STATE bee-keepers' ASSOCIATION. 29 



RBPORT 



OF THE 



Illinois State Bee-Keepers' Association. 



The fourteenth annual session of the Illinois State Bee- 

 keepers' Association was called to order at 10 a. m. Novem- 

 ber 15, 1904, in the G. A. R. Hall at the Court House, in 

 Springifield, Pres. Smith being in the chair. 



Mr. George W. York, of the American Bee Journal, of- 

 fered the opening prayer. 



Membership dues were taken and badges were given. 



The report of the last meeting was not read, as it had 

 been printed in the Third Annual Report of the Association. 



secretary's annual report. 



During the last year the work of the Secretary has been 

 much greater than any year since our first and second annual 

 Reports were published, as we have during the year pub- 

 lished the Third Annual Report. 



We also made an effort to secure a larger membership, 

 and, as you are aware, sent out (through the assistance of 

 Mr. York), about one thousand letters, with a blank for mem- 

 bership application for return, and were successful, in secur- 

 ing 118 members ; and, we believe, had it been done before 

 so many had sent their dues to the National, we would have 

 doubled that number, as the $1.00 fee also gave them mem- 

 bership in the National Association as well as in the State 

 Association. 



We would suggest the same action for next year, and 

 that it be done as early in the year as possible. 



For several years past the Treasury has been in debt to 

 the Secretary, and it was not necessary to turn over what we 

 did not have. It wastatised by voting the largest part of the 

 fees received from members to the subscription for the Amer- 

 ican Bee Journal. But last year we voted to give each mem- 

 ber, a membership in the National also for the year, and with 

 the increased amount going into the treasury, and the growth 

 in membership, the treasury has paid up the Secretary and 

 created a surplus besides. We did not make a report of the 

 amount, as our book is here for the inspection of the Audit- 

 ing Committee. 



At the last year's meeting one of the members present 

 moved that all throw in and make up the amount due the 

 Secretary, but the Secretary did not desire such a move, as- 

 suring the members that he had faith that a gain would be 

 made that would supply the deficiency. . 



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