The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-06-09
B. of C..

10 live. this award is presented by
the Ypsilanti Board OF Commerce,
dated June S, 1915" The certih-
cate OF award is signed by Don
Silkworth, president. and Paul In
grodt. secretary.
Retiring President D. NJ. Silk.
worth said. And | want 10 say to
you. Ed. that when your name was
suggested for the award the com
mittee instantly and unanimously
selected you"
Retiring President Silkworth in
reading his report on the work OF
the Board for the year said:
THE year just passing has been
full OF headaches" the retiring
president said. The Board OF
Commerce has been doing construc-
tive work. and is looking toward
the future. The investments OF our
citizens in factories must be given
consideration. We certainly want
all industries to be operating at
the close OF the war.
TWO years ago under the leader
ship OF owen ]. Cleary, this organi-
zation prepared for the countless
demands that preparation for war
was bound 10 bring at this time,
II was defense activity, but now,
it is war activity.
"Our secretary has been active
as secretary to the Local War Coun-
Gil, under the Craftsmanship OF
Mayor Bower. This job has been
handled with great deal OF saw
ing 10 the taxpayers OF this city.
Problems OF afraid protection,
Salvage campaigns, future conser-
walton, and other numerous mat.
tiers have been handled in the same
office.
"Our Office has developed into
an information bureau, which is
visited by countless individuals
each day. We have made an earn
est effort to interpret government
regulations for the business peo-
pie and the consuming public. One
person alone could be employed
to do nothing but handle this work,
but It has been handled with no
added expense to our membership.
Retailers OF our city operating
under the name OF Retail Affairs
Committee use the Chamber OF
Commerce office for their activities.
Notnble among these activities
was the campaign which organized
the retailers in an effort to sell
War Bonds and Stamps. This has
been accomplished with a result
that average sales are running well
above $4,000 per month.
THE study OF parking meters
was begun by the Board Of Com
merce Committee and city officials
more than three years ago. Credit
for this project should also go to
the Junior Chamber OF Commerce,
who assisted in advocating meter
installation
"A Church Director has been Is
sued and made available through
all the churches in our city, without
cost to the churches.
Last falls War Chest and Com
munity Fund campaign took form,
and was pushed to successful con-
clusion, with headquarters, at the
Board OF Commerce. This was
done without outside assistance.
The secretary is also the Com
munity Fund secretary. and the
Board OF Commerce received a
monthly fee for this service.
Industry members have been
meeting approximately once each
month. and most OF these meet
ings have been in the form OF
clinics. to study governmental re-
gulations.
Through Joint efforts OF our or
ganization. and the mayor, we
we're successful in the establishing
OF local rationing board Office in
Ypsilanti.
Your Board OF Commerce assist
ed in conferences with recreational
officials, whereby attention was
brought to mind for the need for
comprehensive plan on recrea-
ton. A generous budget has been
allowed for recreation b ythe city
council.
Our new Municipal Affairs Com
mittee with chairman, Fred Green
street, has studied the problems of
revising the assessment roll, so
that il will be more equitable, and
will furnish a solid foundation for
tax basis needed to meet the
expansion OF our schools and city
departments. This new assess
ment should most certainly be com
pleted by men who are trained to
do this job. Let's insist on this
by all means.
THE Ypsilanti City Hospital Is
now under construction. Your local
Board OF Commerce was instru-
mental in bringing this need TO
city officials attention.
"The question OF what type OF a
city do we want Is the real prob
lem for those, whose responsibility
will be TO study this question.
DO we want TO be a large city?
Do we need a new charter? What
about a new airport and air trans
portation? Can we plan so as 10
control our future TO some extent.
These are questions for us to think
OF as programs OF activity in
looking ahead. Let's try to all
think unselfishly OF our future and
our Childrens future. The Board
OF Commerce, as such, is the prop
er place to bring all good ideas
along this line together for CO
ordinating and boiling down.
81 wish to state for myself, and
all directors, that our relationship
with city officials has been a real
delight. Broad welfare OF the city
has been our mutual interest. Our
desire has been to be cooperative
and helpful throughout the year.
ssrLaui--x a. n~do- a. 1,,-