Orlando, Florida - March 2, 1997
Twenty-two people were present at the Business Meeting. Dick Dickersin (President) opened the meeting at 1:30 p.m. A motion to waive reading the minutes from the August, 1996 meeting was approved.
Old Business
Dick updated the members on the items dealt with in the Executive Committee meeting yesterday, including the status of the symposium for Human Pathology. The symposium is on schedule for publication in 1998, and will cover 80 pages in the journal. Other symposia dealing with non-neoplastic diseases, cilia abnormalities, and mitochondrial abnormalities may be organized in the future.
New Business
Guillermo Herrera gave the Treasurer's report, and declared the Society in good financial health (details are available to members in the printed Newsletter for May 1997). The UltraPath VIII Conference in Oaxaca generated a profit and the first royalties for the Handbook have been received. The consensus from the members present was that a percentage of the cash reserves in the SUP account be placed in high-interest bearing certificates, with the amount and length of commitment to be at the discretion of the treasurer.
The discussion turned to the SUP News and the Web Site. These are two growing activities, but they need more articles and news items from the members in order to continue to be useful means to communicate with the membership. Karlene Hewan-Lowe indicated that we have Case of the Month submissions for a few months, but more people need to submit cases in order to keep this part of the web site active.
Dick related the Executive Committee decision to raise the annual dues from $20 to $30, with the dues for technicians and residents remaining at $20. Additional moneys generated from the increase can be used to support the development of the newsletter and website, promote the Society through advertisements in pathology journals, develop a Society brochure, and promote the Pathologist-in-Training Award (PITA) and UltraPath IX Conference
John Shelburne has made arrangements with the Grove Park Inn Resort in Asheville, North Carolina to host the UltraPath IX Conference August 2-7, 1998. Duke University will handle registration and CME credits. J. Allen Tucker is in the process of preparing the program for the conference. The question of inviting vendors to contribute to expenses for invited speakers or social events, or special activities during the conference was discussed. It has been the Society's policy in the past not to have commercial involvement, but the consensus of the group was that this can be carefully explored with the vendors, with the understanding that the vendors would not participate scientifically in the meetings. The possibility was also raised that commercial moneys could be used to supplement the cost of inviting residents to attend the meeting and present a paper, and that this may be a good incentive to get residents involved in the Society.
Claire Payne, who has served the Society so well as Secretary for several years, wanted to step down and hand over her duties to someone else. Nominations were made from the members present, and Joe Harb was elected as Secretary to replace Claire. Finally, Dick Dickersin turned over the gavel to incoming President Bruce Mackay, who adjourned the meeting at 2:35 p.m.
Submitted by Joe Harb, SUP Secretary
