AOCS Feed Microscopy Division Newsletter November 2006
In Focus
Marge McCutcheon, Chairperson
It's hard to believe five years have passed since I refused to let Pat Ramsey retire and encouraged her to become the AOCS Feed Microscopy Division Chair. I'd like to thank Pat for all of her hard work over the past 4 years. Her legacy as Chair included a well overdue revitalization of our short course workbook and a refreshing new approach to our short courses. And with the help of our new incoming Vice Chair Neil Vary, Ex-officio Jim Makowski, and Beth Anne Sturgeon-Woody, she put on more short courses in her tenure than ever before. Her dedication to the field of Microscopy has been rivaled by few. Pat will continue her valuable contributions in Ex-officio status as a Member-at-Large, remain as part of our teaching staff, and has also become our new newsletter editor. I know others join me in saying, "thanks for all of your efforts and we look forward to many more years together."
I look forward to the next two years with excitement and enthusiasm as the AOCS Feed Microscopy Division Chair. I'd like to thank Christine Rogers-Kelly who has been kind enough to remain as our Secretary/Treasurer, Annie Fournier for all her past years of hard work on the Check Sample program, Gary Ideus who has offered to take over that program this year, Ex-officio Kim Koch for all his support to our Division and all of our members for their support as well. I'd especially like to thank Neil Vary for taking on the challenge of Vice Chair. I feel very fortunate to be working in his company and I commend Neil for his commitment to the Division and our teaching staff as well. He, Pat and Jim as our teaching staff provide students with instruction second to none and represent the rich past, present and future of Microscopy in general.
As Chair I hope to continue to add to that enrichment over the next two years. I plan on working diligently on providing members with at least two innovative short courses and interesting and informative annual meeting symposia. I'd like to see part of our AAFM archives moved from its current location in Ames, Iowa to AOCS headquarters in order to be able to share our rich history at a future AOCS meeting. And for my most exciting commitment and endeavor, I'd like to see our Division produce a new manual for publication. We have already established a team of editors to produce the new edition manual, which will be broader in scope than any previous AAFM manuals, and its title will reflect that change.
I know that there will be many challenges as well as many gray hairs along the way but I'm confident our goals can be met by working as a team with my colleagues and friends. After all, the 49 years of existence of the AAFM is a true testimony to its people, and their hard work and fortitude. Let's continue the tradition, shall we?