Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-06-03


retary- Manager of the Americas anc
Sumter County Chamber of Commerce
covering the period from August 20
l1916 to April 80, 1917.
"The present Secretary is not pre-
pared to make report covering the
entire fiscal year as he was not elect
Ell to office until the 25th of August,
l1916. This report, therefore, will deal
with the period dating from his election
10 the S0th of April of the present
year.
While it can be truthfully said that
the Chamber of Commerce has in the
last seven months made some progress
il the constructive development OF
Americas and Sumter county, its activ'
tiles have been neither as varied nor
as effective as they might had the org
anization enjoyed a healthy financial
condition and the thorough co-opera
ton of its membership during all the
months covered by this report.
In his last annual report to the
membership body at the annual meet
ing held June 1896. Mr.. e. H. Hy
man, your previous secretary, showed
a deficit of $74O54.
THE present secretary, upon taking
charge of the office on August 18th.
1916. found a balance of Acc in bank
with an indebtedness amounting to
about $4,000 and the average income
insufficient to meet current expenses.
"A survey of the situation showed
the need of live civic organization in
Americas and Sumter county and upon
forming acquaintance with various bus
mess and professional men it became
apparent from their expressions that
properly organized, conservatively con-
Quoted Chamber of Commerce would
meet with the support it should have
to enable it to do the work for which
it was brought into existence. A plan
of reorganization was adopted by the
board of commissioners at meeting
held Jan. 10th, and it was decided to
put on an intensive campaign for an
increased membership on January 20,
80 and 91st. This campaign. splend
idly led by Mr.. stephen Pace and par
ticipated in by about forty men divided
into committees of three and four each
was undoubtedly the most successful
effort ever put forth in the interest of
the civic development of the city and
resulted in obtaining 267 members who
were signed for period of three years
beginning Feb. 1, 1917
AS direct result of this campaign
the Chamber of Commerce Immediately
came into an increased income that
enabled it to meet its obligations with
a greater degree of promptness than
ever before in its history and the inter
est aroused through the success of the
campaign awakened the citizens as
whole to a realization of what can be
accomplished by concerted and enthus
iastic action.
The time consumed in getting our
house in order has not left much OPP
pcrtunity to do really big things but
the present administration has some
notable accomplishments to its credit
that are of far-reaching benefit, with
out taking into consideration the rou-
tine matters that have received daily
and conscientious attention.
During September and the early
TART of October, 1916. your Secretary in
company with Mr. J. G. Oliver, District
demonstration Agent, held twenty
eight meetings in all sections of Sum
ter county in an effort to impress upon
preparation for diversifcation of crops
in order to successfully combat the boil
weeyil invasion that gave indications in
1916 u becoming serious in this section
by the fall of 1917.
nsxsa