South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-20
GREEN TALKS To
SECRETARIES At
STATE MEETING
Local Chamber of Commerce
Head Tells How to Maintain
Democratic Organization.


~ members of that organization in
the selection OF its officers. accord
ing 20 Frank j. Green manager of
the Chamber of Commerce at South
Bend. Ind.
In an address before a joint meet
ing az the members Of tine Indiana
Commercial Secretaries association
and tho Indiana state chamber Of
commerce aerc Monday. Nlr. Green
outlined what ne believes to bc the
best way 90 obtain the best results
by chamber of commerce. lie
pointed 20 tho South Bend organi-
zation as ain illustration. Mr. Green
said:
How is it possible to secure i'm
terest OF Tho membership i'm annual
elections?
Maintain a true democracy i'm
your orea u.zatiou and permit the
memb ership through primary and
election ballot to express its choice
tor directors.
Answers Questions.
'In answering the question direct
Iy az the beginning / have in mind
Ieeping before you what to my mind
is the solution not only OF securing
interest in annual elections but in
maintaining interest throughout
The year in the organization. II in
terest is present, if your member
snir is sold on the true function OF
"a chamber YOU need not worry as
to the vote az the annual election.
Guy Eastman Trips, national fie-
IRE i'm business, in an interview, re-
Gently said. Nothing astonishes men
$50 much as common sense L believe
my answer to the question is the APP
picauon Of common sense.
You will agree that without the
membership there would be no
need of a board of directors. If this
oe true. then why not apply the
cooperative principles taught by
chambers OF commerce by enlistins
the whole membership in the choice
of directors from which officers arc
TO be chosen. Isn't is after all the
memberships organization
MY observations of chambers of
commerce both as a secretary, and
AS an outsider looking on. con-
yiuces me that too little of the spir-
it demanded is practised. Many sec
rstaries and directors of organiza-
,ious wonder at the necessity each
year 10 practically campaign their
membership 20 secure interest not
only i'm the election of directors. but
u ihe various activities of the or
ganizatiOn. The secretaries and di-
rectors preach through the columns
cot the press. through the medium
Il AZ
Iuucheons and I'm other ways, tho
necessity for cooperative effort on
the part of the membership and the
citizenship of their respective COM
munities, but fail. for the most part
10 apply these same principles with
in the organization
Gives Own Experience.
MY own experience is my best
guide Possibly In no better manner
cam / illustrate than by referring To-
The organization with which / am
now connected. In assuming the
,uanagership I found that for years
The plan of a nominating commit
Tee had been followed. The mem
1ersniD formed the opinion that
their interest in the affairs of the
organizatiou was largely that of
contributing 90 the support of the
organization and performing COM
mittee work at various times but
that they were not consulted as to
who was Co be their leaders as rep
resented los the board of directors,
that they were secondary rather
cham primary. To my mind they
Justly had taken a negligible posi-
ton toward the organization.
"It was announced that new
members of the board Of directors
to Doe elected were TO be named AS
the result of a primary nomination
and election. Ballots were prepared
for tho primary which contained The
entire roster of the organization and
to each member was mailed ball
lot on the face OF which was sc'
forth what an ideal director should
bs and what an ideal board should
Does. together with the names of those
directors whose terms expired. TIN,
result OF this procedure was "a SUR
prise; more than two-thirds of the
membership voted This was con.
.iderabfv more q ann told. thar
twice the number casting ballots ir
any previous election The number
voting in tho PRIMARY was exceeded
by the vote east ir the election.
Answers Critics.
.To answer the critics of tnis plan
who viii say that .hc Same higf
-radc dirs -tor is not procurabIc r
This manner of election. . desire q.
state uhst wc believe that Wc did
secure as rspre~sutauve ga board as