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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
mittee meetings of local merchants and for
presenting the president in radio broadcasts,
was carried out with most satisfactory results.
The funds available, however, did not pro-
vide for defraying all of the expenses and
President Weeks gave generously of his time
and paid his own expenses entirely on the
trips made.
"The fact that President Weeks occupies
the position he does in Rotary circles, being
past governor of the 28th District Rotary
International and past president of his local
Rotary Club in Binghamton and having in
the past spoken before many Rotary Club
gatherings here and in Europe, made it pos-
sible to secure an unusual and extraordinarily
effective opportunity to promote the interest
of music and the musical industry. In ad-
dition to setting up the conference committee
meetings in the many cities visited, Mr.
Weeks received invitations from the local
Rotary Clubs to be their guest speaker. Not
only was it possible for him to present the
thought of 'Music in the Home,' which was
the subject in nearly all cases of his address,
to the leading business and professional
men in these cities, but in many cases the
address was broadcast from the banquet hall
and in some other instances was broadcast
by special arrangement with broadcasting
stations."
He told of the four trips made in com-
pany with President Weeks, one in November
through
Pennsylvania, one in January
through New England, where Mr. Weeks
made several addresses before Rotary Clubs,
another in April through eastern Pennsyl-
vania and the final trip in May, which in-
cluded visits to Toledo and Akron, ().,
Detroit and Buffalo. As a result of Mr.
Weeks' talks over the radio in a majority of
the cities he visited the association and the
cause of music received much publicity.
Regarding the broadcasting of piano les-
sons, Mr. Loomis said: "Although the active
financial participation of our association in
the broadcasting of piano lessons twice each
week on the 'Keys to Happiness' and "Music
in the Air' programs of the National Broad-
casting Company ceased prior to the last
meeting of this board, the members will be
interested to know that the National Broad-
casting Company has carried on this highly
valuable promotional activity as a presenta-
tion. These programs have now been on
the air for more than a year over 48 stations.
During the time when our association par-
ticipated in the work, 85,000 charts containing
material for use in taking the lessons on
the air were distributed to members of the
radio audience requesting them. Since that
time the executive office has information
from the National Broadcasting Company
that nearly 250,000 additional charts have
been sent to persons interested in taking
piano lessons in this manner. This board
may feel inclined to express its appreciation
in the form of a vote or resolution to the
National Broadcasting Company.
"It will be remembered that while our
executive office was participating in this
broadcast activity, we tabulated names of
persons requesting copies of the piano-radio
chart, sending these names to members who
participated in underwriting the quota in
their cities in connection with the piano-radio
fund. After the close of the active work
in this connection, our office tabulated some
June-July, 1932
additional names and these were sent to
members who were active in the work in
the hope that they might be of value to
them.
"In another report based on the audit of
the books for the fiscal year ending April
30, 1932, it will be observed that every effort
was made by your executive secretary to carry
on the work of the office in the most eco-
nomical manner. In spite of this and the
fact that your executive secretary did not
receive compensation for a considerable por-
tion of the year, there now being due him
on his drawing account, up to and including
the week ending June 4, 1932, $2,900, it has
been necessary to put into effect a further
curtailment to the extent of making arrange
ments to reduce the rent from $50 a month
to about $20, and to place the secretary's
Little Rock, Ark., to life membership in the
association. Col. Hollenberg is popularly
known as the "father of the association,"
having been one of the founders of the
organization and for many years an active
worker in the cause.
Tribute was also paid to those members
who have passed away during the year,
including Harry B. Wells of Sayre, Pa.;
Joseph Benedict, CJalesburg, III., and T. A.
Goold of Buffalo, N. V.
A vote of appreciation was extended to
the National Broadcasting Company for the
generous spirit shown in carrying on as its
own presentation the two weekly broadcasts
of piano lessons, namely, the "Keys to Hap-
piness" and "Music in the Air."
The question of the next convention city
was left to the discretion of the executive
committee, both Milwaukee and Chicago ex-
tending earnest invitations to the association
for the 1933 sessions. This matter will be
determined at the mid-year meeting of the
board of control.
Those who attended the board sessions in-
cluded, in addition to President Weeks and
Executive Secretary Loomis: Jay Grinnell of
Detroit, vice-president; Charles H. Yahrling
of Voungstown, O., secretary; and of the
board, E. J. Mclntire, Manchester, N. H.;
John J. (Ilynn, New York; C. J. Roberts,
Baltimore, Md.; Carl Wittich, Reading, Pa.;
Alexander McDonald, New York; A. M.
Seadey, Saco, Me., and M. V. DeForeist,
Sharon, Pa.
LUNCHEON WITH ROTARY CLUB
DELBERT L LOOMIS
Executive Secretary, N. A. M. M.
assistant on half-time and half-pay, effective
June 1.
"The executive office announced in the
April bulletin that the office would, on oc-
casion, be very glad to attempt to be ot
assistance to members who, because of the
extraordinary conditions existing at present,
found themselves in difficulties so far as
leases at high rentals of store locations, or
because of special conditions, being pressed
by merchandise creditors, and requests for
assistance in certain matters were received
from some of our members.
"At this time, perhaps, as never before,
the industry needs the association and it is
the sincere hope of your executive secretary
that it may be possible to continue the activ-
ities of the organization.
ALL OFFICERS TO CONTINUE
It was announced at the session that the
various officers who had served the associa-
tion so faithfully for the past twelve months
would remain at the helm for another year,
in accordance with a clause of the constitu-
tion which stated that elected officers would
serve until successors were elected at an
annual convention. With the making of this
announcement a vote of thanks was tendered
to Carl A. Droop for his long and faithful
service as secretary of the association.
Another unanimous act at the meeting was
the election of Col. F. B. T . Hollenberg of
After the morning session the members of
the board of control, together with the ex-
ecutives of the music publishers and sheet
music dealers' association, as well as mem-
bers of the local trade to the number of
50 all told, attended the weekly luncheon of
the New York Rotary Club, where Mr. Weeks
was guest speaker and gave one of his
characteristically humorous talks.
The afternoon session was in the nature
of a round-table or experience meeting, with
the music merchants present telling of the
methods used in the various departments of
their businesses. Jay Cmnnell explained why
his company had begun handling electric
refrigerators as a means for bringing in
additional revenue. Charles H. Yahrling also
spoke on refrigerator selling and explained
the successful adoption by his company of
the "100 Club" plan, so often used in selling
player-pianos in the old days, to the selling
of the modern refrigerator. He stated that
the plan boosted sales to the average of one
a day and that special inducements kept
collections in good shape.
John Harden, president of the National
Association of Sheet Music Dealers, next
addressed the meeting and told of what had
been accomplished in promoting a spirit of
cooperation between music publishers and
dealers through the adoption of a code of
ethics by both interests. He urged that music
merchants generally cooperate with each
other and with the producers of the prod-
ucts they sell, for the benefit of all concerned.
Other speakers at the final session in-
cluded Mark Campbell, president of the
Kohler-Brambach Co., who again expressed
his faith in the future of the piano business;
C. J. Roberts and M. B. DeForeest, past
presidents of the association.