Norwich bulletin., 1918-03-16
FAvORS THAMES VALLEY DEVELOPMENT
Chamber of Commerce Directors Unanimously Vote to Use Every Energy and Effort This Year Toward Advance ment of War Service Work and Development of Thames valIey-Q Quarterly Report 1.-the Secretary Accepted
z.aa4.a.-s---iia 7

The directors of the Norwich Cham Der of Commerce at their meeting on Friday evening voted to use every eff fort and energy this year toward the advancement of war service work and toward the development of the Thames River Valley. The meeting was one of the most interesting yet held, the majority of the directors being pres ent. One of the several important matters to come before the meeting was the quarterly report of the sec retary, Herbert R. Branche, and the report was accepted.
 In his quarterly report the secretary says:
 The fundamental basis of all Cham bers of Commerce work is service, and by such standard must it be meAs- ured. At the commencement of the second year your chamber faces the future with the consciousness of having striven to give to Norwich the past year a civic organization where an open forum for expression of thoughts on all matters of public and civic importance might find expression and committees appointed to carry for- ward the ideas so expressed to 8 prac- tical and ultimate conclusion for the
 
 of common knowledge that Chambers of Commerce are wholly devoid of power, have absolutely no authority whatever and have no command over anybody.
 With the experience taught us the first year of the chambers existence it was found necessary to inaugurate a new method of financing the associa- ton on a plan in keeping with the service the chamber was being called upon to furnish. A committee com posed of three members of the Man | ufacturers' Bureau are now engaged ! in working out a plan that when plac- ed in operation will (with the support we hope will be forthcoming from the Mercantile Bureau, tobether with in 1 dividual menaberships) provide fund ample for our present needs. It is the universal opinion of Chambers of | Commerce throughout New England l that we are selling. our services too cheaply Secretary McKibben of the Boston Chamber of Commerce stated recently before aNmeeting of the Com. mercial and Civic Executives of New l England that all dues should be uni- form. saying that man who would l pay five or six dollars for one or two l dinners thinks but little of a member 1 ship in a Chamber of Commerce that l can be had for a similar amount l In making this quarterly report your secretary feels it fitting to first bring l to your attention the numerical strength:
 Total membership 525, paid I1p mem
 bers 234. paid to July 1. 4. paid to No vember 1st, 1, in federal service &
 owing 1917 and 1918 dues ?, owing 1918 dues 276.
 1 Sixteen new members (includine eight applicatiort to be voted upor
 this evening" have been secured this quarter. | Activities of the Chamber. Chamber offered prize of $10 to Con
 necticut PonlologicaI society for best apples raised in New London coun. ty.
 | Passed resolution, copy of which wat sent to our congressman and senator in opposition to the application of tht
 zone system to second class mail mat ter.
 Voted in favor of Referendum No 23, "On a Proposal to Discriminate Against Germany in Trade After the War if Necessary for Self defense.
 Held three directors meetings. HelC . 1.-two open meetings. On Tuesday eve ming. February 26tl3, the chamber helt tits annual dinner and had as it: . guests Rev. W. A. Keefe, representins ithe Connecticut State Council of De sfense; Corporal R. Derby Holmes o
 Boston: Sergt. Arthur Gibbons o fCanada: and His Honor. Mayor Allyl L. Brown. In keeping with the time lsimplicity marked the occasion, Ia : ble decorations and elaborate mem cards being conspicuous by their ab : ;sence. The splendid success of tn : affair was attributable to the grea l amount of patriotism the atmospher : was charged with.
 Activities Underway.
 Attempt being made to locate Stat |. Farm for Women in or near Norwich VI Committees appointed by Manufac ! Iturers' and Retail Merchants Blu : reaus to look into the matter of tn 3 abandoning Of the Chelsea Line. X Have again taken up the matter 0
 Improving highway on east side 0
 iThames river from the Norwich Stat Hospital for the Insane to the sub marine base. Have secured iron Highway Commissioner Bennett an acceptance of an invitation to com before an open meeting of the cham