REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 
15 
It is evident that so far as Iowa scientists are concerned the state Academy 
holds a place of large usefulness. The various national societies fill a 
need that nothing else can supply but for most of us the state Academy 
occupies a position of great value. It seems that what is perhaps an ideal 
condition is being attained in the affiliation of these two classes of organi- 
zations such as is now progressing in the case of the American Associa- 
tion for the Advancement of Science and the state and local academies 
of the Union. This matter was discussed by this Academy at its last 
meeting and the Executive Committee was authorized to perfect affiliation 
provided such union did not affect the internal organization of the 
Academy. At the time of the meeting of the American Association in 
St. Louis several conferences were held between representatives of the 
Association and of the academies. At these conferences the following 
plan of affiliation was tentatively decided upon, and was then accepted by 
the Council of the American Association and was to be presented to the 
various academies. Immediately following the meeting our Executive 
Committee was apprized of the action taken at St Louis and unanimously 
ratified the proposal. The outline of the plan follows ; 
1. The Academy upon acceptance of the plan becomes thereby an 
affiliated Academy. 
2. Membership in the Association is entirely optional with members of 
the Academies. 
3. The combined annual dues of the two bodies amount to one dollar 
less than the sum. of the two separate dues. In our case these dues 
would be five! dollars for members of both bodies. This sum is to be 
collected by the treasurers of the academies and four dollars is to be 
forwarded to the secretary of the American Association for each member 
who is also a member of that body. For the current year one dollar each 
will be remitted to the Academy members who have already paid the 
Association dues when the secretary of the Association is informed that 
the Academy has accepted affiliation. 
4. Affiliation has no effect upon the internal affairs of the academies. 
They remain entirely autonomous. 
5. The academies are urged to assist in increasing the membership 
of the Association in order thereby to overcome the decrease in its 
income through the remission of a part of its dues, as well as to stimu- 
late interest in its work and aims. 
6. Each affiliated Academy is to be represented in the Council of the 
Association by one person to be chosen by the Academy itself. 
7. Six months time is allowed for the Academies to consider and 
act on this question. All the Academies will hold meetings within that 
period. 
Probably the chief value of this scheme of affiliation will be the 
resultant tying up of all the scientific organizations of the country into 
a more unified body. The probable outcome of the plan will be the 
formation of a Central States Division of the American Association 
similar to the Pacific Coast Division and the Southwestern Division. 
It may be necessary to change our fiscal year to agree with that of 
the Association so that dues will be collected before the first of each 
year. Other details will have to be worked out as occasion arises. This 
