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AOCS Agricultural Microscopy Division
Newsletter November 2007

In Focus
Marge McCutcheon, Chair

The hustle and bustle of the upcoming meeting are upon us as plans pull together for the 99th AOCS Annual Meeting and Expo, May 18-21, 2008 in Seattle, Washington. Our two sessions on Agricultural Microscopy and our joint sessions with Processing Division and Protein and Co-Products Division are sure to be interesting and informative. Topics will include but not be limited to processing methods and concerns for fish oil and meal as well as microscopy in the court system and practical agricultural and forensic microscopy. We would like to thank our friends Nurhan Dunford from the Processing Division and Keshun Liu from the Protein and Co-Products Division for teaming up with us this year to provide such a great program.

Also over the past months Neil, Jim and I have been working diligently on the new Agricultural Microscopy Manual materials. We are really excited with what's been accomplished and the contributions of new chapters on hair, fertilizer, fungi, aquaculture, problem samples and common misidentifications. It is sure to be a much more complete and useful tool for our trade once completed and published.

In case I don't get the opportunity to do so prior to the May 2008 meeting, I would like to say a special heart-felt thanks to Neil Vary for working so wonderfully with me over the past two years as Co-Chair. I feel very confident, as should everyone, that Neil will lead the new Agricultural Microscopy Division flawlessly and conscientiously into the next two years and provide many additional years thereafter of quality work and dedication to the Division. I would also like to thank all the Agricultural Microscopy Division Members, Members-at-Large, and the teaching staff for making my goals of the new division name and the new manual a reality. I can't thank everyone enough for your hard work and dedication to the cause!

Last but certainly not least, thanks to Pat Ramsey for being such a great mentor to me over the past 25 years. You are a treasured friend and colleague. Also many thanks to the entire AOCS staff for their support of our Division's endeavors while under my regime. I look forward to seeing everyone in Seattle!

Also in this newsletter:

Let Us Share the Light, by Patricia Ramsey

Division Profile, by Catherine Watkins

Division Representative Meeting, by Neil Vary

Preview of Agricultural Microscopy Division Technical Sessions Planned for the 99th AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo, by Neil Vary

AOCS Agricultural Microscopy Laboratory Proficiency Program Series, by Gary Ideus, Program provider

Microscopy Websites

Agricultural Microscopy Division web page
AOCS, 2710 S. Boulder, Urbana, IL 61802-6996 USA