society affairs 153 



Report of the Executive Committee 



January 17, 1917. 

 The members of the Society of American Foresters have been well 

 informed of the principal activities of its Executive Committee during 

 the past year through the discussion of and balloting upon proposed 

 changes in the Constitution and in the conduct of the Society's publica- 

 tion. Through the ballot, which was taken on December 1, all of the 

 matters referred to the Executive Committee by the preceding commit- 

 tee and by the Society at the executive meeting in January, 1916, have 

 been brought to a conclusion, with one important exception. Formal 

 action has been taken to amalgamate the Proceedings of the Society 

 with the Forestry Quarterly in a new pubHcation of eight issues per 

 year, to be known as the Journal of Forestry. Detailed arrange- 

 ments for the handling of the new journal are now being worked 

 out by the Editorial Board in collaboration with Dr. Fernow. The 

 dues of Active members have been advanced to $5 per annum, a step 

 which not only assures adequate financial support for the new publica- 

 tion, but also provision for supporting effectively the scientific work 

 of the Society which should be aggressively developed. Another 

 important forward step has been taken in modifying the Constitution 

 of the Society so as to correlate all of its officers and governing bodies 

 more effectively through an Executive Council. 



The exception in the matters intrusted to the Executive Committee, 

 which has not been brought to a definite conclusion, is the reclassifica- 

 tion of membership with a suitable modification of the membership 

 provisions in the Constitution. The Executive Committee felt that 

 changes in this fundamental feature of the_ Society's organization 

 should not be made without very thorough consideration and oppor- 

 tunity for an expression of views. Accordingly, not only was a definite 

 period provided for the discussion of proposed changes after a ballot 

 had been prepared and distributed, but the ballot itself proposed two 

 alternative sets of amendments incorporating substantially the two 

 outstanding lines of development which had been suggested. The 

 vote of the Society upon this ballot indicated clearly that a large major- 

 ity of its members favor a broadening and reclassification of the basis 

 of membership ; but that they are almost equally divided as between the 

 alternative schemes proposed. Since this ballot was taken, the 

 Executive Committee has given careful study both to the vote itself 

 as an expression of opinion and to the many suggestions and opinions 

 which have been eHcited during the entire consideration of this question. 

 It is felt beyond any doubt that the officers of the Society are now in a 



