FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2012
Media Release
CONTACT: Susan Bach, Director of Communications
PHONE: 414- 847- 6085
FAX: 414-302- 0355
E-MAIL: sbach@wisconsin.bbb.org
Party Planned at Milwaukee’s Harley-Davidson Museum
Milwaukee, Wis., November 12, 2012 – In 2012, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) organization will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Throughout the last century it has become an internationally recognized champion for trust, and its torch has become a symbol people believe in. This non-profit organization has grown a great deal since its founding in 1912, but its core mission remains the same – to help consumers find trustworthy businesses.
To celebrate this historic milestone, the Wisconsin BBB will host a special evening at the Harley-Davidson Garage and Museum on Wednesday, November 14th from 5 to 8 pm, with registration beginning at 4:30 pm. And, because the BBB is in good company, it has invited its charter and long-time business members that are (or are nearly) 100 years old, to help with its celebration.
These companies, a virtual “who’s who” of Wisconsin companies, will display old photos, videos and one-of-a-kind memorabilia. They are: Badger Meter, Bilt Rite Furniture, Chamberlin Company, Cramer-Krasselt, Droegkamp Furnace, Feerick Funeral Home, Foley & Lardner, Green Bay Packers, Harley Davidson, Johnson Controls, Layton State Bank, Milwaukee Bar Association, Northwestern Mutual, R. W. Baird, Ray Rasmussen Plumbing, Roundy’s, S-F Analytical Labs, Soerens Ford, Usinger’s, We Energies, Western States Envelope and Zander Press.
The first BBB was formed in Minneapolis by a group of advertising executives in response to the misleading advertisements that were notorious in the early 1900s. This group recognized that self-regulation of the industry was necessary because consumer trust was low, and that all businesses – especially honest and ethical businesses – suffered because of these bad players.
The BBB in Wisconsin was incorporated in October 1939, originally as the Better Business Bureau of Milwaukee, because of the efforts of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee. Prior to that, it was a committee within the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. Today, it serves the state of Wisconsin with offices in West Allis, Madison and Appleton, and more than 6,300 accredited business members. In addition, it’s one of more than 114 BBBs located throughout the United States and Canada.
For more information or further inquiries, contact the Wisconsin BBB at www.wisconsin.bbb.org or 414-847-6000 (metro Milwaukee), 920-734-4352 (Appleton), 608-268-2221 (Madison) or 1-800-273-1002 (elsewhere in Wisconsin). Consumers also can find more information about how to protect themselves from scams by following the Wisconsin BBB on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
About BBB
For 100 years, Better Business Bureau has been helping consumers find businesses, brands and charities they can trust. In 2011, consumers turned to BBB more than 100 million times for Business Reviews on more than 4 million companies and Charity Reports on 11,000 charities, all available for free at www.bbb.org. The Council of Better Business Bureaus is the umbrella organization for 115 local, independent BBBs across the United States and Canada, as well as home to its national programs on dispute resolution and industry self-regulation.
###
