Minutes of the Membership Assembly of ISTM

The 2003 Membership Assembly was called to order by Dr. Louis Loutan, President, at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, May 9, during the ISTM Conference in New York.

Secretary-Treasurer's Report

Dr. Frank von Sonnenburg presented the financial report of the society for the past two years. He reported that the society currently has total net assets of $811,550 US. Dr. von Sonnenburg reviewed the income and expenditures for 2001 and 2002. He commented that the conference has a turnover of at least one million $U.S and therefore the society needs to have funds in reserve to cover the cost of a conference in case of a conference failure. Dr. von Sonnenburg also reported that even though many other companies lost money on their investments, the ISTM made money in the bond market and recognized that our funds are being expertly handled by the brokerage firm of Salomon Smith Barney.

The floor was opened for questions concerning the financial report.

Dr. Ken Dardick posed a question concerning the Coalition and its role in the ISTM. Dr. Connor informed the members that the Coalition was begun several years ago as a way for corporations to donate unrestricted funds to assist in projects aimed at educating the public on travel health.

Congratulations were offered to the Secretary/Treasurer by Ms. Betsy Wade on the clarity of the report. She also mentioned that perhaps a policy should be adopted to keep the ISTM investments out of the stock market and only in the bond market The report was approved. All ISTM members present at the Membership Assembly received a copy of the report prepared by D.J. Fulton, CPA, ISTM accountant. Dr. Loutan thanked Dr. von Sonnenburg for his excellent report.

Dr. Brad Connor, chair of CISTM8, reported that the Conference, based on attendance, delegate and sponsor feedback, and logistics was proceeding very smoothly with in excess of 1800 participants.

Committee Reports

Electronic Communications _ Dr. David Freedman reported that there are currently 600 members from 45 countries on the TravelMed list serve. The web page received approximately 240,000 unique visitors last year (about 20,000 _ 25,000 per month). Through efforts of the ISTM and especially the Travel Industry and Public Education Committee, the online clinic directory is now linked from many other websites including the CDC Travelers' Health site and the URL appears regularly in the press. The clinic directory currently receives almost 8,000 visitors per month (100,000 per year). He reported that the process is underway to have an archive of list serve topics and discussions available within the next few months. A password protected state of the art (SQL server based) Members Only section of the web site will be available by November. In addition to direct access to the full text of the Journal of Travel Medicine online, an online version of the membership database, where a member can update their own information and check their membership status will be available. Members will also be able to update their public Clinic Directory listing information during the same transaction.

GeoSentinel _ Dr. David Freedman reported that the global surveillance network is in the 4^th year of the current 5 year funding cycle and its 8^th year of operation. There are currently 27 GeoSentinel full surveillance sites, with new sites in Africa, France and California. GeoSentinel reports are appearing with regularity in places like the MMWR, ProMed and the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal. There are 105 ISTM member clinics in 30 countries that participate in the GeoSentinel Network Members program. GeoSentinel has been recognized by the national and international press during the current ISTM meeting for its role in the SARS outbreak. Dr. Freedman noted that GeoSentinel made extra efforts during the outbreak to keep all ISTM members informed of the status of the SARS outbreak.

Professional Education - Dr. Eli Schwartz reported that the committee is developing a list of educational sites that are willing to accept trainees at their facilities. This list will be posted on the website and in NewsShare. The committee is also exploring the possibility of offering short courses in travel medicine.

Exam - Dr. Phyllis Kozarsky reported that 422 people sat for the initial exam and that this was very exciting. She informed the assembly that a passing score meeting would be held within the next month and that the results of the exam would be mailed to each candidate in July. She presented a brief overview of the exam budget to date. Dr. Kozarsky thanked everyone involved with the exam for all of their hard work in making this idea a reality. (A short overview of the exam appears elsewhere in this issue of NewsShare; a more complete report will appear in the next issue).

Membership - Dr. Albie de Frey presented the report. He stated that the main objective of this committee is to figure out how to reach those areas of the world where those practicing travel medicine are not members of the society. He noted we also need to research mechanisms to make an ISTM membership more affordable for those in the developing world.

Migrant Health - Dr. Louis Loutan presented the report on behalf of this committee. He stated that the committee is creating a slide presentation of training modules in travel medicine.

Practice and Nursing Issues - Mrs. Fiona Genasi presented the committee report noting that this committee has been very busy since the last conference. She noted that the results of the survey that was sent to the nurses in the membership renewal packets would be presented at the meeting and will be published in NewsShare.

Publications - Dr. Christoph Hatz announced that Dr. Robert Steffen would be assuming the editorship of the Journal of Travel Medicine and thanked Dr. Ericsson for his ten years of service as editor. He also announced that he (Dr. Hatz) was stepping down as chair of this committee and that Dr. Ericsson will become chair.

Journal of Travel Medicine - Dr. Charles Ericsson reported that the journal is currently available to everyone online, but will become password protected later on this year. He reported that a decision has been made to keep the current production schedule of six issues per year.

NewsShare - Dr.Karl Neumann noted that the NewsShare is going out on time. He encouraged everyone to submit contributions for NewsShare. He also noted that currently 150 members receive NewsShare via regular mail and reminded the membership that if they were interested in receiving the hard copy of NewsShare that they should contact the ISTM secretariat office.

Host Country - Dr. Santanu Chatterjee said that this committee had put together the "Responsible Traveler" materials that everyone received in their registration materials (and is available in its entirety elsewhere in this issue.). He noted that these items would be available, upon request, from the secretariat.

Travel Industry and Public Education - Dr. Brad Connor reported that this committee had collaborated with the Host Country committee to complete and distribute the Responsible Traveler materials. It was announced that Dr. Karl Neumann is assuming the chair of this committee because Dr. Connor is now president.

Research - Dr. Pat Schlagenhauf presented the results of the recent Research Awards. Dr. Thomas Cumbo was the first place winner. She noted that a full report from the Research Committee will be included in NewsShare. Dr. Schlagenhauf announced that she would be stepping down as chair of the Research Committee and that Dr. Anne McCarthy would be assuming the chair.

Decker Award - Dr. Louis Loutan presented the Decker award for Best Original Article, published in the Journal of Travel Medicine, to S. Provost and J.C. Soto for their article, "Predictors of Pre-travel Consultation in Tourists from Quebec (Canada)." A $1000 check, from B.C. Decker, accompanied this award

Outgoing President's Remarks

Dr. Louis Loutan presented a brief review of the past 2 years. He noted that the Executive Board met twice in 2002, each time these meetings were paid for by the organizers of the conferences. Dr. Loutan announced that as a way to increase the visibility of the ISTM, the society will be co-sponsoring regional conferences to be held in the years when there is not a major ISTM meeting. The first conference will be held February 2004 in Cape Town, South Africa. Edinburgh, Scotland will host the 2006 regional conference.

Dr. Loutan noted that most all of the work within ISTM is done on a volunteer basis.

At this time, Dr. Loutan expressed his sincere thanks for all of those who offered assistance and advice during his presidency, noting that his task was made easier by these individuals. He thanked Drs. Schwartz, Chatterjee and Steffen for their help with the Asia Pacific Conference. Thanks were also offered to Dr. von Sonnenburg for keeping the finances stable. A special thanks was given to those who are stepping down from the Executive Board for all of their hard work and commitment. Dr. Loutan recognized Dr. Ericsson for all of his accomplishments with the Journal of Travel Medicine. He also expressed his thanks to all committee members and chairs for their work. He paid special tribute to Drs. David Freedman, Robert Steffen and Charles Ericsson for their sound advice and assistance in decision making offered over the past two years. Dr. Loutan also gratefully acknowledged his appreciation to Mrs. Susan Stokes for her perspective and advice. He did announce that Mrs. Stokes has stepped down from her duties with the ISTM and that her knowledge and support would be missed. Finally, Dr. Loutan expressed his gratitude to Drs. Hans Nothdurft and David Freedman for the excellent scientific program they put together for the meeting and to Dr. Brad Connor and Talley Management for the organization of the conference.

At this time, Dr. Loutan presented Dr. Brad Connor, president-elect, with several "Presidential Survival" gifts. Dr. Connor thanked Dr. Loutan for the gifts and presented Dr. Loutan with a gift on behalf of the Executive Board.

Dr. Connor outlined his goals for the society during the next two years. He would like to set the ISTM on a new course. Dr. Connor thanked Dr. Kozarsky for her dedicated work in making the Certificate of Knowledge a success. He would like to see an increase for CME opportunities, thus the new African/European meetings and the possibility of weekend courses within North America. Dr. Connor expressed his desire to raise the global awareness of the ISTM and for the ISTM to be seen as an expert body within travel medicine.

Dr. Connor also noted that he would like to see the ISTM membership expand during the next 2 years, with hopes of the membership being doubled by 2005. Dr. Connor concluded his remarks by reminding everyone that this is a society of members and he would like to expand the opportunities for members and to see people become more involved.

QUESTIONS/CONCERNS FROM THE MEMBERSHIP

At this time the floor was opened for questions or comments from the membership.

Dr. Alan Spira presented several comments about the possibility of handing over the society management to a professional management company and the publishing of the ISTM bylaws once a year in the Journal of Travel Medicine.

Dr. Connor responded that Dr. Spira's concerns would be discussed at the Executive Board meeting immediately following the conference. Dr. Connor did express that the bylaws could be posted on the ISTM members' only website.

Dr. Leonard Marcus presented his thoughts on some areas in which he feels the society should change: broadening of the leadership, term limits for officers and committee chairmen, a limit on the number of sessions that one person could chair at the CISTM, and the need for more frequent communication with the membership.

Dr. Freedman responded on behalf of the current scientific committee that the committee for each meeting is committed to very diligently utilize individuals not otherwise on the meeting program to chair symposia and free communications sessions. As the program must be printed in advance and chairs must be drawn from those known to the committed to attend the meeting there was a particular problem this year due to the world situation when many people did not register until the last minute. Many people refused invitations or simply did not respond. In the end a number of slots needed to be filled at the last minute by people known to be attending by virtue of their commitments to other parts of the meeting.

Dr. Connor thanked Dr. Marcus for his comments.

Ms. Leslie Hogan commented that the conference seems to be geared to physicians and questioned whether or not the society was only interested in physician members and those nurses who work in travel clinics. She expressed her thoughts that the ISTM should broaden the horizon of the meeting and that it should be open to collaboration.

Dr. Connor noted that he would like to foster a greater sense of community in the society. The challenge will be to find ways to create the sense of community and he welcomed any ideas on this issue.

Respectfully submitted,

Brenda Bagwell, ISTM Secretariat