worthy, but they are not as impor t
ant as enthusiasm and loyalty. In a
ividual desires must be subordinated to h
he desire of the group and members Il
hould be able to Judge returns from Fl
heir organizations in something besides II
olars and cents. Better business con. 81
itions, better living conditions and bet nj
er group conditions are results that al
annot be measured by the dollar sign, re
he speaker continued. The proper atti- J.
lde of the members, therefore, consti- Sc
ltes an important second essential. ca
A firmly fixed policy is the third es- SC
initial, said Professor Smith. No organ ii
alton can be successful with hit or
liss policy any more than a vast mer- al
lntile concern in New York or Chicago Jt
IN successfully pursue the policy used ca
7 the proprietor of a crossroads gro SC
'ry In the first place the scope of the be
)ard of trade should be big enough but be
1t too big. Development along civic tn
mes, in commercial, industrial and agri- co
lltural circles would be consistently of
ught. Sectarianism and endeavors for ha
lie group alone, for example, should be er
avoided. Cooperative civic tic
ork cannot brook neglect. 1t is prime he
ctor and all members, on affiliating en-
it'll a community organization, should be
opt the "each for all and, therefore. tel
for each" attitude. The work of a
ard of trade should be continuous and MI
It seasonal. To meet monthly and do
the work at one meeting would be Cd
confess to a poor conception of the
al purpse of an organization. 1t should
Just as continuous as a store, bank
an insurance office. an
to the matter of dues, Pro- ie'
ssor Smith advocated $40 minimum ias
r town of Barre's size, with SIS a
sessment as most preferable 1t looks 'i'g )
Z, he conceded, but what can one ex-
It for S. or Ss. he asked Time and as as
ergy and loyalty are of primary i'm WI
rtance. he concluded, but money is tol
-hly important, nevertheless. Dei
First. last and all the time a board OF con
de should be cooperative, and its va
cess is measured greatly by the ac- nor
ity of its committees. Professor er
18th was a warm advocate of MONDAY sup
ehes or $3.50 o'clock suppers for leit
Ird OF trade. He emphasized the get ste
ether spirit created by such assem- Nc
IS and cited st. Johnsbury and Bel II y
$ Falls as towns where the plan has nee
rked out well. Business should be nan y
in a sense. on these occasions.
ioueh reports of achievement along stai
: line should be welcomed always. He sla'
ised securing outside speakers to dis =, nj
5 topics of immediate interest TO LOT
I'd Of trade or to deal with national can
worldwide issues. SUP
efore closing his address. the speaker Nsfi
lted ont the value Of having auxiliary 0ra'
ts in each board Of trade units de- gfai
"a to the welfare Of commercial. mer- port
tile and other lines. when the insi'
nbers Of any community organization SIDE
e grown thoroughly loyal. when their Mrs,
,nization is substantially esta ablished
grounded in the fundamentals Of