As a very successful year ends, we want to express our deep appreciation to our hard-working Research Committee members for their efforts, which have led to the completion of several successful projects and the start of the 1996 studies. We particularly thank our Corporate Sponsors and Supporters for their strong financial support, which has enabled us to maintain our programs and plan a three-day meeting, ABRF '96: Biomolecular Techniques. We especially thank out-going Executive Board members Lowell Ericsson and Dan Marshak for their continual efforts to foster the growth and quality of the ABRF, and we welcome Ruth Angeletti and John Rush as newly elected members. Both have been key individuals in our committees and communications efforts, and I am confident they will continue their outstanding contributions to the success of our organization.
Planning is nearly complete for our 1996 meeting, ABRF '96: Biomolecular Techniques. The program for the meeting--which includes three full days of workshops, plenary sessions, tutorials, poster sessions and presentation of study results by each of our Research Committees--is included in this issue. Several companies have already indicated interest in exhibiting and in presenting evening workshops focused on their instrumentation. We hope to see you at this meeting, March 30 to April 2, 1996 in San Francisco, CA.
Our activities have grown as evidenced by two new ad hoc committees. A subcommittee of the Protein Sequence Research Committee has undertaken a collaborative study designed to evaluate methods for obtaining internal sequence information from gel-separated proteins. An ad hoc DNA Sequence committee has been formed to complete a study in time for the ABRF '96 meeting.
During the past year, the membership has brought to our attention a number of important concerns. An open letter to the ABRF in this issue presents some positive suggestions for ways the ABRF might aid its members in their efforts to improve the status of core facilities and their staff. Addressing this need has been part of the mission of the ABRF since its inception. A roundtable discussion on this topic is scheduled during ABRF '96. We invite all members to share their thoughts, either by participating in the roundtable or by discussing them with an Executive Board member or on the electronic mailing list.
During the past year, our Treasurer, Sheenah Mische, has been working with an accountant to better organize the Association's financial records. This has resulted in a change to a calendar-based fiscal year from a more complex system. In response to requests from members, this issue contains a summary of the 1994 financial statement. The new accounting system should enable us to present a 1995 financial summary to the membership in the first or second quarter of 1996. We thank Sheenah for undertaking this task, which significantly improves our financial management.
Elizabeth Fowler
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