The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-11-13
WHY YOU SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OONA4CA main 0POA OAC HNASA AN~N "a AAA~SA
est taken in and the paucity of energetic support
given to the BOzeman Chamber of Commerce.
Whether his brief observation here had enabled
him to form a correct opinion is not material to
this discussion. What The Courier wishes to
bring out is that chambers of ommerce as the
most outstanding representatives of the indus
trial, financial, and agricultural interests of the
communities in which they operate, should be
given, as a matter of self interest, the most
wholehearted cooperation, moral backing, and
financial support. And particularly is this true
of BOzeman.
We have just said that a chamber of commerce
is the most prominent and authoritative body re-
presenting the business activities of any city.
Lest there be some who would take issue with
US, we present a few cOrrOborative arguments.
What is a chamber of commerce? 1t is an or
ganization composed of the energetic, progressive,
remembering merchants, bankers, manufacture
ers, and producers of it's community and e~nvirons.
It's object is to advance the best interests of the
city or town in which it functions, and thereby
enormously benefit, Individually and collectively,
the residents thereof. 1t is the most practical
vehicle through which a considerable body of
business men and citizens can work for the COM
mon good.
When a business statistical agency like Dun's
or Bradstreet's, or a good banking institution, or
a corporation seeking opportunities to invest
capital wants first-hand, concise, authoritative
information about any particular city or section,
to what source does it turn? To the local chamber
of commerce, ninety-nine times in a hundred. It
is the almost invariable practice of these organ
izatiOns to depend absolutely upon data furnished
by hambers of commerce. They look upon the
local business body as being best qualified, by
reason of both location and knowledge, to give
accurate, dependable information.
Often upon the replies given by chambers of
cOmmerce to such inquiries depend, to an APP
preciable extent, the future prosperity and well
fare of the city c" town affected. If the local
body stands out as an active, furnishing repre-
sentative of the community and its business cir
cles, it makes a most favorable impression and
may draw to its city or town a sizable new in
dustry and an influx of desirable residents. But
if a chamber of commerce is just struggling along
with painfully attenuated financial resources anC
lacking the necessary spontaneous cooperation
of the business men and citizens it seeks to serve
the opposite is likely to be true.
The quality of leadership is not, generally
speaking, involved. The most brilliant business
executive and publicity man, unless backed VI
intellectually, can accomplish but little. An,
it is most remarkable how some chamber of com
merce secretaries, vouchsafed so little encourage
ment and so sadly stinted on resources, can "pU
over" as much as they do. They carry a grea
burden that hampers them at every turn. Unde
such circumstances, good results cannot be ez
pected-and the interests of the communit
suffer.
BOzeman has a chamber of commerce.
organized, practical body that stands ready t
serve BOzeman and Gallatin county in numberles
ways. 1t is this city's foremost representativ
before the public. It can, if encouraged, develope
and supported, accomplish wonderful things fl
BOzeman and vicinity, because it does not hay
to go into the realm of fiction to attract after
ton. Our resources and our advantages are {
numerous and so great that just a little mol
widespread, energetic work will sell them to IL
world.
The aforementioned Southern California ma
gave the best possible advice when he said: "SuI
port your chamber of commerce! Support it
the limit-morally and financially. It is yOl
one best bet, and if you have no other reason ths
pure selfishness, you can find no better way
serve your OWL interests. Give to it literally
your time, your knowledge, your advice, and vol
money. The dollars you put into the comma
fund will, in time, return to you multiplied
hundred times. Make your chamber Of CONNER
such an outstanding spokesman for your city tn
it viii COMMAND attention, not BEG for i
Then, and then only, win you get real, proftab
results"