Evening star., 1952-03-09

secretary, Cyp1St SC6uOgfapner,
named Mae Parrott.
Today ''Polly" Parrot, as she
is affectionately known, is rem
dering a distinctive service to 500
member associations of the ma
ftional chamber of some $500
affiliated groups through individ-
ual memberships. Her desk is the
clearing house for queries con-
cerning the trade association de-
partment and the general coun-
lsePs Office. She has served in this
capacity with every manager of
the department since its begin
ming.
'Polly does all of the things
she should and nothing she
shouldn't" her associates say of
this essentially feminine woman,
who, with gracious, efficient cour-
tesy, helps make the wheels go
round in the mans world in which
she spends her career hours.
"She's an encyclopedia. She has
a cross-reference file in her
head" they add. Polly modestly
admits. II just have a consider
able amount of information I
intend to file on cards when /
have the time"
Wealth Of Information.
4 u
She knows where to get the
accurate, unslanted answers to
1.-THE volume of questions that are
put up to her daily with regard
to Government reports, pamphlets
and other material pertinent to
trade association work. as well
as the general counsel problems
of the Chamber of Commerce
lof the United States.
"Trade associations are an
inherent part of our American
democratic system" she told me.
"They have functioned in war and
lin peace as effective instruments
flor fostering the programs of in
dustry in the public interest.
Through them the smallest and
the largest members of an indus
TRY may work together. since
there is a trade association for
every important branch of COM
merce or industry"
During World War II well over
|, half her time was spent in refer
ring Government war agencies tc
sources of current facts and figures
regarding products manufactured
, by American industries. Severa,
: times questions even came in ad.
dressed to LIT. Comdr. Mayf1elc
Parrott.
Among the many projects Of the
trade association department, il
which Mrs. Parrott has great in.
lterest, are the circulating sets o.
loan exhibits. These emphasis
many angles Of the wide scope o!
the work. Keeping them up te
the minute is no small chore ir
ITSELF" she comedies.
Another source of satisfaction tt
her is the departments placement
!. service and its cooperation with
activities related to the training
;, and education of trade association
executives through such mediums
as Institutes at leading colleges
and universities. The annual ses-
sions at Northwestern and Yale
Universities are illustrative.
Helps on Convention.
/ She is currently helping on ac-
tivities planned for the ladies who
will accompany their husbands to
the 40th annual meeting Of the
chamber April 20 through 80.
These include Mrs. Truman's re-
|ception at the White House and
the luncheon, where speeches will
be delivered by Mrs. India Edwards
and Mrs. Clifford Mayes. leaders in
the Democratic and Republican
National Committees.
A member Of the Business and
professional Women's Club, a for
mer secretary of the Washington
Trade Executives Association and
a member of the American Public
Relations Association and Of the
American Trade Association Exec
utives, Mrs. Parrott was born
IN Auburn, N. Y, and educated at
Columbia University. Before COM
ing to the Chamber of Commerce,
she had her own public steno-
graphic business in Miami, Fla,
and in the Bahama Islands, and
was affiliated with the Tanners
Council of America in New York
City. Trade association work Of
Ifered a challenge to her.
1 In private life she is Mrs. VIII
liam M. Parrott, the wife of a
Itrafflc engineer for the Chesapeake
& Potomac Telephone Co. Their
marriage is happy one of %
years. On their Z acres sur
rounding their ranch-type home,
III