SPR News
Gail Demmler, M.D., Secretary-Treasurer

Highlights of the SPR Annual Business Meeting
Held Monday, May 3, 1999 in San Francisco

• Meeting called to order by Sam Hawgood, President, and the minutes were approved.
• Election results were announced. Alan Krensky was elected Vice President, and will serve as President in 2002; Pablo Sanchez was elected to Membership Secretary and will serve a 5 year term; New Council members Val Sheffield (Genetics), Christine Gleason (Neonatology), and Dennis Black (GI/Nutrition) were welcomed. Special thanks were given to outgoing Council members Maureen Andrew (Past-President), Candice Fike (Membership Secretary), Susan Berry (Genetics), Philip Shaul (Neonatology), and Philip Sherman (GI/Nutrition) for their years of service to the SPR.
• Gail Demmler, Secretary-Treasurer, reported the SPR Fund Balance as of 9/30/98 was $209,334, which was increased compared to $162,630 the previous year. Also, the SPR has invested funds totaling $120,995, with plans to build on this fund as income from dues and the annual meeting allow.
• The Pediatric Research Foundation was discussed. This endowment fund is in its second phase of fundraising and members will be contacted by Council members and asked to donate to this worthy cause. It is hoped that a goal of 100% participation from SPR members will be met this year so we can proceed to the third phase of fundraising when outside sources and donors will be approached for support.
• Two Constitutional amendments will be mailed to members at the same time election ballots will be sent. One amendment concerns members requesting Emeritus status due to health reasons, and the second amendment allows both the APS and SPR to be the beneficiaries of the Pediatric Research Foundation endowment.
• Annual Meeting update was given. There were 2,129 abstracts submitted for the 1999 meeting, 92% of which were electronically submitted. Record attendance was set in San Francisco with 4,180 attendees! The Year 2000 annual meeting will be held in Boston, in conjunction with the AAP, and promises to be another record breaker!
• Candice Fike, Membership Secretary, introduced 80 newly elected SPR members for 1999. The Society now has 2496 members.
• Reports on Society activities and initiatives, including the Multicenter Clinical Trials Program, Pediatric Research journal, Pediatric Scientist Development Program, the Student Research Program, and the Public Policy Council, were given at the business meeting and are now available on our Web site for full review by interested members.
• Tom Hazinski was introduced as the new President and his first order of business was adjournment at 12:45 p.m.