View from Stone Mountain

Brenda Bagwell and Brooke Gouge

Dear Friends,

Happy 2006! It is incredibly hard for me to believe that it is already 2006. It feels like we were celebrating the "turn of the century" and worrying about massive computer failures, etc. just a few days ago. Where does the time go?

Thank you to all who have renewed your ISTM membership for 2006. As a reminder to those who have yet to renew for this year - you have until March 1 to do so, before all member benefits (listserve, journal, and clinic listing) are suspended. Be sure to get your renewal payment to the office prior to that time. If you are not sure about your 2006 status, please log onto member services at www.istm.org and review your record. If you have lost your username and password, please contact Brooke at istm@istm.org and she will send you new log-in information.

Membership receipts and 2006 membership cards will be mailed out by mid-January - please be on the lookout for them.

As of this writing, barring any delays, the receipt mailing should also contain information on how to order the updated travel medicine slide kit! Many of you have been asking for an updated as well as a PowerPoint version of these slides, and we are excited to report that the Professional Education Committee, chaired by Michele Barry, has taken on and completed this task. Thank you, Michele and committee!!

As a reminder the Responsible Traveler Document is now available in several different translations (Spanish, French, Portuguese and German). Please contact the office if you are interested in receiving copies of any of these translations.

I hope to see many of you at the NECTM in Edinburgh this June - I know it is going to be an exciting conference. I understand that Scotland is quite beautiful that time of the year.

Until next time, remember, "You are valuable because you exist. Not because of what you do or what you have done, but simply because you are." (Max Lucado)

May 2006 be the best year for each of you!

Brenda is the Administrative Director of ISTM. Brooke is the Administrative Assistant