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About EAT
History of Executives' Association of Tucson
The Executives' Association of Tucson was founded in 1966. This was the year that Color TV gains popularity, Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin steps out of Gemini 12 Spacecraft for 129 minutes and hit songs inculde "Born Free" and "Strangers in the Night".
The first Executive Director of the Executives' Association of Tucson was Jim Coleman. The organization started with 12 business men and the assistance of the Executives' Association of Greater Phoenix.
History of the Executives Association Movement
The following "history" is taken partially from The Handbook of the Executives' Association Movement by Harold W. McDowell, Ph.D., then coordinator of the Newark Executives' Association.
The concept of cooperation between non-competitors is not new; it was not born with the first association of our type. It is as old as competition is old and it as old as cooperation is old. Nor did the concept come into existence when, in 1915, eight business friends in San Francisco got what they thought as an original idea. What they did originate was probably the most effective expression of the idea of cooperation among non-competitors for sales promotional purposes. But they had predecessors; they were not the first. Benjamin Franklin, in the latter part of the 18th century, had an organization called the Junto Club which he founded in order to gain friends and influence. He called in people of intellectual, financial, and leadership stature to meet at different homes to discuss scientific affairs and affairs of state. But no meeting concluded without a questioning of each participant: "How can we help you in what you are trying to do in your professional or business life?" As a result of such questioning, Ben Franklin and his Junto friends gained business advantages.
It is not known whether Mr. L.E. Cummings, printer and bookbinder, conceived the idea of an organization of cooperative non-competitors or whether he had read of Benjamin Franklin's Junto. Cummings is commonly accepted as the source of the first Executives' Association. In the fall of 1915, Cummings approached seven friends with his new concept of cooperation among non-competitive businessmen, the object being the promotion of the sales of each through the exchange of such information as might provide sales opportunities. The new organization was to be motivated by select businessmen for business advantage. San Francisco had a multitude of civic and service clubs. This was to be different. It was felt that there should be at least one organization of businessmen for the benefit of businessmen, unconcerned with the civic, charitable and political activities.
As the eight measured their efforts against Cummings' idea of converting gossip into opportunity and profitable sales, they became more enthusiastic than ever. The pattern was sound. It had been proved to be advantageous to the original eight; it could be even more profitable to the eight and of considerable help to others if their number were increased judiciously. With a larger number to help bear the costs, it might be possible to engage a clerk and centrally-located office space which would serve as a nerve center or clearinghouse for the "advance business information" being gathered. Within a short time the Club had seventy-three members. When this was announced, Harry Glensor remarked, that: "The idea of this club is a large one and its careful development may result in a nationwide movement." One week later, the club had one hundred members enrolled and the total increased rapidly as the weeks went by.
Such was the genesis of the Executives' Association of San Francisco, and through its existence the start of what is called the Executives' Association Movement. We owe those early San Franciscans a great deal. That same great enthusiasm for promotion triggered the development of other units. As new associations came into existence, there came a drive, widely and enthusiastically supported for a super association - an "international" association.
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