Section rules

There appears in this issue a series of rules prepared by the chairman of the Sections Committee, and approved by the Law Committee, which should be carefully studied by the officers of existing Sections, as well as members who are contemplating the organization of new Sections. These rules are based upon past experience, but are open to amendment should any suggestions for changes appear to be worthy of consideration. The most important requirement is that the signatures of twenty-five members are now necessary to obtain the authorization of the Board of Directors for the establishment of a Section. Members who propose organizing a Section where the present number is insufficient, should therefore endeavor to increase the membership to the required minimum, and if this be not possible, it may be assumed that the location selected is not of sufficient importance to justify the establishment of a local organization. The Institute offers the opportunity for the establishment of Sections, but unless there is proper local support it does not appear reasonable that it should be expected to arouse local enthusiasm. Five years´ experience has demonstrated that there is animportant field of usefulness for Sections, and many important papers have emanated from them. At the outset, there were good reasons for offering every facility for local development, and the wisdom of this course has been fully demonstrated. Even now, it appears that differing conditions require special consideration, and it is believed that these rules will tend toward uniformity in maintaining harmonious relations between the Institute and the various Sections.