Communication from the Secretary. 



71 



COMMUNICATION FROM THE SECRETARY. 



To THE Members of the Sierra Club: 



During the past three years the Club has nearly dou- 

 bled its membership, which will number eight hundred 

 before long. This remarkable increase has been mainly due 

 to the annual Club Outings, the third having been taken 

 last summer to the Kern Canon and Mt. Whitney. Our 

 members should not, however, lose sight of the fact that 

 this feature of the Club's Hfe is but a minor part, and is 

 merely a step toward the attainment of the worthy objects 

 for which the Club was incorporated and the high ideals 

 for which it stands. These Outings have unquestionably 

 aided the Club in many ways besides merely increasing 

 its membership. Because of such increase, they have ne- 

 cessarily added to the finances, and thus enabled the Club 

 to do more effective work through its publications and its 

 headquarters in the Mills Building. They have also made 

 the Club much more widely known and consequently ex- 

 tended its sphere of influence. But the sentiment is be- 

 coming too prevalent that the Club exists merely for the 

 purpose of conducting these Outings, whereas it was or- 

 ganized nearly ten years before the first Outing was taken. 

 The preservation of the forests and the natural scenery of 

 our mountains will always be our main work and reason 

 for existence. We want these Outings to be enjoyed by 

 our members, and we are glad that they attract members ; 



