SECTION IX.--REGIONAL GROUPS AND AFFILIATED SOCIETIES ARTICLE I. The Association shall encourage the formation of regional groups of its members, who may elect their own officers and organize their own local field days and other programs. They may publish their proceedings and selected papers in the yearbooks of the parent society subject to review of the Association's Committee on Publications. ARTICLE II. Any independent regional association of nut growers may affiliate with the Northern Nut Growers Association provided one-fourth of its members are also members of the Northern Nut Growers Association. Such affiliated societies shall pay an annual affiliation fee of $3.00 to the Northern Nut Growers Association. Papers presented at the meetings of the regional society may be published in the proceedings of the parent society subject to review of the Association's Committee on Publications. SECTION X.--AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS ARTICLE I. These by-laws may be amended at any Annual Meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present provided such amendments shall have been submitted to the membership in writing at least thirty days prior to that meeting. Forty-Third Annual Meeting Northern Nut Growers Association August 25, 26, 27, 1952 Spencer County Court House, Rockport, Ind. The opening session of the Forty-third Annual Meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association convened at 9:20 o'clock, a.m., at the Spencer County Court House, President L. H. MacDaniels presiding. PRESIDENT MacDANIELS: The gavel with which we open this forty-third annual meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association has some historical significance. It was made from a pecan tree which grew in the orchard of Mr. Thomas Littlepage in Maryland, near the city of Washington, and it has been the custom of the Association to open its meetings with that gavel. The forty-third meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association will be in order. To open the session we will have the presentation of the colors. You will all stand, please, and remain standing through the invocation. (Colors presented by Boy Scouts and the invocation given by the Reverend William Ellis of Rockport.) PRESIDENT MacDANIELS: At this time we will call on Mr. Hilbert Bennett to bring us greetings from the people of Rockport. Mr. Bennett of Rockport. Address of Welcome HILBERT BENNETT, _Rockport, Ind._ Some are here that were here in 1935 and 1939. I was on the Citizen's Committee in each of those years. It was the purpose of the Citizen's Committee to take notice of your coming and to try to make you appreciate our interest in you and in your coming. Why was I on that Committee in 1935? Why was I on that Committee in 1939? Why am I on that Committee in 1952? I will tell you.