The Institute on its 50th anniversary

TWO outstanding characteristics of the Institute's work have been especially striking during my term as president. The first is the high degree of efficiency and the smooth operation which characterizes the chief feature of the Institute's work, viz., the reception, the consideration, the publication, the presentation, and the discussion of technical papers. The enthusiasm, energy, skill, and competence with which our technical committees function is evidently based upon a combination of profit from experience, and devotion to the Institute and its ideals. Changes of personnel, changes of administration, cannot disturb the smooth functioning of an organization perfected over the years and always animated by the highest professional spirit. Supported by an equally efficient and devoted headquarters staff, it is not to be wondered at that an incoming president, timorous with uncertainty, and dreading the necessity for the study of detail, should experience a feeling of immense relief at the realization of how large a proportion of the Institute's work can go on without his attention and probably be the better therefor.