ESA News

ESA Newsletter: November 2003

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
of the Endocrine Society of Australia

4.3 Other Societies
The ESA continues to enjoy strong relationships with a number of sister societies, both nationally and internationally. Significant developments include:

1. Working with ANZ13MS and ADS on the development of SAC matters (referred to above).
2. Working with ANZ13MS on establishing a position statement on Vitamin D deficiency in Australia.
3. Negotiating with the Japan Endocrine Society on considering whether the ESA
   should adopt the Endocrine Journal as an "official" publication.

It is with some regret that I announce that The Endocrine Society has decided that the TransPacific Symposium will not comprise part of its program after 2004. This decision has been taken because The Endocrine Society has said it wishes to broaden its International Profile, and sees a special relationship with two other societies as inhibiting, rather than furthering, these aims. ESA is in negotiations with the Japan Endocrine Society to see if the TransPacific Symposium should be sustained with a life within the ASM of one, other, or both societies.

Our relationships with ADS, SRB, ANZBMS and APEG continue to be strong and cordial, with significant collaboration with respect to Annual Scientfic Meetings being developed.

4.4 Committees
Sincere thanks to the following for significant contribution to the activities for the Society: Trish Crock and her team for oraaffising the Seminar Meeting. This meeting has been the area of greatest growth of the Society in recent years, and I am pleased to announce that in 2004 we will have a seminar meeting in QLD (dates and times to be announced). This is a break in tradition for the society as 2004 is an ICE year. Duncan Topliss for organising the Clinical Weekend. Rob McLachlan and the LOC (Mary Wlodek, Amanda Beardsley, Kate Loveland and Laura Parry) for this year's Scientific Meeting. Leon Bach and the POC (Stephanie Edmondson, Peter Ebeling, Albert Frauman. Guck Ooi, Christine Rodda and Peter Stanton) for putting together a superb scientific program Stephanie Edmondson also edited the proceedings David Phillips for editing the ESA newsletter. David Handelsman for agreeing to he our representative on the ISE Central Committee.

Ben thanked the Council. members for the tremendous support they have given and their work for the Society, including Jeffrey Zajac for his support and advice with intricate matters involving medical affairs and the College, Ross Cuneo for Secretarial assistance, Cathie Coulter for her exceptionally thorough work as Treasurer, Bruce Robinson for overseeing College related matters, Evan Simpson for advice regarding relationships with international societies, John Burgess for taking on the challenging task of dealing with Medical Affairs and Catherine Choong for assistance with the administration and judging of the various awards for junior members of the society and relationships with other local societies.

Finally I express my sincere thanks to Ivone Johnson who keeps us all on the ball and aware of deadlines.

5. Treasurer's Report
Cathie Coulter, ESA Treasurer, stated that the ESA has recorded an overall net profit of $46, 335 in the 2002 2003 financial year.

5.1 Corporate Sponsorship
There are a few of items noted by our auditor which have contributed to a slightly lower profit, as to compared with the previous financial year. Firstly, a suggestion that timing of payment of Corporate Sponsorship has been affecting this line, however, 1 will point out that we are unlikely to be gaining more corporate sponsorship, in part, as a number of the companies who have been our corporate sponsors have merged and therefore are not likely to pay double their previous level of sponsorship, and also because our Industry partners have being directing their money to specific areas such as the Clinical Weekend and the Post Graduate Seminar meeting rather than untied Corporate Sponsorship. Therefore, the ESA has been receiving direct benefit to these activities, which have been an essential part of the ESAs annual calendar of activities for many years.

5.2 Membership Subscriptions
Another area of note over the past few years is the level of outstandincy membership subscriptions, which is approximately 30%. As the running of the Society and its activities is dependent upon the timely receipt of membership dues, we have decided to implement a new strategy to ensure that members remember to pay their subscriptions. Enclosed within these documents is a membership reminder to those who have not paid their dues and we would appreciate prompt payment of dues, particularly if you expect to be able to register at the ASM or clinical weekend at the members hip rate. According to the ESA Articles of Association item 13 "if the subscription of a member shall remain unpaid for a period of two calendar years after it becomes due then the member may after notice of default shall have sent to him by the Secretary or Honorary Treasurer be debarred by resolution of the committee from all privileges of membership". Reinstatement of membership privileges requires payment of all outstanding dues. In order to improve the rate of payment of membership dues. as from 2004, we will be sending out a reminder notice prior to the end of the financial year. Please note: that each member must be financial in order to be elioible to receive the membership rate at the Annual Scientific Meeting, the Post graduate scientific meeting and the Clinical Weekend. In addition, those who meet the criteria for travel grants and awards, must also be financial to be eligible to receive the specific award.

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