ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT 403 



Nolo, as regards membership : The graphical chart on the opposite 

 page shows the number of members for each year since 1888 : 



Starting in 1888 with a total membership of 209, we note a con- 

 tinual and steady increase up to 1899, when we had 1,417 members. 

 Since then the membership has increased to such an extent that it 

 has almost doubled in a single year (1,417 members in 1899, 2,462 

 members in 1900). 



It is obvious, then, tliat we are moving in the right direction. There 

 is every prospect that attention to the Magazine and to the needs of 

 our' outside members will result in an increase of membershi]) so 

 great that we may hope in a few years to have thousands of mem- 

 bers where we now have hundreds, and to establish on a lasting 

 foundation a great national society of which we may all be proud. 



I would therefore recommend the adoption of the polic^y of national 

 expansion, and ultimately, when the proper time arrives, of national 

 representation in the Society, with voting power not limited to the 

 residents of Washington, D. C. Already the Uidanders outnumber the 

 Boers, 1,264 corresponding to 1,198 active members* 



With this policy in view we may consider various steps tliat miglit 

 be taken to bring about the desn-ed result. 



NATIONAL P:XPANS10N 



We must i)ay every attention to our outside members and do ever\'- 

 thing we can to hold their interest. 



(1) At present we can only reach them through our jNIagazine, and 

 therefore ever3^ effort should be made to keep up its character, so 

 that outside members may feel that it is to their advantage to l)e 

 associated witli the Societv and receive its publications. It is of the 

 first consequence to success that iJie Magazine should appear promplhi 

 on time; that its contents should be up to date, dealing largel}^ with 

 .the geography of current events and those topics that are engaging 

 jjuldic attention ; that the articles should be ti'eated in a non-technical 

 manner, so that all our members may understand them, and tliat tlie 

 Magazine should l)e profusely illustrated with maps and pictures of 

 life and action. 



(2) Special privileges might l)e given to members by affording 

 them the opportunity of purchasing througli the Society at reduced 

 rates geographical woi'ks, l)ooks of travel, histories, etc. A hugt^ 



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