Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1922-01-07
CHAMBER Of COMMERCE
COMMUNITY NECESSITY
Do Your Part and Don't Worry
About the Orner Fellow,
Says New Secretary
tBy Leslie X. Saunders.)

s~eO
Der or Commerce" was unknown in
community lie, apart from the lar
gest cities. In the few places where
1t did exist it was, when considered
in the light of present day accomplish
ments, more of a merchants and man
ufacturers association than a Cham
ber of Commerce.
Today there anr few towns in the
United States having a population
OF 1000, or more, that have not adop-
ted the Chamber of Commerce idea
in some form or other and evidenc-
ed their faith by maintaining organ
izations of that name or under other
designation such as Commercial
Clubs or Boards of Trade.
In general these organizations
have been of great value. In many
instances the growth and prosperity
of large cities-can be credited to
ths>successful adaptation of this idea.
Why has this movement been SO
generally successful when the older
organizations of merchants and man
ufactdrers were unavailing? With
a little thought the answer becomes
apparent. The pther organizations
were really cooperative bodies for
the benefit of members only. Their
declared object was community vel
fare but their membership being
recruited solely from the establish
ed business interest, it necessarily
followed that the individual demands
of the members were always such as
to monopolize the activities of the
association.
The Chamber of Commerce idea
has fiourished SO extensively because
it offers the means of supplying an
existing peed 1t functiohs In the
field that exists between the activi-
ties as related to the physical needs
of the entire community. It's men,
bership Is composed of men from all
walks of life, each contributing ideas
peculiar to his own station and expo
riences. The Board of Directors,
being elected by popular vote of the
membership, is generally representa-
tive of that membership and, there
fore, acts not only as a deliberative
and executive body, but is well quail
flied to act as clearing house for
ideas submitted by members. This
being the case, 1t is a frequent Oc-
currence for big developments to
grow out of the ideas submitted by
men, who, were 1t not for their Cham
ber of Commerce affiliation, would
not be able to arouse sufficient pub
lie interest or get the amount of sup
port that is necessary to be effective.
When the possibilities of an idea
have been thorough demonstrated,
1t is comparatively easy to carry 1t
to success. Men of means, whose
close application to business or their
profession causes them to be class
ed as conservative are always quick
to support anything that bears the
ear-marks Of success.
1t is therefore, apparent that a
Chamber of Commerce in order to
justify it's existence, must have the
unqualified support of the rank and
file of the community. The fullest
measure of success cannot be achiev-
1 kho nnkf fxyA orsff lott frnof inn
of the wage Garner and the salaried
man.
Joining the Chamber Of Commerce
and paying the small dues is only
a starter. Taking an active part Is
what counts. Don't complain, find
fault and knock If things don't go to
suit you. The men who freely give
of their time and abilities as officers
and directors are not mind readers" :"
II they are not getting the results
you think they should, get back OF
them and boost, then If they don't
make good" their elimination is on
ly q matter of time. If each one does
nA6 part kAOAO WAA 10 AO AOO0 w
worry about the "other fellow" The
combination of an energetic, forward
looking people and abundant natu-
raj resources cannot fail of accom-
plishment. Vision, perspective and
an abiding confidence must go hand
in hand with each development II
we are to measure up to our full
stature.
II you are a member of the Clark
Count Chamber OF Commerce. make
your ideas known, keep to the front
and get others to join. Five dollars
pays dues for six months. It will be
the best investment you ever made.
4ak. In 20 of