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Bird-Lore


magazine may easily become of more value to the work than any National Committee or Advisory Council can hope to be, and for two reasons : 1. Questions and answers put upon paper are not forgotten as they may be in the heat of debate. 2. In a country of the size of ours it is easier to travel on paper than in person. If, during the coming year, not only the secretaries but any member of the executive committees of the societies will write freely of their needs and experiences to this de- partment, always remembering to send their communications during the months of De- cember, February, April, June, August or October, so that the material could he prop- erly digested for the next issue, great results can be obtained. This material need not be in the form of set reports for actual publication, but in letters or tabulated lists of questions and a dozen other ways which will tell of needs and stimulate the interchange of ideas. The Societies contributing their reports, or, in fact, any news to Bird-Lore, are in the minority, some will not even answer if asked a direct question by mail. If this is the case how much lietter will an Advisory Committee fare? Wake up, fellow workers; say your say all in good time and season, keeping it well in mind that it takes time to print an illus- trated magazine and that all material must be had thirty days before the publishing of each issue. Many of our secretaries keep in touch by private correspondence, but the same infor- mation made public reaches far and wide. Only by such intercourse as this can the general trend of the Societies be gauged and the vital topics stimulated to fruiting, so that the next convention may be something be- sides preliminary leaves. — M. O. W. Results of the Conference At the first Audubon Conference, held in Cambridge, Mass., in November, 1900. it was moved that a committee be appointed, to report at the next Conference, on the desirability of some form of cooperation between the various Societies when, for any reason, it seemed desirable for them to join hands in promoting the cause of bird protection. I'he report of this com- mittee as amended and imanimously adopted at the second conference is as follows: REPORT OF THE AUDUBON CONFERENCE COMMITTEE 1. That the several societies retain their individuality, that is, that they be not merged into a national organization. 2. But in view of the increased efficiency that would always result from some form of union, which would admit of concerted action, it is recommended that 3. The several societies shall each ap- point one member of a committee to be known as the National Committee of the Audubon Societies of America. 4. That the members of this committee may be empowered to represent the societies whenever concerted action on the part of the societies be deemed by the Committee expedient. 5. That an Annual Conference of the Societies be held, and that this Committee be authorized to arrange for the time and place of the Conference. 6. That this Committee draft its own rules and regulations. (Signed) H. C. Bumpus, Frank M. Chapman, Ralph Hoffmann. A list of the delegates present, with the societies they represented, is appended: Vermont, Elizabeth B. Davenport, Anna B. Phelps; Massachusetts, William Brews- ter, Harriet E. Richards, Reginald C. Rob- bins; Rhode Island, H. C. Bumpus, Annie M. Grant; Connecticut, Mabel Osgood Wright, Helen W. Glover. Delia T. Au- dubon Tyler, Katharine A. Wilcox, Dora R. Wheeler, Grace R. Moody, Mrs. Wal- ter Smith, Willard G. Van Name; New York, Emma H. Lockwood, Lilian G. Cook, Olive Thorne Miller, May Riley Smith, W. T. Hornaday, William Dutcher, J. A. Allen, Frank M. Chapman; New Jersey, Julia J. Noll, D. W. Miller; Penn- sylvanin, Julia Stockton Robins, E. L.