Page 24 - Past Presidents' Club Book 1

I-'irst .liinihil L oiwcntitHi 25

McIntosh has made, and that is in connection with the building
up of the membership 01 the organization.
W hen I started out. by order of the Executive Committee, to
solicit members. I endeavored to show them what advantage
might accrue from membership, I had a difficult task. I was
assisted, however, by having a member in a city to go with me t<»
his competitor and urge him to join the Association. I realize
that the Secretary will have much difficulty in arguing with a
party who does not feel the necessity of an association, if he goes
alor.e, brt if any member will go with him I feel certain his way
will ^ easy.
Mr. McIntosh told me, at the time I was urging people to
join fhc Association, that the time would come when we would
have people knocking 011 our doors for admission to the A s s o ­
ciation. It seemed at that time a prophecy which was ridiculous.
As a matter of fact (without speaking positively but simply esii-
mating) in the last four years we have had over three hundred
voluntary applications for membership, of which we accepted
twelve because we are limiting our membership to concerns which
strictly add strength to the organization. And I feel sure in
prophesying for this Association what Mr. McIntosh prophesied
for our organization, if the members will co-operate in obtaining
prices that you will have to scrutinize very closely the applicants.
I think the Secretary should have aid in obtaining additional
members.
P r e s id e n t S t r o n g : Before the meeting adjourns I wish to
suggest that there is a book at the office, or near the office, where
it is requested that all. both m em bers and visitors, register.
One of our members lives in a town where there is not very
much local association work, and I think the good words he has
heard this morning will encourage him a little, and I would like
to hear what Mr. Marshall has to say.
M r. M a r s h a l l : 1 bad hoped you would tniss me. I was
very much interested in what Mr. Puchta had to say in regard to
local organizations. I was going to ask him to give those of us
from Chicago a little talk 011 the subject.
The Association work last year has been devoted mainlv to
getting acquainted with one another—not that we have not done