The Willimantic Journal

BOARD OF TRADE.
Organization Perfected-Officers Elected-Constitution and By-Laws.

At an adjourned meeting of the business men of Willimantic, held at the Hooker House Friday evening, the organization of a Willimantic board of trade was perfected. Officers were elected as follows:

President, George E. Stiles; vice president, Frank M. Wilson; second vice president, J. O'Sullivan; secretary, W. N Potter; treasurer, C. F. Risedoif. A council was appointed to bring in a list of fifteen directors at the next meeting, November 29: Frank Larrabee, C. L. Boss, J. O'Sullivan, G. K. Nason and E. P. Chesbro.

A preamble, constitution and by-laws was adopted, the following of which is a summary:

"We the undersigned, citizens of Willimantic and vicinity, desiring to encourage the closer association and the united action of our business men, and thus to promote the commercial and industrial growth of the city, do hereby organize under the following constitution. The organization shall be known as the Willimantic Board of Trade.

"The object shall be to form a unity of spirit and action for the advancement of Willimantic and vicinity, to encourage local industry and enterprise, to bring in new industries, to afford wholesome recreation and social enjoyment to business men and in every possible way to emphasize and make known the peculiar advantages of Willimantic as a railway, manufacturing, commercial and educational center. The affairs of the association are to be managed by a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and fifteen directors, who together constitute a board of directors, who are to be elected at the annual meeting of the association."

The by-laws provide for quarterly business meetings on the first Tuesday of January, April, July and October of each year, the meeting in January to be the annual meeting at which the officers are to be elected and the annual reports of the president, secretary and treasurer submitted. Special meetings are provided for at the call of the president.

Any citizen of Willimantic and vicinity may become a member, by being proposed in writing by a member and receiving the votes of three-fourths of the members present and voting. If the applicant is rejected, he shall not be proposed again for six months. Honorary membership may be conferred, for the term of one year, upon distinguished non-residents, upon nomination of the committee on membership, and by the unanimous vote of the members present at any meeting.

Each member shall pay to the treasurer upon being admitted to membership, an admission fee of $5, and the annual dues of each member are to be $5, to be paid in semi-annual installments of $2.50 on the first day of January and July of each year.

The by-laws provide for the following standing committees: On membership, 3; on finance, 3; on trade, whose duty shall be to look after the manufacturing and business interests of Willimantic, 5; on public improvements, 5; on receptions, 7; and an entertainment and social committee whose business it shall be to provide speakers and other means of education and to provide for social recreation.