The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-01-30
COMMERCIAL CLUB
REORGANIZES

Civic League building last Thursday
evening and reorganized the CONNER
cial Club after a general discussion
of the needs and requirements of the
town. Owing to sickness We could not
be present but understand that it was
one of the most constructive and earn
est meetings for civic betterment that
has ever been held in Oroville. Those
present appeared to enter sincerely in
to the spirit of the movement and have
started out right to insure for the
town an organization possessing life
and energy.
AS forerunner of the mass meeting
of Thursday evening at a luncheon
held at the Hotel de Grubb on the pre-
ceeding Thursday a committee was ap-
pointed for the purpose of selecting
officers to serve during the ensuing
year, which was to be submitted to the
general meeting for change or approx
al. That committee was composed OF
S. b. Starertt, Jr., Geo. Bailey, Fred
Hart, w. Il. Grant and w. A. CRUDE.
At a special session of the committee
the following officers were selected:
w. B. Sexson; secretary L. B. Vim
cent; treasurer. j. A. Perry; executive
committee, Dr. d. H. Lewis, w. e.
Grant, Frank w. Taylor, j. F.. Samson
and e. Rste.
When this list of officers was pre-
sented at the meeting Thursday even
ing the report was unanimously
t1I oil, Ion n h
ed with an entirley new set of Off
cials, every gentleman on the list
worthy of the honor conferred and
ably fitted to fill the positions for
which they were selected. 1t is a
strong combination of business and
professional men who have the best in
terests of the town at heart. and who
will apply their best efforts toward
building up a larger and better Oro-
vile.
Several subjects were mentioned
and informally discussed, but the Chief
interest centered upon the decision
made to introduce the budget system
for the purpose of providing necessary
funds for carrying on such work as
the club will be called upon to handle.
Heretofore it has been the custom
when money was wanted for any par
ticular object to send out soliciting
committees. This is an unsatisfactory
system. First, because it works an un-
necessary hardship upon those select
ed to make the touch, especially as the
onerous duty generally was saddled
upon the shoulders of the same men,
and second, because there never could
be made an equitable distribution OF
the collections, as a few would re-
spond generously while others were
inclined to shirk their fair share of a
civic duty. Under the proposed budget
system the financial committee care
fully proportions and levies an annual
assessment upon each business firm,
individual and professional man, and
he is expected to cheerfully meet the
call. At first thought this may paralyze
the business man, but when he thor
oughly understands the purpose of the
assessment he will find it greatly to
his advantage We all have had exper-
ience in this matter Of repeated drives
for this, that or something else, when
we are expected to pungle and look
pleasant. One touch follows on the
footsteps of another until one feels
that he Is contracting writer's cramps
making out checks. Now, under the
budget system the harrassed business
man escapes all this financial solicita-
ton. He gets hit on the pocket once
during the year, and then he has a
long period to recover from the shock,
for the budget is intended to take care
Of all contributions expected during
the year. for such purposes as 4th oil
July celebrations, Chautauquas, enter
tainments, fairs, bands, charities, Red
Cross (except membership, Salvation
Army drives, emergency road Work,
publicity, civic improvements, educa-
tion and morals and the various other
movements that require cash packing
II will thus be seen that the budget
system is great advantage instead OF
being hardship. Moreover, the money
is only used after the purpose for
which money is needed is taken up III
. open meeting, considered from every
angle and then voted upon. 1t is pro-
posed to fix the membership fee at
nominal sum, so that all the citizens
may subscribe and become active
members.
A very enjoyable feature of the even
ing was.a lunch served by R. A. Jack
son at the close of the formal pro
ceedings, and during which a genera
discussion of the work ahead for the
club was indulged in under cloud Of
fragrant smoke, the smoke producers
being furnished the smokers by Mr.
Jackson.
1t may be added that the executive
committee met the following day, th'
n promptness showing the deep interes
the members are taking in the CLUB
and selected the various committees
n for the year. The list is not as yet com
81 pleted, except the finance committee
which was at once set to work makln'
NJ out an estimate of the amount g mon
n ey that would be needed 01"ing TN
81 wear. and establishing an equitabl
Il quota sufficient to raise the funds tha
3 the committee considers necessary
f The president will report the commit
# tees selected and present the report
# the finance committee at the meetin
81 of the club to be held at the Civi
III League building Thursday evening O
~ this week.
zN -X