View from Stone Mountain

Dear Friends,

Happy 2004! I hope you had a wonderful celebration of the New Year. In the southern United States, no new year would be complete without our black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread -- all meant to bring good luck and fortune for the coming year. I must confess I have eaten this same meal each and every New Year’s day for more years than I care to mention and am still waiting on that fortune! Maybe this year!

ISTM Web Site: I am sure you all would agree that the new ISTM web site, and especially the Member Services section, is great. Processing renewals, making changes to your personal information, and travel clinic administration are now very easy. I would urge those of you who have not "taken the tour" to spend a few minutes "playing" on the site. Please be sure to review your membership information and make any needed changes. This helps us and you stay in touch.

Membership: Please be reminded that if you have not paid your 2004 membership dues by March 31 all member privileges will be suspended including receipt of the Journal of Travel Medicine, your clinic listing on the Travel Clinic Directory site, and the ability to participate in the ListServ. It is very easy to check your membership status under the "Member Services" section of the web site. When you get an opportunity please review your membership status for 2004.

Responsible Traveler Initiative: I received so many requests for the Responsible Traveler documents that I had to order several additional printings of the materials. If you have not received your requested documents just yet, please be patient; they are on the way.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Cape Town next month during the AECTM. Don’t forget to stop by the ISTM booth for a chat.

May 2004 be, for you, a year filled with hope - the hope of peace for every nation, the hope of finding true joy in each day, and most of all the hope that what we do makes a difference in someone’s life.

Brenda, ISTM Secretariat