Microscopy Society of America

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President Ken Downing convened the 2000 Winter Council Meeting of the MSA Council on February 12 in Waikiki, Hawaii. In addition to Council members and MSA staff from the business office and meeting management, invited guests included the President of MAS, Chairs of the Local Arrangements and Program Committees for M&M 1999 (Portland), 2000 (Philadelphia), 2001 (Long Beach), and the LAC from 2005 (Honolulu), Editor-in-Chief of the societyÕs journal, Microscopy & Microanalysis, Chairs of the Sustaining Members Committee and Membership Committee and Proceedings Editor. All winter council attendees were guests of the host hotels, Sheraton Waikiki and Hyatt Regency Waikiki.

Highlights of the two-day meeting included:

Meetings: From all reports, M&M Õ99 was a tremendous success with over 1800 scientific attendees and 686 papers presented. The special symposia, A. Howie Symposium: Celebration of Pioneering Electron Microscopy and MAS Celebrates: Fifty Years of Electron Microprobe, were definite highlights of the scientific program. Reports from meeting manager, LAC and Program Committee Chairs indicate that M&M 2000 will continue in the footsteps of Portland! Plans for M&M 2001 (Long Beach) and 2002 (Quebec City, sponsored jointly with MAS & Microscopical Society of Canada, are being solidified. Council and guests toured the convention center in Honolulu for M&M 2005.

Committees: Reports were heard from MSA standing committees. One highlight was the success of the MSA "mega-booth", which incorporated Project Micro, TechnologistsÕ Forum, Certification Board, Education Committee, Placement Office, and MSA Membership under "one roof". To continue to be the premier society for all microscopies, MSA has instituted the "focused interest" or "special interest" group (FIG/SIG) which is based upon the successful TechnologistsÕ Forum. The Corrosion Casting Group has been approved as a FIG/SIG.

Budget: During the 1999 Winter Council Meeting, council approved the motion to change the fiscal year to January Ð December effective in 2000. Kathi Alexander, MSA treasurer, did a fantastic job explaining the changes associated with the new fiscal reporting. The 2000 budget was approved. Future budgets will be discussed during the summer council meetings.

Other: Ernie Hall was recognized for his outstanding contributions as MSA Secretary for 1997-1999.

Council invites comments or questions from any member on any of these activities. Please see the listing for the 2000 MSA Council on the Web site for contact information.