New Britain herald., 1927-02-16
More Than Half of Money Expected From This Source Has Not Come in, Dyson Says.

A Chamber of Commerce cannot ! function unless it's members pay ] their dues. This was the gist of | the speeches at a meeting Of the mercantile bureau of the chamber last evening, in Chamber of Con- merce headquarters, when those present were told that approximately half the members have not yet paid | dues, which were payable last No Vember.
 The meeting was the first to be held in the evening. While it gave | the men more time to discuss the subjects considered, the attendance was smaller than the last meeting l held in the forenoon.
 Chairman George H. Dyson, first president of the Chamber of 1 Commerce, opened the meeting by stating that, while the men had been called together to discuss uniform closing hours, there were some other things he wanted to say in connec-
 ton with the chamber.
 "Very few men who are members of the Chamber Of Commerce" be- gan the chairman. "and very few who are not members. appreciate ! the activities of the directors of the mercantile bureau. The Chamber of Commerce is an important adjunct to any community. next to the city ! government. The New Britain Chamber of Commerce has been in existence for number of years, hav- ing merged into that organization l from the old New Britain Business Mems organization.
 We have had our ups and downs; now we are having one of our downs. This is a time when the support and backing of everybody in New Britain is needed. What Is Chamber Doing?
 "The question is often asked,
 What is the Chamber of Commerce i doing?' What do l get out of it?' You get out what you put in and no more. The activities of the chamber are varied. We have been instrumental in having ordinances | framed in the interests of the mer- chants, in keeping out fakirs. inn | posters and characters who come in to prey on merchants. particularly the little fellow.
 When fakirs come to town the 1 Chamber of Commerce looks up their record, and we have been in- lett al in IriIyiDcr Of nj fu many characters who come here to put something of a questionable na- ture over on the merchants. We expose solicitors for fake funds, ads for programs and so on too numer- ous to mention.
 There is not a man in this room who doesn't want 10 see a going | Chamber of Commerce in this city. ! Every merchant who wants to see good Chamber of Commerce should get back of it with his personal and | financial support
 Complains are coming to MT. | Benson or myself on something or another almost every day, that some- one is trying to work some sucker or other. We make no publicity of this, but it is our duty to try and prevent it,
 If merchants live up to their clause on advertising on score cards, programs etc, they would save three or four times what they pay in ! Chambe of Commerce dues. It's up 10 the mercantile bureau of the Chamber of Commerce to raise s6,000 to put the Chamber of Con- merce on first class working | budget.
 The finance committee, consisting of W. F. Atwood, S. NJ. Davidson and w. L. Hatch, went over the books of the chamber a week ago and reported that $10,000 or s12,000 is needed to put the chamber on a good substantial basis.
 1 "The manufacturers will subscribe | s4,0O0 and the banks S1,000. The