ciate Member, for the reason that all good Garden Clubs are eligible 
to regular membership and it is not desirable that individuals should 
have Club privileges pending election. Such privileges might be 
abused. 
For this year each member Club may present three candidates 
for Associate Membership. The Executive Committee may also 
present candidates. The names of candidates, duly proposed and 
seconded, and accompanied by letters, several, if possible, setting 
forth their qualifications, must be sent to the Executive Committee, 
who, in turn, will present them to the Council of Presidents. 
Perhaps a word of explanation is needed as to just what the word 
"amateur" implies. The Committee has construed it to include all 
persons professionally but not commercially interested in gardening. 
Slight shades of meaning each Club must settle for itself. The 
Clubs are asked, however, to be very conservative in their choice of 
candidates. This new membership will add to the size of the Club. 
It will also add to its interest and usefulness. No one should be 
proposed whose membership would not be for mutual profit. The 
proposer and seconder, who may be individuals, not Clubs, must 
give assurance of the interest and ability of their candidate. 
Another year the rules will be slightly changed. Probably each 
Club will be allowed to present but one candidate. This year there 
are many who are anxious to become members and many whom the 
Club is anxious to enroll. Under the present arrangement about a 
hundred can be elected. Later this class of membership will probably 
be limited, but no very definite rules can be made until the plan 
has been given a trial. 
At the Council of Presidents on March 30, 1916, the Garden Club 
of Ridgefield, Connecticut, was elected to membership in The Garden 
Club of America. 
