To the Members of the American Academy of Applied Nutrition and Friends

It is with immeasurable pride that I review the attainments of the American Academy of Applied Nutrition during the period of time I have served the organization as president. The steadily climbing membership of our Academy, our uniformly excellent programs on scientific and practical nutrition, and the growing realization that nutrition has become recognized as an important branch of medicine led us to undertake our first national convention in June, 1946, in San Francisco. Our scientific sessions, were addressed by the following speakers: Dr. Agnes Fay Morgan, Dr. Arild Hansen, Dr. William W. Wainwright, Dr. Joseph C. Risser, Dr. Isaac H. Jones, Mr. Michael J. Walsh, Dr. J. Eugene Ziegler, Dr. Hal M. Davison, Miss Jane Sedgwick, Dr. Harold F. Hawkins, and Dr. Francis M. Pottenger, Sr.

It is interesting to note that the founders of the Academy, in 1936, had anticipated the eventual expansion into a national organization. However, when the constitution was examined by Mr. Hubert T. Morrow, our attorney, in November, 1945, it was discovered that no provision had been made for this extension as a non-profit organization. With Mr. Morrow’s legal counsel, the Board of Directors set about drafting a new constitution and by-laws which provided for a national organization to be known as the American Academy of Applied Nutrition, with the first affiliate to be designated as the Los Angeles Affiliate of the American Academy of Applied Nutrition. The new constitution was adopted at the meeting on December 3, 1946.

Dr. Alex Linck was elected as president of the Los Angeles affiliate. Dr. Joseph C. Risser, president-elect, and Mr. Michael Walsh, secretary treasurer, were the choices of the group for their respective posts.

Dr. Leland Jones, a member of the Board of Directors, who had regularly made the trip from San Diego to attend our meetings in Los Angeles, directed the establishment of the San Diego chapter on February 25, 1947. It was my pleasure to participate in one of the regular meetings in April, when Dr. Sam McClendon, president of the California State Medical Association, delivered an address. Dr. Jones reports increasing membership in the San Diego chapter, with a schedule of valuable programs.

In October, 1946, Dr. N. Philip Norman, a New York member of our Academy, addressed our meeting. Dr. Norman is one of the well known nutritionists in the east, and is the author of many excellent articles and books along these lines. In November, Dr. William A. Albrecht, chairman of the Department of Soils, University of Missouri, drew a capacity audience of members and visitors. It speaks well for the standing of our organization that we can obtain such speakers.

The new constitution of the American Academy of Applied Nutrition provides for the formation of regional and state affiliates. As this plan matures, we have every reason to believe we shall attain the prestige in our field enjoyed by other nationally known professional organizations.

One of our “dreams come true” is the journal. Dr. J. C. Almy Harding brought out the excellent first number this spring. It has found an enthusiastic welcome and an immediate increase in the subscription list. We are fortunate in having secured Dr. Harding as our editor. 

Dr. Weston A. Price, the eminent Cleveland dentist whose book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration” is one of the foundation stones of our nutrition studies, presented to the Academy in May his collection of scientific photographs and research material. At the same time, he gave to the Academy $15,000 to properly house and utilize his collection.

The Board of Directors, with the encouragement of the membership, has agreed that this is the proper time to expand the scope of the Academy. We have engaged the expert services of Bishop and Associates to conduct a campaign for funds to promote the scientific activities of the Academy. We plan to extend the types of membership, to organize new affiliate chapters, to establish fellowships, and to support a nutritional research program.

Our second annual national convention will be held at Del Mar on October 4 and 5. We shall join forces with the American Anti-Arthritis Association to engage the finest speakers obtainable. We shall be comfortably housed in this beautiful hotel by the sea; we shall find intellectual companionship with congenial minds; we shall have a choice of recreation. We extend a warm invitation to the ladies to share as much of our program as they choose.

We urge our membership to begin at once to encourage their friends interested in nutrition to come to the meetings at Del Mar. We anticipate an exceptional two-day session. Falling on the week-end, the meetings are arranged to attract a large group. Make your reservations as early as possible. We shall greet you there!

Cordially,

Francis M. Pottenger, Jr., M. D. President American Academy of Applied Nutrition