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ANNUAL REPORT 1918 AND 1919 



THE CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION: 

 ITS HISTORY AND PROGRESS 

 PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS 

 By William H. Sallmon, of San Diego 



All arrangements had been made for holding the Seventh Semi- 

 annual Meeting of the CaHfornia Avocado Association on October 19 th, 

 1918 in connection with the Liberty Fair at Los Angeles. The program 

 committee, consisting of our indefatigable secretary. Dr. W. L. Hardin, 

 and our energetic vice-president, Mr. J. M. Elliott, had completed their 

 work, having arrsmged for us a feast of fat things, both as to eating and 

 speaking, at a Get-together dinner and two public sessions filled with 

 promise. The committee on exhibits headed by Dr. Lester Keller had 

 assembled fruit and trees with which to satisfy the palate and the eye, and 

 all was in a state of readiness, when suddenly, out of a clear sky, came the 

 imperative order of the Health Board prohibiting public gatherings on 

 account of the prevalence of influenza. Your president immediately tele- 

 graphed the secretary stating that in his judgment, patriotic duty and the 

 public welfare demanded postponement of our meetings and requesting that 

 such notice be sent to the membership. The other officers concurred and 

 notices of postponement were mailed. When the epidmic seemed to be 

 on the wane assurance was given that the Association could go ahead with 

 its dinner and meetings on Nov. 2 1 st and 22nd, but as the time approached 

 conditions again became uncertain, and the secretary issued another notice 

 of postponement. It did not seem wise to convene our gathering when the 

 Liberty Fair was finally held in December, but dm exhibit of fruit and 

 trees was then staged under the guidance of Dr. Keller in the space which 

 we had rented in the Exposition building, much literature was distributed 

 and more than a thousand persons tasted samples of avocados which were 

 furnished to them by our Committee. The officers planned to hold a mid- 

 winter meeting at Pasadena in January, but the "Flu" still lingered, and 

 at a meeting of the Board of Directors held at Whittier in February, 1919, 

 it was decided not to hold any general meeting of the Association until the 

 regular annual meeting in May. I feel sure that our members uphold these 

 actions. Inconvenience, disappointment and expense weigh lightly in the 

 balance as compared with the welfare of the nation and the cause of liberty. 



While our plans have been upset and the year has been an abnormal 

 one, yet the business of the Association has not been at a standstill. At 

 the beginning of the year the bona fide membership numbered 161. There 

 have been added, chiefly through the untiring and tactful work of our 

 Secretary 55, making a total membership of 216. The Treasurer's report 

 shows that the financial affairs of the Association are in sound condition. 

 Receipts have amounted to $1 ,854.63, expenditures including bills amount- 

 ing to $536.68 turned over by previous administration $1,046.49, leaving 

 a balance on hand of $808. 1 4. 



Your directors, who serve without compensation, and pay their own 

 traveling expenses, have held five meetings, three at Los Angeles, one at 

 the Chamber of Commerce in Whittier as guests of Mr. A. R. Rideout, 

 and one at Pasadena as guests of the California Hotel Company. They 

 have continued their studies of marketing problems, classification and 



