New Britain herald., 1922-09-07
MORE PEP WANTED
 IN LOCAL CHAMBER American City Bureau to En-
 deaYOr to ReSuSCitate Outfit sasy 1atDsary. - m. llUE NEEUEU
Proposed Plan Is to Get at Least 1000 Members at . Rate of $25 Per Year-Educational Campaign Part of Method.


 At a meeting of the board o1 directors of the Chamber of Com. merce held immediately following the joint meeting with the Rotary club this afternoon, 1t was decided unanimously to enter into a contract with the American City Bureau, Inc. to put new life into the local cham. Der. The American City Bureau. business is that of reviving apathetic Chambers of Commerce and putting them on their feet 80 that they car be of more service to the commit nifty and at the same time materially increase their income.
 City Has Been Surveyed.
 The directors met for dinner al the New Britain Club last evening at which time they were addressed by Howard Strong. of Chicago. who rep resented the American City Bureau. The bureau has made a survey of this city and is satisfied that upwards of 1000 memberships at s25 each can be secured.
 Terms offered by MT. Strong were 50 liberal that every director present was unanimously in favor of entering into the agreement. Leon A. Sprague, president of the Rotary Club and a director and former secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, frankly stat ed that up to this time he has per- sistently opposed entering into an agreement with any outside help, but now has come to realize that the ex- pert assistance of the American City Bureau is vitally necessary.
 Through All Agencies.
 The American City Bureau would work through the schools. through the Americanization department, through the lodges. churches and other agencies. The most important and least realized agency is that of the women of the community, ac- ccrding to MT. Strong. "The women members of a Chamber of Commerce are among its greatest asset" he said. They are the best workers and the most persistent. They will come early, stay through the meet ing, go out on a job and bring home the bacon to far greater extent than the men. phey are better city housekeapGi ,san,e as they are better home hosAkk- epers.
 .xS Service.
 The Chanbet of Commerce is sold to prospective members by the bureau on the basis of mans op> to pay the debt he owes ifs community and not on the Itrergth of what it can do for him. With 1000 members in New Britain, Nr. Strong predicts under the bureau ystem to have 300 members in Lctual committee work at the end of he first year. The campaign would ast from 10 to 12 weeks, with a fol- ow up advisory service for three ears.
 What the bureau has done in some | ities was shown by Mir. Strong when e cited Terre Haute, Indiana, a city f 65,ooo people. The Chamber of Commerce there now has an annual ncome of s47 ,ooo. since the bureau ut 1t on its feet.
 Racine Wisconsin, with 55.- % people, has an annual income. for three years, of s65,- %. Holyoke, Massachusetts. with o,ooo people has an annual income uaranteed for three years of s26,- %.
 Wide Scope of Service
 In speaking of what a Chamber of , ommerce can do for its city, Mir. trong said, There is nothing that ew Britain needs that has not been btained for some town by its Cham er of Commerce. A portion of the contract provides ,r an agreement by the American [ ity Bureau to stimulate in the people |, New Britain, by means of an edu- ltional campaign, a greater apprecia- on of their obligations as citizens and
 their opportunities for constructive , leadership and effective , rvice through a modern civic-com- <, ercia organization. [ To organize and direct a campaign .-
 increase the membership and in- :. ,me of the Chamber of Commerce r period of three years, said cam lign to be based upon dues for s25 1T membership per year. Some of the things the American ty Bureau agrees to do are:--
 (Continued on Page Fourteen).