1922] Metcalf: Proceedings of Toronto Meeting 105 



three hundred members. Between annual meetings the only realization most of 

 us have of any connection with the Entomological Society of America is the 

 quarterly receipt of the Annals and an occasional statement of annual dues from 

 the Secretary. The Annals is a credit to our Society and the annual program is 

 always a splendid one. But surely there must be other ways in which an organ- 

 ization of approximately 600 persons, all vitally interested in one profession, 

 should, and can, make itself felt during the year. 



As a step in preparation for any larger service that the Society may deem 

 it expedient to undertake, the Secretary has taken the initiative in preparing 

 blank, index, information cards, which were mailed to all members with the 

 preliminary announcement of this meeting. The annual statement of dues appears 

 on one side; on the reverse the secretary asked for the following information: 

 (1) full name and correct address; (2) official title, firm or other institution with 

 which the member is connected; (3) the subject in which the member has pub- 

 lished papers; (4) projects on which the member has work in progress; (5) tax- 

 onomic groups in which the member is interested and in which he is willing to 

 make determinations; (6) and, finally, the degrees held by the member. There is 

 also space provided for a record of the date of recommendation to membership, 

 date of election as a member, as a fellow, and as an honorary fellow, and for a 

 record of memberships terminated by death, by resignation or failure to pay the 

 annual dues. 



These cards should serve several purposes. They will serve as the official 

 mailing list of the Secretary's office. The very roving nature of most Entomologists 

 makes it impracticable to keep the members revised address on the same sheet 

 with his financial statement; since the latter must be permanently filed and in a 

 few years becomes so checkered with alterations and revisions of the address as 

 to be unreadable. With the card system a new card may be filed with each 

 change of address and the old one discarded. 



If the members will fill out the cards faithfully they will serve as a splendid 

 basis for selection of persons for symposia, public addresses, etc. And if the 

 Society desires to make use of the Secretary's office in such a way, they would 

 furnish a basis for helping amateurs who desire identification in various groups, for 

 bringing together specialists working on similar problems and as an indication of 

 members who might be available to undertake a particular type of work. 



Unhappily in spite of the admonition "See the other side" that appears at the 

 bottom of the card, many members have apparently noticed only the statement of 

 their account and have failed to see the information blank on the reverse side of the 

 card. Others have for various reasons probably been reluctant to fill in the card. 

 The Secretary has no desire to press the matter but is firmly convinced in his own 

 mind that his office will be able to serve the Society better if the information asked 

 for appears beneath your name and address. A supply of these cards is available 

 if members who have not sent them in, care to fill them out. 



Some of the avowed objects of the Society, as expressed in the constitution 

 and at other times, are: to promote the Science of Entomology in all its branches; 

 to keep amateurs in touch with professional entomologists and with a central body; 

 to build up and foster local societies; and to give the study of entomology that 

 standing which its importance in relation to all forms of human activity warrants 

 and demands. 



