Club History

The Beginning…
In 1937 Alec Phare founded the Young Men’s Advertising and Sales Club of Toronto. It was created “as a non-profit organization to promote and sponsor, for young men, a wider knowledge of Advertising, Selling, Marketing and Merchandising”. The clubs aim - “Its members, through a variety of educational and social activities and regular meetings are presented with unique opportunities to meet people of allied fields, exchange ideas and acquire knowledge both through working on committees and enrolling in the courses offered.”
On October 23rd, 1937 the first general meeting of the Young Men’s Advertising & Sales Club of Toronto was held at the Secretary’s Office, 2 Bloor Street East, Room 20. The club secretary that year was Clare Keevil. There were 106 present at the meeting. The guest speaker for the meeting was Mr. John Howie Wright. Mr. Wright was an expert in Direct Marketing and gave a lively talk that night.
Structure…
“Any young man of good standing in the community who is:
(a) 32 years of age or under
(b) Actively interested in Advertising, Selling, Marketing or Merchandising and
(c) In the opinion of the Board of Directors, and on the recommendation of the Membership Committee, can contribute to the fundamental objectives of the Club,
can be eligible for membership.”
“Club business is governed by an Executive Board comprised of the President, the Executive Vice President, two Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Treasurer and nine Directors.” … Committee chairmen were appointed, subject to the approval of the Executive Board by the club directors.
Communications were very important to the club and its members. This was achieved through announcements at regular meetings, a regularly published bulletin, The Ad-Sales News, an annual Roster and an annual report prepared by the Executive Board and presented at the annual general meeting.

Events…
Events included bi-monthly meetings, educational courses, plant tours, ad workshops, social events, Weekend In The Woods, Golf Tournament, Ladies Night, Christmas Party and annual dance.

Past Presidents List
Founder: G Alec Phare
1937-38: Al B. Wilgar
1938-39: Clare A. Keevil
1939-40: Dalt G Armstrong
1940-41: Bill A. Willis
1941-42: C. U. Hall
1942-43: Jim R. Knox
1943-44: Robert W. Henderson
1944-45: A. McD. ‘Don” Robertson
1945-46: John D. Wilson
1946-47: John Whitehead
1947-48: Fred F. Hatch
1948-49: Harry T. Davis
1949-50: Dick E. Canney
1950-51: Jim ‘Doc’ Matthews
1951-52: Art R. Montieth
1952-53: Jack O. Young
1953-54: Robert Downie
1954-55: Ralph R. Blattner
1955-56: Clarke B. Lloyd
1956-57: L. G. ‘Bud’ Harris
1957-58: Gordon M. Howarth
1958-59: Ross B. Monk
1959-60: C. Al Nash
1960-61: Bob C. Newton
1961-62: Bill E. Robinson
1962-63: Emmett R. Grant
1963-64: John Philip Rayson
1964-65: Bob D. Reid
1965-66: Ron Adamson
1966-67: Cal McLaughlan
1967-68: Rob Parker
1968-69: Charles Noble
1969-70: Jim N. Rosenthal
1970-71: G. Brad McInnes
1971-72: Frank R. Gardiner
1972-73: P. Gary McWilliams
1973-74: Terry Frezell

Through the years hundreds of young men became members of the club, learned and prospered.