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service. Special activities along various aspects of the war effort 
are extensive and important, as already noted. It should be a 
definite part of this effort to maintain and improve the charac- 
teristic features of our American civilization; it is primarily for 
this purpose that the United States entered the war. This is one 
of the reasons for maintaining now our support of museums and 
botanic gardens. This has become not only a privilege or oppor- 
tunity but, in a democracy, a social obligation. 
The total number of members (as of April 9, 1943) is 939, 
compared with 994 as of April 25, 1942. The list of members 
may be found on pages 153-164 infra. The decrease, of course, re- 
flects the financially difficult times through which we are passing, 
and absorption of interest in wartime activities. It is appropriate 
to register here the fact that, notwithstanding the falling off in 
number of members, the demands of the public for such service as 
the Garden renders have been increasing steadily during the past 
few years, and notably in 1942, 
About 8,000 herbs and vegetable plants were distributed to mem- 
bers who called for them on May 15. Special information was 
given by mail, ‘phone, and personal conference to many members 
interested in the general subject of victory gardens for themselves 
and organizations. 
Club Memberships. The special opportunities offered to Garden 
Clubs who enroll as members of the Garden have been taken advan- 
tage of by about 25 clubs. For many years the Botanic Garden 
has cooperated in numerous ways with scores of garden clubs, in 
this and other states, and club membership in the Garden is a 
logical sequence to this. The advantages of Club Membership are 
explained on page itt preceding this Report. 
PERSON NEL 
Dr. James G. McDonald, who became president of the Brooklyn 
Institute of Arts and Sciences on April 14, 1938, succeeding Mr. 
Edward C. Blum, who then became chairman of the Board, re- 
signed as of March 1, 1942. 
Mr. Adrian Van Sinderen, who was third vice-president of the 
Board of Trustees from 1928-1931, second vice-president from 
1921 to 1942, and chairman of the Finance Committee of the Boar« 
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