Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1909 — COMMERCIAL CLUB ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS [ARTICLE]

COMMERCIAL CLUB ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New and Younger Men Elected on Board to Direct Affairs of Association the Coming Year. /A 1 Sixteen of the thirty-seven members of the Rensselaer Commercial Club gathered at the court house Wednesday night and elected a new board of directors for the ensuing year, placing several younger men and re-elect-ing three of the old members. The new directors are D. M. Worland, Warren Robinson, Delos Thompson, C. C. Warner, A. H. Hopkins, C. S. Chamberlin, George Fate, B. N. Fendig and Moses Leopold. The directors met this Thursday morning and elected its officers as follows: D. M. Worland, Pres.; C. C. Warner, Vice-Pres.; Moses Leopold, Secy.; Delos Thompson, treas. The new directors and the officers they fleeted took hold of the project with an interest that forecasts some splendid results. Mr. Worland, the president, is a hustler, and he gave out the impression that he would neither spare time nor thought to making the club accomplish some tangible results. , The treasurer piade his report showing that there was on hand $537.57. Warren Robinson, from whom the 75 acres of land was bought less than a year ago, had received all but SSOO of the pay. This amount would fall due on March Ist and he offered to discount it at the rate of 5 per cent per annum and on motion the secretary was instructed to draw a warrant op the treasurer in settlement of this claim. It will thus be seen that within the year the Commercial Club has paid for the land, something more than 40 acres of it remaining unplatted and unsold. Money is coming in at the rate of about S6OO a month. The treasurer was directed to procure a bond in the sum of SIO,OOO.

The secretary was instructed to receive the deed from Mr. Hobinson and place it and the plat on record and to give deeds to those who have paid for their lots in full. Mr. Robinson reported that an offer of $4 per acre had been made to rent the unplatted portion of the land for the ensuing year. The secretary’s salary was fixed at sls per month, the same as paid the past year. On the secretary will devolve the duty of collecting the lot installments and the membership dues. The old finance committee will be called upon to audit the books of the secretary and treasurer and make report to the board of directors and the secretary was directed to make plete financial report, showing the amount of money collected, from what sources and how expended, to be published for the benefit of all. A movement begun by the old board to establish headquarters for the club, renting a room and keeping it constantly open to members, was taken up and endorsed by this board. President Worland appointed George Fate, A. H. Hopkins and C. C. Warner to serve as a committee empowered to rent a room subject to the Upptoval of the stockholders. Rooms over Roth Bros.’ butcher shop were favorably mentioned. The plan is to furnish them nicely and to maintain a place where members can meet and entertain out of town visitors. As there are at present only 37 members of the club the plan is to solicit membership up to 200 or more and to increase the dues from 50 cents to $2 per annum. A general meeting of stockholders was authorized for next Wednesday night to receive the report of the committee and to consider the amending of the by laws for the increase of dues. It is the intention to hold an open house reception when the headquarters are ppened. The project looks enterprising and should enlist the support not only of citizens of the town but of farmers.

The board of directors realizes that there is a great opportunity for good, and the club is in first-class condition and from this time on will be accumulating money at the rate of about S6OO per month, and it will not take a great time to have funds enough with which to do business. Another overall factory proposition was discussed and the secretary directed to open up correspondence witb the man who wants information. L. D. Price, of the Chicago Industrial Association, wrote to ascertain if we were in a position to do business, Intimating that he had some enterprises that were seeking a location. Mr. Price has some notions at variance with the directors and it is hardly probable that he has anything that Rensselaer wants, although he will be given such consideration as his propositions may merit. President Worland is very enthusiastic about the Comiherclal Club possibilities and believes in putting things in big type. "Let ’em know we’re alive,” said he, "this thing must be kept warm and we want every live wire in Rensselaer and surrounding country to help boost Rensselaer." The Rensselaer Commercial Club is now in a position to thrive and progress. All it needs is a lot of boosters. With the “Bigger Rensselaer” motto and the enthusiasm with which the directors seem possessed Rensselaer

will get there with both feet. Whoop ’em and help things along by becoming a live member of the club.