ADVOCATEVolume 21, Number 1 January/February 2007 A Significant Milestone for Small Business NSBA prepares to celebrate 70th anniversary of small-business movement

By Rob Yunich Director of Communications

eventy years ago, the Great Depression consumed the nation; Sa stamp cost three cents and there were no zip codes; “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” became the first full-length animated movie to hit the- atres; the 75th Congress began with- out Hawaii and Alaska—who would not achieve statehood for another 22 years; there was no Super Bowl or National Basketball Association; most companies were small; and “mom and pop” stores were the norm, not the exception. In some ways, things have not changed since 1937. Small businesses still are the backbone of the American economy, comprising 99.7 percent of all employer firms, employing half of all private sector employees, and creating 65 percent of the net new jobs. In other ways, things are very dif- NSBA FILE PHOTO ferent. The American economic cli- DeWitt Emery founded NSBA on Nov. 13, 1937 after being convinced that the White mate is extremely complex, the 110th House was unfairly targeting small-business owners. Congress is underway, stamps cost 39 Washington, D.C. The special event Registration for the event will cents, zip codes now include a plus- will feature a chance to honor those begin in late February on NSBA’s four element, and Alaska and Hawaii who have made a difference to the Web site, nsba.biz. have been in existence for nearly 50 small-business movement, several of years. NSBA’s past leaders, as well as a spe- HUMBLE BEGINNINGS But one thing has remained cial performance by the renowned NSBA can trace its beginnings to steady since 1937—the National Capitol Steps comedy troupe. the actions of one man, DeWitt M. Small Business Association. NSBA is The gala is part of NSBA’s annu- Emery—owner of the Monroe celebrating the 70th anniversary of al Washington Presentation, to be Letterhead Corporation in Akron, the organization and the small-busi- held May 9-10 at the Wydham Ohio. His company was struggling ness movement during a gala celebra- Washington. It includes an opportu- amid the Great Depression and tion on May 9 at the National nity to learn the latest about small- Emery was running out of answers. Museum of Women in the Arts in business issues directly from the The Monroe Letterhead Corporation, source, the chance to meet with your founded in 1911, dealt with the task Inside the Advocate congressional representative, the hon- of paying Social Security, unemploy-  An Exciting Year Ahead (p. 4). oring of the Small Business ment insurance, increased county and  Meet NSBA’s 2007 Officers (p. 6). Advocate of the Year, and much state taxes, higher material costs, and  Join an issue committee (p. 7). more. continued on p. 3 A Significant Milestone for Small Business (continued from p. 1) increased wages—the same plight faced by small-business owners today. Emery, convinced the White House was unfairly targeting small- business owners, wanted to do some- thing to correct this injustice. “How can one man fight a situa- tion like this?” he reportedly shouted as he stood in his empty office. “No… of course not… not one man, not 10… but thousands just like me… grouped together, with com- mon interests and a common pur- pose… sure, we’re all small, how does that saying go? ‘Many small make a great.’” NSBA FILE PHOTOS “Other groups organize into ABOVE: During NSBA’s 60th anniversary gala, then-Vice President Al Gore (left) spoke to associations, why not an association the crowd—while the Capitol Steps comedy troupe entertained them later in the evening. of small-business men from all over BELOW: The 70th anniversary gala will give NSBA an opportunity to remember Lew Shattuck (left), a major influence throughout the small-business movement, and some the nation! We’ll have our own of the organization’s former chairs, such as Sharon Miller. House of Representatives, right in Washington,” he added. And thus the small-business movement had begun. On Nov. 13, 1937, Emery founded the National Small Business Men’s Association. He crafted a mission statement and began to recruit members. Emery sent a letter to as many small-busi- ness owners as he could find, asking them to join the newly-formed asso- ciation. Of the 200 owners that received the letter, 160 of them joined the nascent group. By 1962, the group had changed Smaller Enterprises in Cleveland. “It’s very fitting that NSBA’s its name to the National Small In 1986, SBU and NSBA merged 70th anniversary will be celebrated at Business Association—acknowledg- to become National Small Business an event that is so important to the ing the strong presence of female United. The organization kept that group’s history,” NSBA President business owners. While the name is name until 2003, when it reverted to Todd McCracken said. “It’s a won- the same one the organization uses the NSBA moniker. As the association derful opportunity to honor our dis- today, there were more name grew, so did the list of affiliate groups. tinguished past and stay true to our changes ahead. Later additions include the Arizona grassroots nature.” In 1981, Small Business United Small Business Association, Small Emery died in 1955 and most (SBU) started with a similar mission Business California, the Missouri likely would be blown away by the statement as NSBA. Although SBU Merchants and Manufacturers progress achieved by the group he technically was a competitor at the Association, and the Small Business founded. For example, the organiza- time, that group helped lay the foun- Association of Michigan. tion currently reaches more than dation for NSBA’s current network of SBANE originally created the 150,000 small-business owners—a affiliates. Washington Presentation (then known number well beyond the group of The original SBU member as the Washington Group) in the 160 members Emery recruited. groups included the Smaller Business 1960s. After the SBU-NSBA merger, Although much has transpired Association of New England NSBA became responsible for running since Emery’s death, NSBA’s original (SBANE), SMC Business Councils the Washington Presentation—now its roots remain. And that alone gives of Pittsburgh, and the Council of signature event. the organization reason to rejoice.  January/February 2007 3