The Young Men's Section of the Brantford Board of Trade

Out of the first meeting there was founded the Young Men's Section of the Brantford Board of Trade which, in September, 1944, almost three years later, sponsored the highly successful Anti-V.D.Campaign, a project designed to acquaint and educate the people of Brantford about the scourge of venereal disease and calculated to work towards its control, prevention and eventual elimination from its community.

Don Marlett, a member of the Y.M.C.A. war service organization, was elected the first President and less than a month after formation the "infant" Y.M.S. sponsored its first project, an all-star lacrosse game, with proceeds going to furnish the Y.M.C.A. hut at No.20, C.I.B.T.C., located on the easterly outskirts of Brantford.

It was in March, 1942, that the organization's first monthly bulletin made its appearance to stimulate interest among the organization's members and to keep them up-to-date on local happenings, and in June of that year, a city-wide glass salvage campaign was undertaken, in the interests of the war effort. Also in June, 1942, 1,000 "Harvest-the-Crop" posters were distributed by members of the Y.M.S., who in July of the same year assisted in the collection of sugar rationing cards.

Meanwhile, the membership roster had been growing steadily and although the Young Men's Section of the Brantford Board of Trade was only six months old, it was decided to accept an invitation from the Canadian Junior Chamber of Commerce of Canada to hold the Ontario Regional Conference in Brantford. This project proved successful and drew favorable comment from affiliated organizations across the Province. In November, 1942 the Y.M.S. sponsored an Oral Health Campaign, which had good results.

C. H. Scoffield, a member of the Brantford City Council, became the organization's second President and, with an ever-increasing membership the Y.M.S. buckled down in earnest to assist the national and local war efforts to the fullest extent. Members of the organization in 1943 assisted in the annual Red Cross Campaign, personally canvassed business establishments and stores in the city for the Brantford Local Council of Women's Salvage organization and put on a drive to secure new blood donors in local factories for the Brantford Red Cross Blood Donor Committee.

At the time of the Fifth Victory Loan Campaign, the Y.M.S. was asked to undertake sponsorship of a "Made-in-Brantford War Industry Exhibit" at the Armoury. This was the biggest Victory Loan publicity project ever undertaken locally and was an outstanding success. During the week-long exhibit, for which Brantford manufacturers co-operated fully in placing the equipment they manufacture on display, more than 25,000 people viewed the "show", which was officially opened by Major-General A. E. Potts, D.S.O., District Officer Commanding Military District No. 2, Toronto. Other smaller projects were undertaken, but all were important and carried through successfully.

In December, 1943, Ernest Joslin was elected the organizations' third President, and under his leadership the Y.M.S. continued to thrive and gain strength and stature. "The Lifebuoy Follies" show was brought to Brantford by the Y.M.S. in aid of the annual Read Cross Campaign and resulted in more than $1,000 being turned into Red Cross coffers. In April, 1944, members undertook a canvass of downtown merchants in the interest of the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic, and during the same month the Jaycees conducted an industrial survey of the city, while in May, a collection for books for the Crumlin Air School was undertaken.

Then, in September, the Young Men's Section embarked upon the greatest project of it's career, the sponsorship of the Anti-V.D. Campaign and with it's follow-up measures proved very successful.

In November, undaunted by the strain and stress of the venereal disease campaign, the organization sponsored a drive for 800 new blood donors in answer to an urgent appeal from the Red Cross. The drive was an outstanding success, and the quota was reached.

J. J. Hill was elected the fourth President for the year 1945 and there were signs of activity within the organization which meant that plans were being formulated towards a continuance of the fine patriotic and service work which had characterized the activity of the organization since it's inception.

(Taken from the Young Men's Section of the Brantford Board of Trade Anti-V.D. Campaign Report - 1944)