The Modern Luncheon CIub and Modern Business

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Jacft Dionne

We often hear the question asked nowadays, in our cities that are large enough to support luncheon clubs,-"Aren't there too many of these business lunch&itlrlb"?" , I,.person-al-ly, am- strongly and enthusiastically a believer in these U.r"itr"r, men,s luncheon clubs, and a great admirer of the things that this modern movement has done for modern business. The THEoRY of the thini i" "ot-oiry p;";ai""i;ruiueautitur.

of course, Iuncheon clubs, like many other m-odern things, may be overdone. rn many small cities club after club comis in, until it becomes a matter of survival of the 6ttest, and some of th-em have to go, because there isn't enough service for them all to perforrn- No doubt that in mdny*'towns, there ARE too many clubs. Whenever you find a club that keeps eternaily lcrambling for -"-U"t.trip and for attendance, that Club has ceased to 6e a benefii, and should go.

But that doesn't militate against the tteai value of this new movement when used intelligently and in moderation

For business luncheon clubs have been an undisguised blessing to modern business. They have been a means of educatio" to it"nusin-essrnen-alonglinesof direnecessity. They have been the m.e3ns of spreadinglhu a"iociation, -ttre "3-of"t"tio",-irre all-tor- one-one-for-all idea in cities, that is neede? to make modern business,'anJ t; b"iia modern cities.

The first and fundamental defense of the luncheon club is the fact that men who meet together,. eat toge_l\r, talk, laugh, sing, and.visit together-, do NOf ;;;;;t;"d defame one another; do NOT go back-to the# business wlth any idea in fiieir hJads of usinpr lusin.ess..practicJtoward trrose ottrer fellows; a" r{of c""ty-u""t-1. il"i; ";;;: or omces wrth them anything-but a softened spirit toward the gang ihey just visited with. Animation, good chelr, an"d enthusi""* "t" very tangibte aid fit""ti"ii""sfi of mod- ern business. Men find them at their lunch"or, 6l,rbs.- Mutual iooa witt atta appr""ia- tion between business men is lecessary to the welfare of busineis i" a citv, and to the business tranquillitv of the pEopLE oi ttl city, and ;*h-;hi;F;;;-"#;d";ed, and fostered, and ibsorbed at lunchuo" "f"U..

.-T.HESP things are the primary facts that make the modern business luncheon clubs vrtal needs in business. There are many, many lesser and secondary services that these. clubs perform for business men and foi businiss.

These clubs have taught business men to stand on their feet and speak their minds freely -to one another, wilhout embarrassment, thus bringinl auo"ian;--"il;; of busi- ness ideas and business confidences and e*p"ti"r,ce" ttraiwe-re never previousf possible.

They haw-e given business men a better ippreciatioo ot atta-i;;U;-;;;''tJ t.k" " greater -pride in, their own business. The inan who says: "l tefiu""ttt lii classifica- tion in this club," takes it upon himself to see that his business in life is held up in the best-possible wav before these other uusiness-me",."a i"-itvi"g t" p"i"tti"'ulrii""" rot- ward, he exalts it in his _own mind, and creates within himself an instinctive ambition to make his business as fine as he wants these others to think it is.

All of which works for progress. It all work. i" " "it"ru. You make a man iealous in the defense of his own buiinJss, and you cause him instincti;el; i"'iirillri i'iat busi- ness. And as he build: the business, ind establishes it on a bettlr pl";;;hysical, mor- al, or mental-the business takes him right-along witrr ii, rnati"j rri'"" iigi"i ""a better business man' so the cycle is complete, -and the"utg" oi iiie tuncrreon club has caused him and his business to grow together.

That this IS the effect bf the slrong luncheon clubs, let no fair-minded man doubt.

When I visit a lumberman, r am i*ay-s delighted'wttl" r air"over thai rre is-not orrty a- memler, but an enthusiastic member, of ttte lincheon "lt.b o, clubs to which he should ,rtghtfutty belonga -Because then f know that he has a better competition always before nlm than the selfish and narrow competition of his lumber competitor; that he "is trying to keep HIS business right up in the march of progt""r *ittr trre fivest men in other lines of business in his town.

And THAT beats a n-ar-row_ competition with other lumbermen a thousand ways.

Join your- Iuncheon clubs, Mr. Lumberman ! Be a REAL member, catch the spirit that they engender, and you will soon find it refected in the prosperity'a"a "a""""[ment of your business.