February, '21] business proceedings 19 



At a meeting of the trustees of the Institute, held at New York City December 8, a 

 resolution was adopted providing that in any projects relating to entomology the 

 trustees of the Institute will seek the counsel of the Committee on Policy of the 

 American Association of Economic Entomologists. 



State Quarantine Regulations 

 At a meeting of the Committee held April 19 at Albany, N. Y., it was voted to 

 send to all state quarantine officers a recommendation to the effect that they modify 

 existing state quarantines relating to the European Corn Borer in such manner as 

 to make state regulations uniform and bring them into conformity with the action 

 of the Federal Horticultural Board. 



Election to the Committee on Policy 

 The Committee on Policy recommends to the Association that, in general, on the 

 expiration of the term of office of a member of the Committee, the retirint; member 

 should not be immediately renominated to the Committee. 



Association Branches 

 In June the Committee received a proposal that it consider a plan for the forma- 

 tion of a northeastern branch of our Association. The proposition was discussed 

 by members of the Committee through correspondence and the general sentiment 

 was at first favorable. Expressions of opinion were sought, also, from various mem- 

 bers of the Association. 



' As the matter was reviewed further it appeared to the Committee that the question 

 involved was one of far-reaching effect, which should have thorough study by the 

 Association to the end that a policy be agreed on that may guide action not only in 

 the present instance but in the case of future similar proposals from other sections 

 of the country. With this in view the Committee adopted the following recom- 

 mendation to the Association: 



The possible establishment of regional branches of the American Association of 

 Economic Entomologists, such as the proposed Eastern Branch, is a matter of utmost 

 importance since it involves fundamental questions of policy. 



To safeguard the essential interests of the Association, it is obvious that considera- 

 tion must be given to two factors. On the one hand, no step should be taken to 

 discourage the initiative of the members. On the other hand, care must be exercised 

 to prevent competition with the Association. Conferences and field meetings are 

 highly desirable, and such should be undertaken more frequently than have been 

 attempted in the past as they stimulate interest in the subject of entomology and 

 focus attention on economic problems of outstanding importance. 



As a guiding principle, it has been suggested that instead of creating formal 

 branches for certain geographical sections, efforts be directed to hold conferences 

 and field meetings of members of the association residing in the same general area 

 of the country who are interested or engaged in similar entomological problems. 

 In other words, attendance at the gatherings should be based primarily on interest 

 in definite projects rather than on residence in designated zones. If this policy 

 prevails little administrative machinery will be required, and the principal items of 

 business will be such as are incidental to the conferences. 



Through the agency of such regional gatherings, opportunity will be afforded for 

 a desirable molding of public sentiment. Entomologists can do very much more 

 than is now attempted to direct the sources of information available to the public 

 as to the character and the efficiency of entomological efforts in behalf of national 

 welfare. Great good would be accomplished by holding conferences for the express 

 purpose of observing experimental results of special significance. To such confer- 

 ences there may be invited leading members of local, state and national agricultural 

 organizations, and men of affairs, who can assist in coordinating civilian enterprises 

 with our entomological activities. With the establishment of the Crop Protection 



