The WMC made it through 1996 in reasonable financial shape thanks to some proceeds from the November conference (including Jim Bergman's liquidation sale of WMC T-shirts) and our biennial bubble of membership renewals. However, anticipation of increasing expenses has forced the WMC Board to recommend to the membership increasing the dues and making them payable on an annual basis. Dues have been $25 for 2 years since January 1990. Our basic expense and service to members, the WMC Networker, costs $2.50 to $3.00 per member to produce and distribute each issue. Our support services contract with the Centers for Water and Wildland Resources at UC Davis is now financed from our past balance and surplus from the 1996 conference. These improvements in membership services require a modest increase in annual dues that we hope you will find worthwhile. Many thanks to Barbara Machado for her four years of service (1993-1996) to the WMC as an excellent treasurer.