The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-02-06
BOARD OF TRADE
ANNUAL MEETING


Oyster Supper Followed by Reports Of
OGicers and Election Of. Directors
For Next Year.
About 40 members Of the Manches-
ter Vermont, Board Of Trade met at
the Orvis Cottage in the Village Tues
day evening to hold their first annual
meeting. The evening was rather
stormy and ther was not as large an
attendance as was expected but the
number present made up in enthusi-
ssm what it lacked in numbers.
II was $3.50 when the gathering sat
down to dinner, an oyster one, served
under the immediate direction OF the
boards chef. The dinner was inter-
| spehsed with popular songs. Z. n.
Swift at the piano.
| When the coffee and cigars were
produced president c. A. Rich arose
and addressed the members present
with carefully worded and excellent
ly given address which was enthusi'
astically received.
Address Of President Rich
Gentlemen
4 This is the first annual meeting OF
the Board of Trade; it means that we
have passed the first mile stone and in
q sense can get a perspective OF the
work done the past year. We COM
i menced our work under tho stress OF
war, we close it soon after the return
Of peace. With other loyal Ameri-
cans we concentrated our energies
i during the past year to win the war,
and as an organization our activity,
! in part, was necessarily along the
lines of essential war work. Never be-
j fore has there been greater opportun-
lity for men to work together, to unite,
!, to cooperate in single cause, and
now that the war is over and peace
has come it is hoped that this same
spirit of cooperation may continue
and that we may go forward together
| TO accomplish those things for the
. benefit of our town and community
Ithose things which can only be secured
,,lby men working together in harmony
! land unity. The war has demonstrated
THAT "man cannot live unto himself
, talone" and in the Board Of Trade we
, men Of Manchester have an opportun'
lity to demonstrate our public spirit
to make our town one Of the bright
+ spots in Vermont, to secure as mucf
! or more for it than is given to any
other town Of its size: we cannot pul
people into Manchester; we mus
attract them. We cannot have, tht
best of what men have elsewhere un
less we are willing to work for it ant
while we are working for these things
: we will be increasing our own capacit!
and our ability to enjoy those things
which alone are the fruits OF labor an'
: public spirit.
One year ago you vested in certain
men, as directors and officers, the re
sponsibility of the work Of the Boar'
Of Trade during this last year. w
recognized from the start that eacl
man would want to feel that he ha'
gained something as a result OF MI
, membership. We know that questions
!, Of "Has il been worth while; what ha
q the Board of Trade done or accomp
Ilished," and questions of like characte
) occur to you. We know that there ha
. been some criticism, but we have no
, been over sensitive to criticism. W
4 do not know that we can answer tn
questions. We do not come to yo
. with any apology. We feel that Ger
: tain concrete things have been ac
/. complished, and others are in tn
;, making; we have gained some expert
ence. we have met with some rebuh'
but on the whole we have met with
. hearty desire to help. To my min
Al the spirit shown by you men, you
g desire to work together, your willing
:. ness to sink your own personal AM
> mosities and sectional difficulties, an
! our own more immediate associatio
with each other has made it well wort
a. while. After all, things of bettermer
: are not alone the work Of day or
10 year. but question Of setting IN
h high mark and working everlasting
% toward it, with no power TO enforc
but the privilege to lead by shapin
$ the force of public opinion.
9, The QUESTIONABLE taken one yea
% ago indicated good roads as beng u
4 object of most desire. Through u
j efforts Of the Board Of Trade in fati
4 ering the Patrol Committee IN col
junction with other organizations
4 the State. a bill will be introduced ln'
y the legislature Of this session which
no is hoped will ultimately bring us y
h GOOD roads we so much desire. III
a. campaign in support OF this bill III
n been carried into every corner OF "
c.o.a s,,c.euatically and relentlessl