Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-01-04
CLUB HAS HAD
ACTIVE YEAR

CITY AND COUNTY JOINTLY BET.
TERED BY COMMERCIAL Asso.
So CATION IN 1917.
No organization has had a more
active year and none can point to as
much started and accomplished dur
ing 1917 as the Commercial club. The
activities of the organization have
been manifold and embrace matters
of city, county, state and national
importance.
A resume Of the activities Of the
Commercial club have been compiled
for The Courier by Secretary NJ. l.
Toulme for the New Years edition.
A perusal of the following will
show that Ottumwa's biggest and
most democratic organization has
been quite active during the year:
The year just closed has been an
exceptionally busy year Of exception
ally splendid results for the CONNER
cial club for Wapello county.
First and most important, 1917 has
seen the complete proof Of the neces-
sity for community organization and OF
community organization.
Second and only less important be-
cause the Commercial club-Farm bu-
reau is considered from local instead
Of national aspect, 1917 has seen
further large advances Of the city
county plan and the consolidation Of
the successes Of past years. The actfv-
tiles in this field have won national
recognition for the Commercial club.
The success of the policies were re-
sponsible for the following editorial
comment in the current issue Of the
Iowa magazine:
"Ottumwa has developed the
most effective Commercial club in
Iowa, II we consider the conditions
which are peculiar to Iowa"
So much for the practical policy that
money and valuable energy chasing tho
pot Of gold at the end Of the rainbow
the Commercial club has surveyed
southeastern Iowa and northern Mis-
souri, and found the gold that is right
here for the developing.
DID MUCH WAR WORK.
The story Of the years work groups
itself naturally under two large heads:
1. War work.
2. Community work.
Wapello county is ready to start its
war work with the crack OF the gun.
Specifically the war work OF the Com
mercial club and the Farm bureau
with the most hearty and generous CO.
operation from the press, the church.
energetic individuals and able organi
cations, official and unofficial include:
Organization Of Red Cross chapter.
Selling Of two Liberty Loans.
Organization and handling of county
patriotic mass meetings.
Organization and handling Of re-
cruiting meetings.
Providing tent floors for visiting SOL
der guard.
Providing comforts for home units.
Providing preliminary drill for Sc
Providing community farewells to
soldiers.
Recruiting for three officers camps.
Running campaigns to increase food
production.
Running campaigns to conserve food.
Bringing county agent into county.
Bringing in war emergency home
demonstration agent for homes of
county.
Running seed corn testing cam
paigns.
Running seed corn saving cam
paign.
Running vacant lot cultivation cam
paign.
Operating free employment bureau.
Securing employment for high school
boys.
Cooperating in war garden con-
tests.
Organizing and directing Four Min
ute men,
Running home canning demonstra-
tons.
Recruiting for the U. S. public re-
serve.
Promoted children's garden contests.
Organizing travelling statesmen for
food campaign.
Maintaining weekly luncheon and
patriotic meeting.
Pushing heavier loading Of cars
Cooperating actively in practically
every patriotic undertaking.
Organising fuel saving campaign.
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
more than half. Here is the mountain
OF results that have been piled up I'M
der community work. The projects
either launched and completed in
1917 or gotten under way previously
and finished in 1917:
Farm bureau organized.
Farm bureau membership run up to
217 members.
Hotel Ottumwa completed and dedi-
Gated.
Interior cities freight case completed
q nd won.
Monthly publication established.
Wednesday lunch for members add
ed
Soil survey Of county made by gov
eminent
Free employment bureau added.
Helped entertain seven conventions.
Helped secure eleven conventions for
1918.
Established woman's bureau in farm
bureau.
Established travelling salesmen's bu-
reau.
Put live stock show and farmer, in
stitute on permanent basis.
Secured insurance survey for lower
rates.
Staged Home Products" week and
fall festival
LOCAL IMPROVEMENT
The following work has been under
taken or accomplished in 1917:
o-operated with city in clean up
Worked continuously with supervis-
ors on federal aid.
Worked with city council on build
ing ordinance.
Got publicity for city and county in
such OUbliCa tiOnS the