New Britain herald., 1925-11-09
GOULD REPORTS ON
 [. 0F [. PROGRESS
Says Live City and Live Cham-
 Der Go Together


 cisms, according 10 Secretary Ralph L. Gould, In his first annua! report to the board of directors today.
 Mir. Gould cites some of the ac- complshments of the Chamber during, the six months he has been here and during the six months prior to his coming, He points out that live communities and live Chambers Of Commerce. go hand in hand, and that where one Is not alive the other cannot function properly.
 The report follows:
 Tn every community that pro fesses 10 be alive, there exists fl commercial organization commonly known as the Chamber Of Com merce. These organizations constl- ute the medium through which the business and professional mon may work for the best interests Of the community in which they live. The immediate functions of these or ganizations are to make their re- spective communities bigger, buster and better. With such a name and motive, they are entitled to the support and cooperation of every man whose business is located in that community. The Chamber Of Commerce IS the first organization a business man should join and the last one he should resign from, and if he can afford but one, the Cham Der of Commerce is the one most entitled to his support. Every busi- ness man owes the community debt created by the fact that the community has made his business possible. The easiest, most teaslb!e and efficient manner in which this indebtedness may be liquidated is by joning the Chamber of Com- merce and giving some money 10 its membership fund, but more important some of lis time. The success of the Chamber depends upon the etXent to which It IS properly financed, and the number of constructive criticisms and sug- gestions supplied by the member ship. Money alone will not make a successful chamber. Suggestions ard criticisms alone will not ac- complish the desired results.
 Tn every live community In she United States you will find an ac- tive Chamber of Commerce, and in every unprogressive city. you will find an inactive one. IL is impos- sible for a live community 10 thrive without an active assocla- ton of the business interests. It ls also impossible for an active Cham ber of Commerce to exist in self-satisfied, unprogresslVe com- munity. The two will not mix any more than oil with water. As the progress and prosperity of every community depends upon the aoil- ity of the commercial body to func- ton properly, 1t should be the first concern of every citizen to take all active interest in the affairs of the commercial organization of hit community. The belief in this the ory requires vision -- broad Vlsion = and the influence of men and women possessing 1t and constitut' ing its membership.
 "A city is not a combination ol paved streets and brick buildings 1t is made up of three fundamenta principles: food, family and fun It's varue to the entire civilization is determined by the one fact, Car they work and play together" al a city Is made up of hearts and Il judged by the human things ac' complished by it's citizens. A clt! may bs rich in industries and ousl ness, but very poor almost pau pcrs In neighborly spirit unles those who make up the richness of industry prove as apt in th' welfare of the city. Just for mo ment, let us look back over tn years and visualize the progress 0 New Britain. Has 1t kept pace 1t should? Should not every homes person donate his bit 10 the wei fare of the community"
 AS indicated, the Chamber o Commerce Is 8 medium througI which all may work and eXpres themselves. A city, as an organiza lion, Is only as large as the me of that city make it. The bushes and professional man Is not judge solely by his financial standing' pu bv his actions at home outside O l. s professional activity. Let th coming year show a closer feellhI og fraternalism and a closer ad rcrence 10 the Golden Rule. Il turning the page Of 1925, and look ing at the page of 1926, l see upo II many opportunities 10 he or m dtvidual service, and even grea' service than extended during m yrar 1925. l am confident that th experience gamc1 through the pa; twelve months of our eNperlenc and the ten years of existence VI make 1t possible for the new on cers and directors to emorac these opportunities and enaoI New Britain to take her right plac among cities of equal size.
 Many of the accomplishment which I will outline in the folio" Ing pages of this report could nc have been accomplished but ic the whole hearted support and IT tcrcst shown through the member ship, the directors and the cor; mittees into whose hands the tasf have been delegated. The Narlo' committees have worked with
 will resulting in complete accol, nrisbments. Some oi the tasl given 10 these committees nay becn of q nature which require continuous effort, but l am com dent that the tasks so placed a in inc hands os people who ae e' tirely competent to handle 'hel and that in due timo they w bring in their reports, fulhIllng U
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