Re: Discussion on ABRF Bylaw changes
Joseph Fernandez (fernaj@rockvax.rockefeller.edu)
Thu, 28 May 1998 09:04:51 -0400 (EDT)
Members,
My opinion is that a name change is first of all unnecessary and
second of all not appropriate since the mission statement remains
unchanged. While there is an increase in members who are not part of a
resource facility, the reason they have joined the organization has to be
that they either perform, need access to or need information about those
technologies usually offered in a resourse facility. If there is a change
in title it should reflect a change in what the organization is focusing
on. Is the ABRF involved primarily in analyzing/synthesizing
biomolecules using fairly well established techniques and concepts in which
case the older ABRF name still adequately applies. Or is there to be a
shift towards pure research and technological developement, of which the
techniques/instrumentation currently discussed and addressed by the ABRF
could very quickly become a minor component.
If there is to be a name change, it should reflect changes in how
resource facilities are percieved ( ie, clarifying a facility as a
laboratory) especially since our mission statement remains the same. An
organization stronge in resource facilities dedicated to specific
technologies/instumentation is probaby more useful than an organization
that tries to do too much in too many fields. There will be interest from
people who need to either work specifically in this area or have access to
these members expertiece for a long time to come. Scientists see our
name and description, they know what we do and who to ask for advice. ABRF
adequately describes who we are and what we do, although it probably can be
more flowerly written in the title.
As far as the second chnage, 4 years and 8 members sounds very
reasonable to me providing the executive members are willing to put that
much time into the EB.
Joe fernandez
Joseph Fernandez
Associate Director
The Rockefeller university
Protein/DNA Technology Center
1230 York Ave. New York, NY 10021
Phone: (212)-327-8869
FAX : (212)-327-8620
email: fernaj@rockvax.rockefeller.edu
Lab Web Page: http:\\pdtc.rockefeller.edu