Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-13
new OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE CHAMBER
OF COM MERGE
Outlined by Representative of
the American City Bureau at
Enthusiastic Meeting Held
at Augusta HOuse-Interest-
ing Round Table Discussion
Regarding Activities of the
Organization

The trend of the times as it af-
fects Chamber of Commerce activi-
ties nationwide was discussed in d
mastery address given before a
meeting of the members Of the Au-
gusta Chamber Of Commerce held
Tuesday evening at the Augusta
house, the speaker being ". j. Don
aid, Phi. D., of the American City
Bureau, New York, who is passing
few days in the city during the an
nual stock-taking campaign Of the
Augusta organization. 1t was
splendid meeting with large at
tendance of both women and men
and it gave the members the unusual
opportunity of hearing the Augusta
Chamber of Commerce and~its work
sized up by an outsider. a man who
is making study of the work of this
organization all over the country.
This has been a very busy period
for the Augusta Chamber of Com
merce as ali will agree who have
read the preliminary report cover
ing it's first nine months (June %,
1920, to March 81, 1920. which has
just been issued by the secretary,
George c. Clarke Much has been
accomplished during the initial per-
iod of the organization, and it was
especially pleasing to hear Mr.. Don
aid of the American City Bureau
state that in his opinion the local
Chamber has made excellent pro-
gress in the past year. Mr.. Donald
comes to the city to look over the
work of the organization during the
past year and to make suggestions
for the continuance of the work, and
ing was filled with valuable pointers
and was appreciated by all.
The get-together was presided
over by President Myron Mr. Davis
of the Augusta Chamber. After a
sumptuous dinner had been served in
the dining room of the hotel, he
called the meeting to order He re-
ferred to the preliminary report OF
the organization as an answer to the
questions as to what the Chamber
has actually done. He then intro
duced the speaker of the evening,
Mr.. Donald.
in the country were described briefly
by Mr. Donald in opening his ad-
dress He stated that people here in
the North can hardly conceive of the
economic conditions in the South
where it seems as il many of the
people have lost heart. He spoke
Of the ne vera as one in which peo-
pie are demanding an opportunity
to express themselves. During the
war the peoples minds We're made
up others and the people were not
given the opportunity of freedom of
action and thought, but now the.sit-
uation is changed and the people are
looking for a reaction from the war
time period.
The Chamber of Commerce needs to
recognize the current spirit Of the
times and make use Of 1t, he pointed
out. Tie spoke OF this as construc-
tive period and he said that this means
TO the Chamber of Commerce that it
must turn it's attention to better meth
DDS of community participation. ) AS
a method and suggestion he referred
to An interest group meeting. the get
together of all the people interested IN
any particular project. An example
Of this liz the meeting to be held Thurs
dayevening on the subject of good
roads.
Speaking Of the Augusta Chamber of
Commerce. he said that he had looked
over the program Of it's activities and
thought that the organization has
made great progress in the past year.
Az a rule. he said, any Chamber Of
-Cnu,rnerca does NOT have a his record