ARTICLE I. The place and time of the Annual Meeting shall be selected by the membership in session or, in the event of no selection being made at this time, the Board of Directors shall choose the place and time for the holding of the annual convention. Such other meetings as may seem desirable may be called by the President and Board of Directors. SECTION VI.--PUBLICATIONS ARTICLE I. The Association shall publish a report each fiscal year and such other publications as may be authorized by the Association. ARTICLE II. The publishing of the report shall be the responsibility of the Committee on Publications. SECTION VII.--AWARDS ARTICLE I. The Association may provide suitable awards for outstanding contributions to the cultivation of nut bearing plants and suitable recognition for meritorious exhibits as may be appropriate. SECTION VIII.--STANDING COMMITTEES As soon as practical after the Annual Meeting of the Association, the President shall appoint the following standing committees: 1. Membership 2. Auditing 3. Publications 4. Survey 5. Program 6. Research 7. Exhibit 8. Varieties and Contests 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. Proceedings 44th Annual Meeting Northern Nut Growers Association Rochester, New York August 31--September 1, 1953 MONDAY MORNING SESSION PRESIDENT BEST: We are opening this 44th Annual Meeting of the Northern Nut Growers Association with this historic gavel which was made from wood grown in the Thomas Littlepage pecan grove near Washington, D. C. Opening each session with this gavel has been a custom of this organization for many, many years.