46 



inittees are the oriraiis ol" n .society, aii<l without their ethcieut action even 

 an enthusiastic membership can avail but little. In the interest of a closer 

 cooperation and better service I would commend to the Academy a change 

 in its practice to the end that the incoming president may choose and 

 appoint the committees with which lie is to work and for whose action he 

 is in large measure responsible. 



May I also add a word here to emphasize the fact that it is a mat- 

 ter of vital importance to tlie Acadeiny that each committee should organ- 

 ize promptly and carry on its work with some energy. Except dur- 

 ing its regular meetings the Acaden>y is a discrete body and must there- 

 fore delegate the performance of its necessary work to special or standing 

 committees and must rely upon them for its jiroper and timely accomplish- 

 ment. In the case of the standing committees, some of the members are 

 carried over from year to year and are tb.erefore somewhat familiar with 

 the work they are expected to do. On the other liand the president is 

 elected for one year and comes to the office with no special knowledge of 

 the organization of tlie Academy or of the immediate duties of his office. 

 In addition to this, the membership beiuL' state-\^'i(le in its distribution. 

 there are few opportunities for personal conference in planning or carry- 

 ing on the work. It is practically necessary, then, for the chairmen to 

 take the initiative and to assume tlie responsibility to the president and 

 the Academy for the efficient pert'orniance of tlie \\-ork devolving u]ion their 

 several committees. 



If the work of the connnittees be neglected or indifferently perrormod. 

 the Academy suffers and has little opportunity to repair the failure. For- 

 tunately, members are loyal and try to render excellent service. The chief 

 difficulty comes from a failure to realize the time-consuming nature of the 

 accomplishment of \\ork through correspondence and the delays incident 

 to widely separated residence of dilferent members of committees. Every 

 connnittee, therefore, should organize at once and make early prci'-'i'-ation 

 for their work. 



The committee of most immediate HHpdit.MiKe fo the Academy is the 

 program committee and it is so fundamental that I may bo pardoned a com- 

 ment or two regarding its work. Pei'son.-illy I do not believe it is sufficient 

 that this connnittee simi)ly issue a call for coiilributions. Plans for a deli- 

 nite progr.uii should be umde ;it once, and by persenal invitation and cor- 

 respondence the cooperation of menibers should be secured in c.irrying it 

 out. This year's i)rogram affords an illustration oi' this jihin. and 1 be- 



