Depression
hit hard and the L.A Open purse dropped proportionately, but Junior
Chamber founders and members persevered and forged into new territory.
Seeking to revitalize and improve communities impacted by the Depression,
the Junior Chamber took steps to foster civic responsibility by
supporting International Fire Prevention week, community cleanup
operations, creating a Traffic and Safety and Civic Planning Committee
and creating a Junior Chamber Music Foundation to advance the expansion
of culture.
 Simultaneously,
the Junior Chamber remained active in promoting Los Angeles as a
tourism mecca by creating winter sports events including a regatta
and carnival. Branching out even further into the sports realm,
the Junior Chamber supported football, established a Sports Fishing
Bureau, created the Southern California Sportsman's Association
and presented an annual Aquatic show.
Key to the success during the 30's despite the Depression was the
continuation of work in the aviation industry. The Junior Chamber
helped dedicate the Los Angeles Municipal Airport and gave the acclaimed
Colonel Charles Lindbergh an honorary membership for his leadership
in aviation.
As the 30's drew to an end and the prospect of War loomed in the
future, the Junior Chamber received reinforcement and validation
of its mission and efforts from President Roosevelt, transforming
the Junior Chamber into a dominant community based organization.
Excerpt from President Roosevelt's letter to the Junior Chamber:
"It gives me great pleasure on the occasion of the celebration
of the twelfth anniversary of the organization of the Los Angeles
Junior Chamber of Commerce to extend hearty felicitation to all
the members with best wishes that the Chamber will long direct its
activities of the upbuilding of the community in which it has become
such an important factor."
continue:
1920s - 1930s - 1940s
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1990s - Today! |
