Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
A. A. A. MEMBERSHIP REACHES
NEW RECORD AT END OF 1928
Motor Clubs Are Shaping Into
Agencies of World
Travel.
5000 Official Emergency
Service Stations Are
Designated.
BY ERNEST N. SMITH.

| ia EnANLS1 Ne oIAI
General Manager, American Automobile
Association.
On December 81, 1923, the number OF
motor clubs affiliated with the Ameri-
can Automobile Association throughout
the United States, Canada and Uncle
Sans inSular possessions had reached
a new high-water mark of l,065. The
roll call of clubs as of December 81
! 1927, stood at $50.
Thus it will be seen that in the Il
months period lis new A. A. A. motor
clubs were established in as many COM
munities along the highways of travel
| This growth in motor club organiza-
| ton meant more than the mere pro-
viding of modern automobile and tour
| ing services to these communities II
meant the strengthening of the entire
A. A. A. service chain. since many OF
the newly created units constitute much
| needed links at pivotal and strategic
| points. It also reflected in striking
| fashion growing demand on the part
OF the car-owning public for these vital
service agencies.
Measures Up to Tests.
The test of the vitality of the motor
club movement, however, is not to be
| found either in the number of clubs or
In the number Of members, but, rather
in the character and the quality of the
service they give and in the extent to
which they respond to the needs of this
| motor age and meet the demands of the
| public. There were several outstanding
developments in 1923 that afforded con-
elusive proof that the A. A. A. motor
| club is measuring up to this test. Let
| me attempt brief standardization OF
| these developments.
We all realize that the touring and
travel horizon of the average American
is constantly expanding. His touring
/ objective today, and more so tomorrow
. is just where his fancy and his pocket
book takes him. More and more the
world is becoming his vaAtion play
ground. Every modern development
tends to accelerate this widening of
horizons. In response to this, our motor
clubs have ceased to be merely local
| or even national agencies. They are
fast shaping themselves into agencies
OF world travel, handling practically
all the modern travel problems of the
member from ocean or even air trans
portation to that of circulation of his
car abroad and the providing of motor
ing services for him in foreign lands.
| 1t is, therefore, significant that one OF
eAAS 0A6 0NNOAAlR1Aok6IlS1lLS Vi bklC wear
IN the motor club field was the extern
| sion OF the foreign facilities and serv-
ices OF the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION and its State and local af-
flliations.
Basis Is Standardized.
Service is the watchword of Ameri-
can business today. There is no sub
Stitute for quality and dependability
in service. The truth Of this is par
ticularly apparent in the matter of
travel, where poor or inaccurate infor-
nation may spoil the vacation to which
the family has eagerly looked forward
Tor months and perhaps years. Our
motor clubs have met. this demand by
placing their services oif~a Nationwide
standardized basis, reciprocaiSin charac-
ter, and the same in Boston, buffalo
Chicago and San FranciSco--whereye
in fact the members pereginations may
take him. AS a result Of the public
| recognition and demand for this brand
| OF quality service, So per cent of the
active motor clubs in the United States
today are now operating under the
| A. A. A. emblem
Our motor clubs are fully alive to
the importance Of the principle that
| any institution serving the public must
constantly expand and perfect its facil-
tiles and the commodities 1t dispenSes
That they have taken the principle to
heart was amply demonstrated In the
expansion and perfection Of old services
ana the launching Of new ones in 1928.
In addition to all this, the motor
clubs IN the past - months have ac-
compuShed much to consolidate their
position as semi-public utilities, which
are now spending large part OF
their resources in the promotion of
! civic enterprises and community well
fare in general.
Service Underlying Purpose.
AS I have pointed out. service has
been and continues the underlying pur-
pose OF motor club work. We aim not
only to band motorists together for
their mutual protection and welfare,
put we are always committed to give
them service. The American Automo-
| bile Association, therefore, has devel-
oped into great national and interna-
tional service organization, NUMBERING
IN its ranks not only those who appre.
ciate It's efforts In fostering road expan-
sion. fair taxation and constructive leg
islation. but also those who recognize
the organization as one which offers
a variety of personal service that is in
valuable from the standpoint of all who
want to get the maximum benefit and
| pleasure out of car ownership.
| TO carry into effect its service OBJ
1ectlve. the American Automobile AS
ISOLATION has designated 5000 official
emergency service stations They COM
prise about is per cent of the number
| In the entire country, and are selected
after careful investigation of their
standing and equipment These ire
mendous service facilities are placed
without charge at the disposal OF the
most OF motorists carrying the Ameri-
can Automobile Association emblem. Tc
others they are available at a slight
charge, which is always small In COM
parlSon to the value and dependability
OF the facilities offered.
Because We believe firmly In givine
our membership service when and where
they need it most; there has been greai
deal OF thought given to the expansion
OF the emergency road service. AL.
ways there has been the trend toward
broader service and Standardization
OF these services on a NATIONWIDE
scale: 1t is the demand for this par.
tlcular service by the motor cavalcadf
OF the Nation that has led scores o.
cities In the last IL months to give
the A. A.. A.. the first place in their
telephone books.
But it is not only when he is II
trouble that the club stands ready IL
aid him, though he may appreciates i
sincerely then. When his car is run
ming in fine shape and a distant coun
try calls to him in alluring fashion. h,
has his motor clubs touring and trave
information service to which he ma,
go for advice about the trip. And WI
do not consider our job completed wher
we have handed the member a map OF
a tour book. This is only the point a
which the service begins. We are pre-
pared, In addition, to tell him what HI
can or should see while on his tour
the points of scenic. historic or recrea.
tional interest. Alternate routes ar,
suggested. In short, we endeavor Il
go beyond the mere indication of tn,
roads and their condition and to offer {
real travel service.