The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-06-04
BROWNS ANNUAL
REPORT IS WELL
WORTH READING
SECRETARY OF BOARD OF COM
MERCETAKES UP REVIEW OF
THINGS FOR BETTERMENT

MEhOE NlAhES Of hEvlEW OF
THINGS FOR BETTERMENT
Tht following is the report of Sec.
b. +. Brown as read at the annual
meeting of the Board of Commerce
recently.
We do not know whether it has been
customary for the secretary of this
commercial body to make report at
its annual meeting. Certainly it will
not be out of place for me to refer to
some of the accomplishments of our
community during the past year and
possibly outline a part of the work
we would like to see completed in
the months ahead.
We realize that much effort and
energy directed toward civic and COM
munity betterment must go unrecog-
nized and unrewarded but we believe
it would be well if we establish the
custom of setting forth annually to
our membership and our citizens a
brief summary of the activities under
taken by the members Of the Board
of Commence during the year pre-
ceeding.
We all recognize the fact that every
man who joins this association does so
with firm belief in the community
in WHICH we live and desires to i'm
prove its conditions without regard
to, or thought of, any monetary gains.
We should, however be able to declare
dividend, and it seems to me that
the record of our achievements in To-
cal and civic mattrs must show in
greater community dividends that are
credit to our organization and a
source cf qualification to every indi-
vidual in our fair city
AS members of this organization
and as a community we have proved
splendid example of unselfish parti-
cipation in any and all work which we
have been called upon to do during the
months we were at war. None of the
material accomplishments which we
might have carried through to success
sful completion could possibly compare
to the real dividends resulting from
that greater investment of service to
mankind which we have all given un-
selfishly.
The Board of Commerce is the agen-
cy through which public spirited men
make their investment in the cooper
alton enterprise knows as "Belding,
Bigger and Better" The membership
dues constitute but a fraction Of that.
! Investment, it is the thoudht the
loyalty, the faith, the mental and NOR
al force of strong unselfish men that
lconstitute the greater investment. on
(which real community dividends ac-
lcrue. What we may accomplish, you
I may rest assured is for the general
good Of the citizenship and I believe
I can safely say that there is not an
intelligent man in Belding who does
J.. not sense the snirit of good will, of
courage, of optimism. of progress:
the spirit of butual confidence and
united purpose which this Board of
Commerce has engendered in this
communitv and among its own MEM
bers. This, if nothing more, is an
accomplishment worth while.
The Red Cross had a larger and
more complete organization than any
other body and the splendid results
show, as result of this organization.
Much individual credit is due Mr..
Leonard and Miss Florence Washburn
who gave unstintingly of their own
time with only one thought in mind;
to accomplish all of the work Belding
was asked TO do. In saying this We
do not overlook that grand body of
|. women who responded so nobly every
time they were called upon for Red
Cross work, whether it was in getting
, funds or making the various articles
, which were needed abroad The gen.
/ erations to come will read with pride
the record of the important part which
, the mothers, wives and sisters of this
> community played in the great war.
Referring to the financial part Of
| the war program it is certainly mat
ter of great pride to every citizen of
, Belding that we should have proved
| ourselves 100 per cent American, par
II ticularly when it came to giving money
{. outright for the Red Cross and War
: Charities Drives. 1t is of special
credit that these funds were so great
' ly over-subscribed, proving without a
E doubt that we were behind the boys
e over there.
I All of these successes have been a
) striking illustration of how war brings
! out the good in people and charity
4 toward our fellew men has been
!. brought out to degree unknown in
the history of our country.
a In addition to our community
!. achievements the Board of Commerce
Y was continually called into effective
a cooperation with the many govern
< ment organizations in the various new
t phases of governmental and patriotic
1 service. In fact we believe we could
safely say that two-thirds of our IA.
cilities and time were adapted to war
needs and we are still being called up,
on to supply data to various depart
ments of the United States govern.
q ment These requests are a striking
q example Of why cities should organize
: for the Government seems To naturally