Activities
Annual FDAAA Meeting Held in Conjunction with FDLI
After welcoming members to the annual meeting held at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel on April 22, 2009, outgoing FDAAA President Tony Celeste thanked everyone for the honor of serving the organization along side dedicated members who worked hard and volunteered their time. He noted that "Together we accomplished a great deal. We promoted ideas to expand the organization and to make membership more meaningful." Current revenue is $14,000 per year and the Centennial Scholarship Fund is over $52,000 with 3 students supported so far. Tony said that the strong leadership from Liz and Alan along with the other officers, the Board of Directors and Committees guarantees that members will continue to step up and maintain our mission.
The FDAAA Treasurer, Alan Andersen, gave the Financial Report. The balance on January 1, 2009 was $29,455.63. Membership as of today, April 22, 2009 is 797.
Secretary Jeff Springer announced results of the elections for the new Board Members and the names of the new officers elected by the Board of Directors. (See "FDAAA Appoints New Members of its Board of Directors and Officers").
In the absence of the Activities Committee Chair, Wayne Pines, Co-Chair Nancy Myers introduced Co-Chair Anne Marie Finley and proceeded to highlight certain accomplishments during the last year. She cited the FDAAA lunches and the annual dinner which many recalled with pleasure. Nancy noted that Committee members met with FDA to offer FDAAA services for the "Torti fellowship program" and FDAAA expects to assist in training new FDA employees. In further efforts to be of service to FDA, the Activities Committee recently established a Subcommittee to provide an International Outreach Network chaired by Dr. Florence Houn. At the end of her report, Nancy appealed to FDAAA members to propose luncheon speakers for the coming year.
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, Bob Sauer gave an update on the FDAAA Centennial Scholarship. After reviewing the background of the scholarship fund established at Temple University in 2006 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Pure Food and Drugs Act, Bob indicated that there were 800 undergraduate students and 400 masters degree students enrolled in the pharmaceutical quality assurance and regulatory affairs training programs at Temple University School of Pharmacy. Three students have received the scholarship. In October, 2008 the fund grew by $15,000 when Temple University contributed the proceeds of a symposium jointly presented by FDA and the University.
As part of his presentation on Communications Committee Initiatives, Chair Ed Steele discussed the objectives of his committee and the accomplishments to date. He identified the committee members and talked about the redesign and updates to the FDAAA website, the streamlining of the annual report, the updating of the membership directory, improving communications with members outside the DC areas and the development of an FDAAA Photo Album. As he demonstrated the new FDAAA website, Ed noted that several years of Alan's FDAAA Updates were available on the reports page, that information on committees, current events and awards was on the web along with a new photo album page. Ed asked for volunteers to assist with the new photo album project that will be chaired by Robert Becker, former Investigator from Mobile, AL. Ed turned the podium over to Alan Andersen who discussed the updated Membership Directory Lois Beaver reviewed the 7th Annual Report that covered FDAAA activities and accomplishments during 2008, and Elaine Messa reported on the vibrant outreach activity that is underway in order to better integrate members in areas outside headquarters. Committee activities and the revised website were favorably received by everyone present.
Noting that this meeting marks the eighth anniversary of the founding of the FDAAA, Liz Krell, who chairs the Board of Directors, said that an important activity of the Association is to honor those who made outstanding contributions that enabled our organization to thrive. Members are invited to take advantage of the numerous opportunities to volunteer to build FDAAA while making new friends and renewing old acquaintances. Except for the recipients of the Wiley lectureship award, all award recipients are Charter Members and have volunteered countless hours and personal energy to make our organization successful and to help guide its future. She thanked the Board of Directors and the Awards Committee led by Bob Eccleston that spotlighted the exemplary service and leadership demonstrated by each award winner.
Chairman Krell then announced the award recipients for this year's FDAAA Service Recognition Awards, and the Volunteer of the Year Award. (See "FDAAA Honors Members at Annual Meeting"). She also recognized the recipients of the Harvey W. Wiley Lectureship Award that was presented during the FDLI plenary session. (See "Senator Hatch and Rep. Waxman Receive Wiley Award").
In addition, the FDA Awards Office notified us that the two nominations offered by the FDAAA were accepted and that we may announce that the FDA's 2009 Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented in June to Bob Lake and Dan Michels. We at the FDAAA admire and appreciate their outstanding service to public health, to FDA and to our Association.