The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-11-16
WILL NOT ALLOW
CHAMBER TO DIE
Members Vote Unanimous
ly to Make it a Live
Organization
COMMITTEE TO
DETERMINE NEEDS
VIII Report Not Later than Dee. -
Members Present Express Themselves
Individually i'm Favor of Keeping Up
the Work of the Chamber.


Individually in Favor of Keeping Up
the Work of the Chamber.
That the Brattleboro Chamber of
Commerce win continue to live and do
business was decided at a meeting of
the resident members in the Chamber
headquarters in the town building last
evening, when every man present ex-
pressed himself individually and in en-
phatic terms in favor of keeping up the
organization. In fact it was apparent
that some of the members were surprised
ON receiving notices of the meeting to
learn that the organization was facing
an emergency that suggested the possi-
bility of its being given up.
\ good representation OF the member
ship was present, including many sub
stantial business men and the unanimous
opinion was that in view of the benefit
which the Chamber of Commerce had
been to the town it would be a step back
ward to allow it to CEASE to function.
w. II, Richardson of the board of
directors called the meeting to order and
Carl 5. Hopkins. acting secretary, was
placed in charge by the chairman. Mr..
Hopkins told what had been done since
the last meeting and stated the obstacles
which the directors had met in their
unsuccessful efforts to secure a president
and permanent secretary. and of their de
cision to call the meeting because of the
tiua ncial drain involved in going on with
out those officers the idea being to put
the question of the future policy of the
Chamber squarely up to the members.
Treasurer Z. A. Boyden handed the
secretary a financial report showing the
sale of some of the Chambers property
holdings, also showing a balance of over
81, 1,SO0 with no liabilities. The secretary
stated that the active membership was
t163.
! The secretary read letter from Attor-
! lney NJ. +. Maurice who was obliged to
/ be out of town. in which he mentioned
/ the great value Of the organization TO the
town and said it would be a big mistake
! to let it go out of existence. He pledged
/ himself TO do all he could to put it on
| its feet.
After some discussion it was decided
I to ask each man present to express singly
his wishes as to continuing or giving up
/ the organization. and every man ex-
pressed the hope that it would go on.
That question having been disposed of
/ II. {. Rice presented the following mo-
ton, which was carried by a unanimous
vote:
Moved: That the Board of Direc-
! tors of the Brattleboro Chamber of Com
merce are hereby instructed to appoint
/ an emergency committee of five members
( 10 investigate LhOIOughly ana report IN
detail, at a meeting of the Chamber to be
called not later than Dec. l, 1920, on the
I following propositions:
| /. What the organization has accom-
! phshed for Brattlebero since its establish
ment.
y. What definite things are there for
( the organization to try to accomplish at
the present time.
/ 3. What, if any, changes should be
made in the constitution and bylaws to
facilitate the work of the organization.
/. What amount of money is needed
annually to enable it to function properly
and adequately.
| Discussion centered upon the question
! of whether a secretary should be engaged
who could devote his entire time to the
work or whether a part-time man should
be engaged. Sentiment was divided on this
point although the ajority expressed
! themselves in favor of a full-time man.
Those taking the principal part in the
discussion were II. y. Walker, NJ c.
] HOughton. Martin Austin. George L. Dun
ham, II. c. Rice, ID. Z. Tasker and L. ID.
Taylor.
After the meeting the directors named
II. c. Rice, G. A. Boyden, NJ. G. Hough-
ton, c. s. Hopkins and w p. Frost an
emergency committee to report not later
than Dec. 1 in accordance with the above
motion.