The Finnish-American Businessmen's Association: Almost from the beginning of their business careers, the Finnish businessmen of Duluth had been aware of the advantages that might be theirs in a centralization and unification of their efforts, through coordination and mutually acceptable procedures, and about 30 Finnish businessmen did get together on 6 August 1912 in Duluth to discuss their mutual problems. No hard and fast association was achieved at this meeting, but the proposal for such an association was made, its possible scope discussed, and a three member committee named to study the matter further: Kalle Kauppi, J. W. Lilius and A. H. Markkinen.

However, nine years were to pass before these men sat in meeting again, in August 1921, and even then their purpose was simply to organize a joint excursion to their old homeland, Finland. Nevertheless, the proposal to establish a Finnish-American Businessmen's Association was also definitely brought forth, by Charles Latvala of Nashwauk, although there was but little time to discuss it at the moment. However, a five-man committee was named to study the proposal as soon as possible after their return from Finland : Victor H. Gran, Jussi Hinkkanen, Charles Kauppi, John Ketola and John Raattama.

The meeting which officially organized the association was held in Duluth on 22 February 1922. Mr. Gran read a prepared statement, suggesting that the purposes and procedures of such an association should be "to foster the development of common resources, such as agriculture, factory production and new businesses, to provide members with information on credit sources, etc., in different communities, to suggest proper and honest business methods, and for all possible mutual aid to one another in business life, since one person's success was everyone's success."

The association elected a temporary board of directors, which in September 1922 called together the first annual meeting in Hancock, Michigan. The constitution prepared by this temporary board was presented and approved, and a new board of directors was elected - that is to say, the temporary appointments were made permanent and additional men were also elected to it. 20

In spite of the fine arguments presented to outline the need for an association like this - "the first undertaking of a businessmen's association ought to be to explain to its members the great strength which would be theirs through membership, the great possibilities which the association would possess for the collection,

20. Ilmonen, op. cit. II, pp 102-103

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