Sir

Rex Dalton's article about the proposed merger of the Optical Society of America (OSA) and the International Society of Optical Engineers contains a number of misleading statements (Nature 400, 605; 1999).

Dalton refers to accusations that a recent membership mailing of OSA exemplified “inappropriate leadership tactics”. In fact, this half-price membership effort is an annual drive that was offered to all non-members in the society's vast database. No one group or specific out-of-house list was targeted for this mailing, and the inference that this solicitation was made to influence the proposed merger vote is without merit.

Dalton's report of threatened legal action against an unnamed OSA scientist is false. A letter sent by OSA's executive director to the scientist clearly states concern over the unauthorized use of a mailing list, but it does not make a legal threat. The society has traditionally taken a respectful stance regarding paper and electronic-mail intrusion into the lives of our members and always has acted to protect its mailing lists as an asset of OSA.

The article also leaves the mistaken impression that opponents of the merger have somehow been silenced in this debate. The board of directors and the staff of OSA have worked diligently to ensure that accurate, timely and informative materials were (and are) provided to our members so that they can make an educated decision on the proposed unification. There have been open forums at society meetings, links provided to the opponents' website, all-member communications providing the opponents' views mailed at the society's expense, and a ballot package sent to all eligible voters presenting equally arguments for and against the proposal.

This vote is extremely important to the future of our society — and the field of optics — and every effort has been made to keep the information flow fair and balanced.