Our IDS membership has been holding steady. We are looking forward to a membership boost in relation to the meeting. However, it is important to keep IDS membership up between meetings as well. This allows for support for planning our meetings, having IDS sponsored workshops and other activities. Importantly, this also keeps our international visibility strong. Liasons with other groups such as FOCIS (Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies) have proved to be mutually valuable and IDS members should consider attending the
FOCIS meeting in Montreal, July 2004.
Nonetheless, we don't want to be stuck in a rut, seeing the same old faces, hearing the same arguments from the same people, listening to the same old jokes. We need to involve new and young researchers in the IDS. How can you help? Consider supporting and mentoring a new member. Remind them of the benefits of membership - great meetings and interactions with collegueges, subscription to journals, and being on the "in-crowd" from basic science to clinical work related to the immunology of diabetes. Remind them that good science often comes from meaningful interactions with peers - and the IDS is the place to start.
I hope you will not hesitate to contact either myself or any Council members with suggestions/ comments/ concerns regarding IDS. I can most easi ly be reached by email at
cjgreen@benaroyaresearch.org.
