Page 21 - Past Presidents' Club Book 1

The N ational Supply and Machinery D ealers’ Association

Association will be beneficial to all the members, and we hope
we may succeed in Increasing that number during the coming
year. I know that we have found in some instances it has bene­
fited our business during the past year. I don’t know anything
else T can say. (Applause).

P r e sid e n t S t r o n g : We all know M r. Puchta can talk, so
we will call upon him.

M r. P u c h t a : Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen: I haven’t
any more loving cups to present, but will take up just a few
minutes of your time.
In regard to our Association and what we are trying to do:
Like every organization that is new. this one must go through the
transitory stage, but I believe that the growth and stability of this
organization, in the first year of its existence, has been greater and
more helpful than any organization of a similar character that
it has been my pleasure to know anything about, and I believe
that those members who have followed the work of this organ­
ization as I have tried to do, will agree with me in that statement.
This is not a sentimental proposition at all. It is, of course,
in so far as getting acquainted with our competitors and our man­
ufacturers that we buy goods from, and I might say about ten
per cent is sentiment and ninety per cent is business. I do believe
that if we will co-operate ancl hold together on the line that we
have started, there is not a member of this organization that will
regret in a verv few vears the time and money he has devoted to
o
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make it a success.
Now, like everything that is new, we must not expect too
much from the beginning. I believe, however, that we have been
well paid in results for the short time that we have been in exist­
ence, and I firmly believe that the seed which has been sown in
the vear gone by is going to bring us some good crops for this year.
All we want is co-operation and earnestness.
Just one word on that line, where 1 believe we can help our
organization, and do more good than anything I know of, and J.
want to make a suggestion in regard to local organizations, i
speak from experience on that question because I know from
actual experience what good can be done. Our city is rather new
in that line, but I know of other cities where local organizations