Message from the Acting President 
Of the Editor's absence I shall take advantage first by talking 
about her, and then by telling briefly some uninteresting facts concern- 
ing the actual functioning of the Garden Club op America, for while 
the ''President and Secretary are away the First Vice-Presidential 
mouse is playing about." 
All those who have the Bulletin read it with keen interest and 
profit, not merely because it is the ofi&cial organ of the Garden Club 
OF America, but because of its very worth, and are we not just a 
little conceited about it, as well we may be? However, I think that 
possibly its readers (I speak feelingly) while absorbing the printed 
page fail to analyze exactly the effort represented. From assembling 
copy to making up the dummy, the editing of our magazine is a task 
of no small proportions, so here I extend an inadequate word of deep 
appreciation for the Editor's devoted services and express in the same 
breath the gratitude of all Officers, Directors, and Readers to the 
Acting Editor for her kindness in assuming her present post. 
Daily observation of Presidential responsibilities and of the 
Secretarial Ofl&ce activities has been more or less in the nature of a 
revelation to me, and I am convinced that the despised eight-hour 
day, or rather ten-hour day, has come into its own here. Judging the 
interest of all by my own, and although fully conscious that any 
account of business routine is without charm, I venture to enumerate 
some of the office duties, such as replying to letters and inquiries 
covering a large field; attending to the necessary daily correspondence; 
keeping office records, accounts, and three separate card files of 
membership; sending out notices, circulars, etc.; preparing for meet- 
ings and attending to the subsequent business; carrying on some com- 
mittee work, telephoning, looking after ubiquitous detail, and so on. 
The past weeks have been so crowded with significance to me, and so 
great has been the impression of this small but necessary centered 
effort, that I have been tempted to pass on a fragmentary account: 
for by this one is reminded of the localized activity in each of the 
fifty-one Member Clubs, as in every branch of the organization in its 
splendid growth. 
Two recent occurrences give me especial pleasure to note: The 
first was my visit in late December to the Royal Horticultural Society 
in London. Mrs. Randal Morgan, of the International Relations 
Committee, had paved my way for an interview with the Secretary, 
Mr. Dykes; so from the old and very impressive looking safe was 
brought the Minute Book of the Royal Horticultural Society and I 
was shown the Resolutions of AffiUation with the Garden Club of 
America, passed by the Council at its meeting in November. I am 
sure that all will read with appreciation these resolutions, printed 
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