The Monthly Bulletin of the Association, which began as a modest four-page folder, has gradually increased to a monthly average of 84 pages. This official organ of the As sociation is full of commercial information and keeps the members posted on the progress made in every line of com mercial activity.
The Annual Proceedings, which are sent to all members, are a full report of the year's activities, including the re ports of all committees, all the papers presented, with their accompanying discussions, and much miscellaneous valuable data and information. A complete list of all members is also included.
The Association has published from time to time book lets for gas companies to distribute locally. A notable ex ample has been the "Gas Equipment of the Home," of which 80,000 copies have been distributed during the past year. It is planned to continue and broaden this branch of the Association's activities.
During the year July, 1914, to June, 1915, the Associa tion conducted a national advertising campaign thru the medium of national magazines, to create a wider interest in the use of gas for lighting, heating and cooking, and to es tablish a more complete understanding between the gas busi ness and the public. There is no doubt that this campaign has been of incalculable direct benefit to the industry, or that it has stimulated companies generally to realize the im portance of proper and timely publicity.
The most important activity of the Association during the past four years has been its educational work for gas company employes.' The Association Headquarters are looked to by com panies as a clearing-house for commercial gas information, as is evidenced by the abundance and scope of the inquiries received.
Today the industrial fuel field is one with enormous pos sibilities, and should be given the most serious consideration. The Association plans to add to the Headquarters' staff an industrial fuel expert, whose services will be at the dis posal of all member companies. The value to a progressive company of such a man, with the vast store of data and in formation which he will have at his command, cannot be overestimated.
The Industrial Fuel Course, of the new educational program, will approach the sanie subject from a different angle. Finally, the Industrial Fuel Committee is preparing
now, and will have ready for distribution this year, a corn plete series of pamphlets covering the practical possibilities of gas in the various industries. These papers will deal with the nature of the different processes and the appliances to be used. Tests and cost data in addition will niake this series a valuable reference work for the gas man.
Another committee is now preparing a Salesman's Hand book—a long-felt want with gas salesmen. The plans em brace a complete data or reference book of authoritative in formation, including a description of the general types of gas appliances in conimon use, the proper method of in stalling each appliance and the conditions under which it pay properly be used.
This service will also include a list of appliance manu facturers and trade names, cross-indexed by the names of appliances. The handbook will be kept up-to-date, and ad ditional sheets will be furnished at regular intervals.
The Window-Dressing Committee plans to supply mem ber companies with a regular window-dressing service. Part of this plan is the proposed employment of a window-deco rating expert, who will be a member of the Association's permanent staff and have facilities at his disposal for creat ing designs to fit any situation. This promises to be a serv ice of great value to all companies.
The National Advertising Committee is supplying com panies with a regular cooperative advertising service. It is the intention to cover in the future not only the news paper field, but that of general miscellaneous advertising as well, by sending out finished samples of circular letters, post cards and folder work. Under this plan, companies pay for only the service of which they actually make use: and in ad dition, the price is mueh smaller than that for which a sin gle company could prepare its own material.
In a word, the Association is in a position to render gas companies valuable service. Its members, among the most active and progressive commercial gas men in the country, are giving their time and drawing on their experience, to promote the objects of the Association, and hence the wel fare of the industry generally.