The Rise And Decline Gf The Olympia Oyster 



and pictures for publication in other newspapers and 

 magazines. Our advertising committee was kept busy 

 furnishing material for these writers. 



Soon the food economists began to publicize recipes 

 and demonstrate them in cooking schools. 



Each year the advertising committee laid out very 

 carefully its advertismg campaign. It estimated the 

 quantity of oysters that should be marketed the follow- 

 ing year. It contacted the markets, found out where it 

 could spend the advertising funds to best advantage 

 and with the advice of the advertising managers prepar- 

 ed the material. This was reviewed at a meeting of the 

 Association. When agreed upon and approved it was put 

 to a membership vote. Thus, all were satisfied and knew 

 just how their money was to be spent. The records show 

 that the assessment of one dollar per sack was regularly 

 paid for many years. 



In some places we used roadside billboards. The ho- 

 tels and sea-food eating houses were supplied with beau- 

 tiful banners, and recipe folders were distributed by the 

 thousands. Newspapers and magazine ads were used 

 judiciously. 



The campaign was started off each year by making 

 the first week in September "Olympia Oyster Week." 

 For many years, this was done by a proclamation signed 

 by the Mayor of Olympia and under the official "Seal of 

 the City of Olympia." During that time I happened to be 

 a member of the City Commission of Olympia for ten 

 years, serving as Mayor about four years. I have before 

 me some of those proclamations addressed: 



(59) 



