A Message from CASCA President

Dear CASCA colleagues,

The end of this year's annual general meeting at the University of British Columbia marked a major transition in the officers of the society. The positions of President, 1st Vice-President and 2nd Vice- Presidents all have new appointments. Russ Taylor must now fill the very large shoes of our new past-president Michael DeRobertis. Gretchen Harris replaces Russ Taylor as 1st Vice-President, and Simon Morris is our new 2nd Vice-President, taking the place of Martin Duncan, who has gone back to normal life.

Michael DeRobertis' shoes will indeed be large ones to fill. Our society relies on the volunteer efforts of a number of people, who together ensure the continued health and vitality of the organisation. Michael has contributed a very large fraction of this time to the society, particularly over the past year, which, among other things, has seen the implementation of our new society web site and the launch and advancement of the Long Range Plan. Michael will continue to spearhead the CASCA component of the LRP promotion over the next several months. Thanks Michael for your past and continuing service on behalf of the society.

Another of Michael's ideas was a "message from the President" column in E-Cassi; a practice that I plan to continue - thus this missive.

Over the next several months the most pressing matter before the board is the promotion of the Long Range Plan. The LRP public promotion campaign was officially launched at a press conference at the UBC CASCA meeting. A web version of the LRP report was announced. I would like to request those of you who maintain public web sites to establish a hyperlink to the LRP site.

In the months before the official launch at UBC, the members of the LRP panel and CASCA worked to solicit the support of University Presidents across Canada. Letters from the President's office of several universities have been sent to Federal cabinet ministers and to the Presidents of NRC, NSERC and the CSA. All three agencies have expressed strong support for the plan. The next, critical step is to bring the plan to the attention of members of parliament. One effective way to do this is to contact the constituency office of your local MP. If you are able to help in this way, please contact Christina Phillips at McMaster University. Information kits and samples contact letters are available. More on this will appear by email in the near future.

The publication of this newsletter marks another transition in our society. This issue of E-Cassi is the last to be edited by Gordon Walker and assembled by Gerry Grieve. Our new editor, Brian Martin, will take over to produce the Autumnal Equinox issue. Thanks Gordon and Gerry.

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