TRADE ASSOCIATIONS——YOU 
NEED THEM, THEY NEED YOU 
By VALLEAU C. CurTIS 
Curtis Nurseries, Callicoon, N. Y. 
No_ progressive Bienen man, today, 
can ignore the necessity of active par- 
ticipation in his trade organization. In 
this day of pressure-group legislation, his 
industry faces a fight for existence. Trade 
organization provides the most effective 
means of carrying on this fight. 
That is how I look upon my trade or- 
ganization—the American Association of 
Nurserymen. 
This association is a well seasoned one. 
It has flourished, declined, re-organized 
and prospered again. It represents the 
experience, the ideas and the dreams 
of many individuals. It would not, today, 
in its 75th anniversary year, stand at a 
record high level of membership — nor 
would hard-bitten nurserymen, through 
all these years, have paid their own money 
into its coffers — if it were not for a pro- 
found conviction that it is a vital part of 
the nursery business. 
What do we mean by “trade organiza- 
tion?” Of several definitions I have heard, 
this seems to me the best: 
“A trade association is an organization 
voluntarily created by men_ confronted 
with common economic problems, for the 
purpose of developing collective thought 
through group action and maximum co- 
cperation toward the solution of the prob- 
Jems in their respective fields Through 
cooperative endeavor the industry is able 
to strive for the fullest degree of effi- 
ciency of service to the industry and at 
the same time for the greatest benetit 
to the public generally.” 
This definition well describes the aims 
of organization; but to go a bit further, 
and really “lay it on the line”’—aren’t the 
requirements of commercial life too diffi- 
cult to be grappled with effectively by in- 
dividual firms, however courageous and 
self-confident? Joint action is necessary. 
Mass attacks move mountains. 
When Herbert Hoover was Secretary 
of Commerce, he said of trade organiza- 
tions: “They are the safeguards of small 
business and thus prevent the extinction 
of competition. With wisdom and devo- 
tion their voluntary forces can accomplish 
more for our country than any spread of 
the hand of government.” 
This puts the responsibility where it 
belongs — on our own shoulders as fellow 
nurserymen. If we wish to maintain our 
American way of life, we must exert the 
strength of determined cooperative et- 
fort. We must back it to the hilt; do 
our share of work within the framework 
of its structure; help keép its house in or- 
der, and see that it continues to be an 
association for the benefit of all. 
Our AAN comprises a diversity of en- 
terprises: wholesale, retail, landscape, 
mail-order, etc. It must find common 
grounds upon which to advance the in- 
terests of all. 
Here are some of the objectives that 
our association aims toward on a_na- 
tional level: 
1. Act as a watchdog over legislation 
related to the nursery business. 
2. Provide liaison with governmental 
departments with which we have business. 
3. Keep in close touch with technical 
research in our field through universities, 
schools and experimental stations. 
4. Keep all its members actively in- 
formed of all matters affecting the in- 
terests of the nursery business. 
5. Keep the divisions or chapters of 
the organization properly organized and 
represented in the general meetings of 
the association. 
6. Provide maximum opportunity for 
the chapters to inform themselves of 
business pending in the association, so 
that they may authorize their representa- 
tives to act for them in an orderly manner 
in the annual meetings. 
7. Provide a means for the exchange 
of thought among members throughout 
the country and throughout the year. 
8. Carry on an active promotional pro- 
gram for the use of nur sery products. 
On the Divisional or Chapter level, the 
objectives are as follows: 
1. Well organized meetings are held, 
devoted to the discussion of association 
business, and of technical and economic 
matters. 
2. State and local legislation are 
watched closely, and Prorable relations 
developed with state and local authori- 
ties, 
3. State or local promotional activity 
