Milford chronicle., 1926-12-03
DISCUSSES MLLFORD'S NEW
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

smith, Harry Mulholland, c. D. Holz-
mueller and G. Layton Grier.
At the time of the meetings and
through personal solicitation there
have been secured 20 civic member
ships and 127 commercial. The pied
ges for subscriptions amount to S3,-
375, of which $645 has been collect
ed, leaving a balance of $2,73000 to
be collected. 1t has been the policy
so far to deposit all checks made
upon the First National Bank in the
First National Bank 10 the credit of
the organization, and checks made
on the Milford Trust Company in the
Milford Trust Company to the credit
of the organization.
AS a suggestion to the organiza-
tiOn, l am of the opinion that we
should work under the following
plan: A president, three Yice-presi-
dents, one from Milford, one from
rural Sussex, Glendale or Lincoln,
and one from Houston, secretary
and a treasurer. These six officers
should constitute an executive COM
mittee to whom all matters of impor-
tance should be referred not only
for the correct management of the
chamber, but to assist in working
out plans for the work which a
Chamber of Commerce should do for
the betterment of the community.
l am also of the opinion that great
care should be exercised in the ap-
pointing of committees, and so as to
eliminate as many mistakes as pos
sible, when it is suggested upon the
floor that a committee be appointed
it should be the duty of the president
to name only the chairman of the
committee. The appointed chairman
then will meet with the executive
board and they together to select
the balance of his committee. In this
way the chairman of a committee
will not only have time TO think, but
will be in a position to confer with
the executive board as to the selec-
| tiOn of the best men for his commit
tee with whom he is to work.
l am of the opinion that we should
be careful in fixing our standing
committees at this time. In other
words, l believe we should not name
| permanent committees beyond those
which will suggest: Bylaws, mem
| bership, civic and advertising and
publicity committee. These four COM
mittees should outline the work OF
the organization and at our next
meeting the executive board, with
! these committees, would be in a pO-
sition to offer suggestions at the
meeting for further committees
| should it be deemed advisable to APP
! point them.
/ 1t is a well known fact that there
| are but few successful Chambers OF
| Commerce without a paid secretary
/ There should and will be sufficient
work for a paid secretary with Wis
/ ion and a constructive mind, and il
/ such a person is obtained, our sue
cess is more greatly insured through
/ such an officer. Nearly all the sub
/ scriptions which have been obtained
were obtained upon the statement
that sufficient funds would be col
| lected to not only finance the cham
ber's operation, but for the employ
ment of such an officer. 1 believe
that our greatest safety lies in OBJ
| tanning a secretary who is not res
ident of this community and, if pos
sible, one who has had training in
/ secretariaI work. This organization
should go on record as to it's ap-
proval of engaging such a person
and if it is approved, the matter
should be referred to the executive
committee for action.
1t has been asked at times how
much 1t would require to successful
ly operate a Milford Chamber oi
Commerce. The amount is depend
ent upon your recommendations, but
as minimum amount, I cannot be-
lieve that a chamber can operate fol
less than $4,000 to $4,000. The fixed
charges will no doubt be as follows
A trained secretary, not less thar
$4,000 and it may be we will have tC
pay $2500. Office rent not less thar
$100; Office equipment $500; station
cry and postage 5000; booklets $500;
incidental and contingent expenses
$780, two signs which will become q
permanent expense $500. So that
believe our membership committee
should work to the end of obtaining
pledges to the amount of $4,000 pei
annum.
Let me, before closing, give you
this thought:
The future success of this organi-
Zation is dependent upon each indi.
vidual membership taking an active
interest III the work to be done by it
We should become boosters of oul
chamber and the activities of oul
community, and as business men we
should work together to one end
which is, the building of, the future
betterment of, and the advancement
of our communities interests. 1t car
only be accomplished through the
concerted action of such men as are
enrolled upon the membership Of
this organization. Do not let's become
discouraged if the results are not OBJ.
tanned as promptly as we think
they should. Let's lay a firm foun.
dation upon which to build our com.
munity through this organization
and do not let's do anything spectac.
ular merely to create an impress.
sion that we are accomplishing
something. Such movement as we
are now engaged in cannot be {
spectacular movement. The develop
ment must be through consistent
thinking out Of plans and seeing
that those plans are properly ex,
ecuted.
m ~.