THE NEWSLETTER OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGISTS Volume 26, Number 6 November/December 1999 PRESIDENT'S LmER ~~ T Challenges for the Future of Our Society s I assume the role of president of our Society, I tion, who interpret the word "physiology" much Afind myself recalling the ancient curse "May you more narrowly. One can argue the semantics of this live in interesting times." These are indeed interest­ issue endlessly, but I doubt that many of our ing times for the Society, and whether they turn out younger scientists will be much interested in, or to be a curse or a blessing for us will depend very influenced by, these arguments. The fact is that the much on how we as members respond to several field of plant science has broadened dramatically in important emerging issues that will undoubtedly the past decade, and it may be time to consider affect our future. In this, my first message to you, I changing the name of the Society to reflect this would like to outline what I believe are the major broader base. After much discussion and consulta­ challenges ahead and what I believe are the goals we tion, the new name proposed, which seems to III should set for ourselves as we enter this new describe us best, is perhaps the simplest of all: The millennium. American Society of Plant Biologists. Because it is simple, it is also inclusive. Defining Who We Are and What We Do I, personally, do not take this issue lightly. I am of the older generation who has a great fondness n my opinion, the biggest challenge facing the for this Society, and its name is intimately tied to I Society is to convince the next generation of plant my feelings about it. But, in the end, I care much scientists that our existence is important to them more about the future than the past, and if this and that they should want to playa role in the change can make even a small difference in helping Society. For decades, ASPP represented a fairly the next generation see ASPP as the major small and homogeneous group of scientists who organization that represents them, then I conclude defined themselves clearly as engaging primarily in it is in our best interests to embrace the change. the study of plant physiology. Thus, the name The Executive Committee has agreed that this is an "American Society of Plant Physiologists" has served issue that needs to be addressed now, and, to this us well through the years. At our most recent end, we shall be asking the membership to engage Executive Committee meeting, it was voted to in a discussion of the issue throughout the year. We discuss a name change, with the objective of shall be creating on our Web site a page to post expanding the membership, particularly our member opinions. We urge those of you who feel younger membership. I know that some of our strongly about this issue one way or the other to members still believe that the term "physiologist" place your comments there, and we urge all of you can be interpreted broadly enough to continue to to visit this site to see how the debate progresses represent us well and can be easily interpreted to and to help yourself form your own opinion on the include the disciplines of biochemistry, genetics, issue. There will also be an opportunity to discuss a and molecular biology. Yet I also know many name change at the business meeting that will be scientists, especially those of our younger genera- held in conjunction with the annual meeting in continued on page 3 T ASPP Members TesHfy Before Senate Agriculture Committee lllld House Basic Research Subcommittee T Safe in the Ivory Tower? T Call for Abstracts for Plant Biology 2000 ASPP Futur e ASPP Annual Meetings OFFICERS &STAFF President Deborah Delmer 530·752-7561 President-Elect Daniel J. Cosgrove _.. _.. _: 814-863-3892 Immediate Past President 2000 Brion A. Larkins _ 520-621-9958 Seaetary Saturday, July 15, through Daniel R. Bush _.. 217-333-6109 Treasurer Terri Lomax 541-737-5278 Wednesday, July 19 Chair, Board of Trustees Donald R.Ort .. _ 217-333-2093 Choir, Publicotions Committee San Diego, Calitornia Rebe<lo Chason _.. __ 202-628-1500 Choir, Committee on the Status 01 Women in Plant Physiology Ann M. Hirsch 310-206-8673 Chair, Committee on Minority AHairs 2001 C. S. Prakash 334·727-8023 ElectedMembers Saturday, July 21, through Rebe<caS. Boston .. 919-515-2727 Vicki L. Chandler 520-626-8725 Wednesday, July 25 Joe Chappell 606-257-4624 Sectional Representatives Providence, Rhode Island Midwestern Mark Bradl 309-341-7477 Northeastern Alison Roberts 401-874-4098 Southern w~;l~;Z~~~srr 304-256-2809 Janet P. Slavin 301-504-5629 Western Dean Della Penna 702-784-6911 Headquarters Ollite 15501 Monona Drive Rotkville, MD 20855·2768 USA Phone: 301·251·0560 Fax: 301 -279-2996 Executive director, John Usad<, Jr., ext. 115 ............................................................ [email protected] Executive assistant, Donna Gordon, ext. 131 ............................................................................. [email protected] Director of finance and administration, ASPP NEWS is distributed to all Susan K. Chambers, ext. III [email protected] Accountant, Sondra A. Giancoll, ext. 140 ASPP members and is published ................................................................ [email protected] six times annually, in odd­ Information specialist, Perry Masdana, ext. 146 tit ............................................................... [email protected] numbered months. It is edited Member services coordinator, Kelley Noone, ext. 142 [email protected] and prepared by ASPP staff Accounts receivable assistant, from material provided by ASPP Stephanie L1u-Kuan, ext. 143 [email protected] Administrative assistant members and other interested Carolyn Freed, ext. 122 [email protected] ;I parties. Director of public aHoirs, Brian M. Hyps, ext. 114 .. [email protected] Foundation ossistont, Jonice Jordan, ext. 129 ............................................................................... [email protected] (opy deadline is the 10th day of Dlrertor ofpublications, III the preceding even-numbered Nancy A. Winchester, ext. 117 [email protected] Publications assistont, month (for example, December Sylvia Braxton Lee, ext. 133 .. .... [email protected] 10 for January/February Managing editor, Plant Physiology, Melissa Junior, ext. 118 [email protected] publication). Submit copy by MaC:f;;fne:~~:yI::' :~~~fEL~....................... Z e-mail whenever possible; [email protected] News andreviews editor, THE PLANT (EU, submit all other copy by mail, Harry B. Smith, ext. 119 [email protected] 0­ Produrtion coordinator, Plant Physiology, nofbyfax. Lauren A. Ransome, ext. 130 [email protected] Senior editor, Plant Physiology, 0­ Suzanne M. White, ext. 123 [email protected] (ontoct: Nancy A. Winchester, Produrtlon editor, THE PLANT CELl, Editor, ASPP NEWS, 15501 Catherine A. Balogh, ext. 116 [email protected] if) Manuscript manager, Annelle Kessler, ext. 120 Monono Drive, Rockville, MD ............................................................................. [email protected] Manuscript assistant, Kimberly A. Davis, ext. 124 20855-2768 USA; e-mail ............................................................................ [email protected] [email protected]; telephone Manuscript assistant, Stephanie M. BUlla, ext. 125 ................................................................................. [email protected] « 301-251-0560, ext. 117. Science writing andpublishing intern, Pippa J. Sammes, ext. 110 [email protected] _ 2 ASPPNEWS ~------------------------ continued from page 1 doing so extensively in the years to come. We efforts. These are the revenues that we use to have a critical need for input and help in this support the types of good works for our San Diego this summer. This year, the endeavor from our younger generation, who members that I have discussed above. It is Constitution and Bylaws Committee will be are the most heavily involved in research not likely that our annual meetings can ever asked to formulate the wording for a related to genetic engineering. Our become very profitable, because most of our proposed name change, and, assuming members also need to understand that profits come from exhibitors, and we are not Executive Committee approval of the journals of high standard do not come for a large enough society to hope to generate wording, the proposal will be placed on a free, and the fact that our Society publishes much revenue in this way. Yet the prospect mail-in ballot for vote by the membership in two of the most prestigious in the field at the of PubMed Central is very exciting, and we the fall of 2000. lowest possible subscription prices is no must always remember that the Society is Having said all this, I firmly believe that small reason to hope this Society continues here to serve its members in the best way our name is only a small part of the greater to thrive. For those more oriented toward possible. So we must finda way to steer a issue of attracting the next generation of the teaching of plant biology, the Society has thoughtful course that will maintain the best young scientists to become part of this moved aggressively in the past few years to possible publishing environment for our Society. When many of us entered the field of meet their needs as well and to draw them members and also allow us to continue to plant biology, our Society, its journal Plant into our many activities. Our Education serve our members with the many other Physiology, and its annual meeting provided Committee has become increasingly active in benefits we can currently provide to them. the major outlets for scientific communica­ recent years and offers many opportunities This will be a major challenge in the years tion. But our younger generation now has to interact and exchange information in ahead, but we are helped greatly in this by many more options for choices of meetings various publication, workshop, and meeting having a dedicated executive director in John to attend and for ways to interact socially, formats.