The Microcirculatory Society, Inc.
Newsletter

Volume 30, Number 1

Summer, 2002

Thanks. While driving to one of our many fine beaches here in Tucson, I was reminded that it's time for the Summer installment of the President's Message. First of all, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to the membership for electing me to serve as President of the Microcirculatory Society. I consider this position as an honor and privilege and I will do my best to follow in the footsteps of our many fine past presidents.

I'd also like to thank several members who recently completed their terms, namely Ingrid Sarelius for her excellent service as President. The President's Symposium was a huge success. Jeff Falcone and Bill Mayhan for serving on the Executive Council, Bill Chilian for Chairing the Awards Committee, Debbie Damon for Chairing the Membership Committee, Walter Durán for Chairing the Program Committee, Herb Lipowski for Chairing the Development Committee and Sarah Yuan for Chairing the Nominating Committee. In addition, I'd like to thank Michael Davis, Mary Gerritsen, Neil Granger, Bill Joyner, Bruce Klitzman, Akos Koller and Harvey Mayrowitz for their service on MCS committees. As you can see, there will be many new chairs and new members of our various committees. We are in the process of making these appointments.

I'd also like to welcome Geert Schmid-Schönbein as our President-Elect, Glenn Bohlen and Ron Korthuis as the new members of MCS Council. Bill Jackson is now the able Chair of the Program Committee and Molly Frame is the new Chair of the Membership Committee.

Continued thanks to Cindy Meininger for her competent service as Secretary, Ann Baldwin for service as Treasurer and Bob Gore for Chairing the Publications Committee and for his excellent service running the MCS Website. Also, thanks to Holly Lopez for a super job in managing and coordinating MCS business.

Annual Meeting. We live in an ever-changing world and our society's life journey is no exception. I'd like to touch on a few points that I believe deserve my attention as President and your attention as active, caring members of MCS. First, there is a concern that incorporating our annual meeting with Experimental Biology has caused a loss of our society's identity. One 'solution', mentioned to me by several members, is to hold our meeting separately from EB. I agree that we should maintain our 'identity' but I am not personally in favor of holding our meeting separately. I believe that there is a lot to gain from our association with APS and EB. For example, an effort is currently underway by Bill Chilian and APS to coordinate a Cardiovascular Theme format at EB. I believe that our MCS meeting would fit nicely into the theme concept and that the potential for interactions among CV scientists will be enhanced. Believe me, I appreciate the benefits and the more collegial nature of a 'smaller, closed knit' meeting and perhaps, in future years, we could hold our 'own' meeting again. For the upcoming meeting in San Diego, I will work with Bill Jackson, our new Program Committee Chair, to help maintain a sense of togetherness for our society's meeting. Toward that end, there are several scheduling ideas that Bill and I have in mind to avoid conflicts with other meetings and dinners at EB that tend to pull our members away to other venues. By the way, EB 2003 starts on Friday April 11, 2003, so please mark your calendars.

Membership. To remain alive and well, we must recruit new members into our society. I ask each of you to recruit one new member into MCS. this year. To make the process easier, Molly Frame, our new Membership Committee Chair, is working with Bob Gore to streamline the process to allow 'on-line' application. Keep an eye on the MCS website for further information regarding the online application process.

Young Investigators. Also, we must continue to attract young investigators into our society. I believe the Young Investigator's Symposium that Walter Durán initiated was well-attended in New Orleans. This year Jeff Frisbee and David Stepp are organizing this symposium, which will be held on the second day of the meeting (Saturday 4/12/03). In addition, we are increasing the number of Zweifach Young Investigator Travel Awards from two to five, which will hopefully attract young scientists to present their work at our meeting.

Financing. First, I'd like to thank the society's leadership in their choice of conservative investments a few years back. Their prudence is paying off today and has helped to maintain our society's financial foundation. However, our annual expenses continue to exceed revenues and it is critical that we increase the percent of members who pay their dues in a timely manner. In the coming year, we plan to gently, but persistently, 'remind' our delinquent members to pay their dues.

Journal. We have an excellent journal, whose impact factor continues to improve. You can support your journal in two meaningful ways: first, by submitting manuscripts to Microcirculation and second, by paying your dues. In conversations with many of you, maintaining and growing our journal is high on your priority list. Please help make that happen. Also, this is Neil Granger's final year as Editor of Microcirculation. Neil has done a super job during his tenure and he will be a tough act to follow. The Publications Committee received two excellent nominations for the new editor and will be making a recommendation to the MCS Council in the near future. Stay tuned.

That's all for now. Please support your society and have a great summer.