Decembek 24, 1920] 



SCIENCE 



599 



The study of the outlines submitted has 

 impressed the writer with the value of direct 

 and printed discussion of the problems of the 

 introductory course. The problems are per- 

 haps best understood by the interchange of 

 experience through the publication of out- 

 lines with the reasons for their preference. 

 Progress will come through experimentation 

 in methods, material and texts, experimenta- 

 tion that can never end since each year brings 

 new teachers to the problems. 



Bradley Moore Davis 

 I Univeksitt of Michigan, 



PRESENT STATUS OF THE AFFAIRS OF 



THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR 



THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE^ 



It seems highly desirable that members of 

 the association should be kept currently in- 

 formed regarding the progress made in the 

 work of the permanent secretary's office, so 

 that they may have a somewhat clear concep- 

 tion of what the association is doing and how 

 its various aims are being carried out. To 

 this end, it is planned to publish in Science, 

 from time to time, summarized reports of 

 progress and notes on matters of general 

 interest. The present report refers mainly to 

 the period from April 1 to October 1, 1920. 



Publicaiions. — A booklet has been prepared, 

 including the constitution and by-laws and 

 other information. About 23,000 of these 

 booklets have been sent to members and pros- 

 pective members. Additional copies may be 

 obtained from the permanent secretary's office. 

 All members have been requested to fill in the 

 blanks on an information card and a large 

 number of these cards have been returned. 

 The information asked for is partly for use in 

 the preparation of the new membership list 

 (which will be published in the spring of 

 1921) and partly for the files of the office. 

 It has been found necessary to make a charge 

 for the new membership list since the funds 

 of the association do not allow of its publica- 

 tion otherwise. This charge is $1 to members 



I 1 From a report of the Permanent Secretary pre- 

 sented to the Executive Committee at its meeting 

 in New York, October 17, 1920. 



who remitted before December 1, 1920; $1.50 

 to members who remit later. The price of the 

 volume is $1.50 to those who are not members. 



Statement Cards. — A new series of white 

 cards has been devised and adopted, for pre- 

 senting the annual statements to members. 

 In all cases the reverse of the billing card bears 

 the information blanks mentioned above and 

 each member is asked to return the card with 

 his remittance of dues. These cards make 

 up the information file of members' names. 



Master File. — A complete card list of mem- 

 bers has been installed and is kept continually 

 correct. These cards show the status of each 

 member as to dues and as to membership in 

 affiliated acadernies or divisions of the asso- 

 ciation. 



Application Forms. — Application for mem- 

 bership is now made on a buil card bearing 

 the information blanks, these cards being in- 

 serted in the information file as soon as the 

 new member has been elected. No sponsers 

 are now required for application. Election 

 can not occur until the proper remittance has 

 been received. A special application card 

 (blue is used by new members of affiliated 

 societies, who are eligible to membership in 

 the association without payment of the regu- 

 lar $5 entrance fee. 



Invitations to Join the Association. — The 

 campaign for increasing the membership has 

 necessarily been somewhat restricted during 

 1920, on account of much other work, espe- 

 cially in connection with the reorganization 

 of the office, but it will be vigorously pushed 

 during 1921. About 9,000 invitations have 

 been sent to newly-elected members of affili- 

 ated societies, who make application by the 

 blue card mentioned above. A strong cam- 

 paign for new members is being carried out 

 by the Local Committee for the Chicago 



Special Offer Regarding Arrearages for 

 1917-19. — This offer (see Science, May 7, 

 1920, page 470, paragraph 3) was presented to 

 2,175 members who were in arrears for one 

 or more years of this three-year period. Ac- 

 ceptances, with payment of 1920 dues and 

 consequent reinstatement as in good standing. 



