Dear CRS Members:
It was a pleasure seeing so many of you at our recent Annual Meeting in New York City. The enthusiasm I expressed on accepting office has only increased as we embark on our mission of helping you – the members—succeed! Here are some of the reasons why:
- Our Annual Meeting Planning Committee (AMPC), chaired by Maria Jesús Vicent, is already busy planning for the next meeting in July in Valencia, Spain. The members of the committee have listened to your comments and the feedback from the survey and are planning to introduce some new concepts in format; including providing increased opportunities for interaction. Be on the lookout in December for the call for abstracts for the 2019 Annual Meeting.
- Our website is in need of a major redesign. The Board has approved a new look and design that will provide you with greater search capabilities. We have also selected a media chair and a media advisory board to create content that will be of value to each of you. This new website should start working in November.
- Local Chapters continue to play a vital role in our delivery of value to members. We had an exciting meeting with them in New York where many ideas were shared for increasing collaboration among us. To put these ideas into value, we have created a new International committee where all chapters will be represented.
- Our Committees and working groups have been appointed and provided with specific charges. Thanks to the many of you who have agreed to volunteer your valuable time to one of the following committees: AMPC (Chair: Maria Jesús Vicent) , Nominating Committee (Chair: Tamara Minko), Finance Committee (Chair: Samir Mitragotri), Young Scientist Committee: (Chair: Kaushalkumar Davé), International Committee (Chair: Avi Schroeder) Women in Sciences Group (Chair: Begoña Carreño), Newsletter Committee (Chair: Arlene McDowell), Focus Groups (Chair: Steve Little), Consumer and Diversified Products Division Committee (Chair: Joseph Carlise ), Awards Committee and Industry Forum (Cornell Stamoran).
One of the ways we help members succeed is to give appropriate recognition for outstanding contributions and service. We are currently building the Awards Committees that will recognize our membership with the following awards: The Founders Award, the Distinguished Service Award, the Young Scientist Award, the Nagai Post-doctoral Award, the Transdermal Delivery Kydonieus Award, the JCR and DDTR Best Paper Awards, the Women in Sciences Award.
Many of you met Michael Gallery, PhD at the Annual Meeting in New York. He has been working with us as a consultant since last December. I am very pleased to announce that he has accepted our offer to become the Executive Director/CEO of CRS. Michael has over 37 years of experience as an association executive, consultant, author, and speaker. Helping us plan and execute a quality meeting in Valencia as well as enhancing the value of membership are among his top priorities.
I am also very happy to announce that we have a new Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Gabrielle Copperwheat joined the staff of Association Headquarters (our management firm) on September 24th. Gabrielle is multilingual and has had years of experience as an association executive. She comes to us very highly recommended and we are proud to have her leading the AH team of staff.
The Board has set clear and specific strategic objectives aimed at creating value for you – our esteemed members. We will only achieve those objectives through your support and input. As we progress through the year, I welcome your ideas and feedback. Let us know how we can better serve you – and let us know when our efforts fall short of the mark. We are here for one reason: to help you succeed!!
Very Best Wishes,
MJ
