Minutes of the 31st General Business Meeting of the International Society of PsychoNeuroEndocrinology (ISPNE)
Time: 12 noon to 1.00 pm
Date: 24th October 2000
Place: Hotel Sofitel, Melbourne, Australia
Prof. Halbreich called the meeting to order, at 12:00 noon. Attendance was about 50.
President report,
Professor Halbreich announced with regret the untimely passing away of Prof. Bela Bohus, the immediate past president of the Society, several weeks prior to the Melbourne meeting. He paid tribute to the work and contribution of Prof. Bohus to the Society over the years and conveyed condolences on behalf of the Society to his family.
The president noted that the Society currently has 319 dues-paying members with 140 members already paid for the year 2001.
He pointed out that the secretary/ treasurer Dr. David Saphier has been unwell for some time and Dr. Alan Schatzberg has taken over as Secretary-General and he, together with Dr. Halbreich, reorganized the Society’s affairs. Dr. Halbreich thanked Dr. Schatzberg for his efforts on behalf of the Society and distributed the Secretary-General’s report.
In regard to the finances of the Society, the Secretary-General informed the membership that the bank accounts are currently close to US$60,000 – a financial report was distributed.
The president reported that updating and amendments of the Society’s Bylaws are well underway. The main suggested changes are: acceptance of national societies membership, enhancement of the clinical and clinical research activities, ability to include more clinicians and specialists interested in the disciplines of psychiatry and endocrinology.
New constitutional committees will be established and the responsibilities and duties of officers will be further delineated. He notified the meeting that recently, the PsychoNeuroEndocrinology Society of Romania expressed an interest to be affiliated with the International Society of PsychoNeuroEndocrinology.
The president outlined suggested initiatives aiming to improve the financial status of the Society. Several subcommittees to look specifically into issues of how to increase the number of membership and improve educational activities, will be initiated. The importance of forming a special fund-raising committee and financial committee independent from the Executive Committee was emphasized.
The president regrets that the Society is still considering withdrawing its affiliation from IBRO. This was initiated by Dr. Bohus who considered it a financial burden, which is not justified. Dr. Halbreich initiated some contacts with IBRO leadership, which so far were not fruitful. In the spirit of collaboration, he will do his best to have a productive affiliation.
In year 2002, the annual meeting of the Congress will be held in Israel. The local Organizing Committee includes Gynecologists, Endocrinologists, Neuroscientists and other specialists and we hope attract a larger number of participants for this interdisciplinary Congress. The meeting of the Society in year 2003 will be held in USA, and the 2004 meeting will be in Ireland. Several regional meetings are planned and they will be presented separately.
Journal Editors Report
The written reports were distributed to the participants. The Journal is doing quite well and its impact is improving. More submissions are desired.
Society’s Awards
Lifetime Achievement awardees for the year are Professors George Fink and Seymour Levine, Service awardee is Professor Francesca Brambilla. The Richter Awards Committee decided not to designate an awardee this year.
Following the above address, the president asked for comments and questions from the floor.
Questions from the floor and general discussions of President’s Report:
Prof. Kumar, Miami. Florida
He noted that some invited speakers of symposia are not able or willing to participate because of financial problems related to their traveling and accommodation expenditures.
He wonders whether the local organizing committee or central committee will be able to contribute towards expenditures in these areas in the future.
President,
Professor Halbreich pointed out that hitherto, the local organizing committee took full financial responsibilities in organizing the scientific program. Historically, organizers of symposia are expected to secure or arrange traveling and accommodation expenditures for their invited speakers. Whereas the local organizing committee may help in if there are available funds, the issue, however, is solely depending on its discretion. This approach is currently under review by the Executive Committee, and in the next meeting to be held in Quebec the policy may be altered.
The next ISPNE meeting, Quebec, Canada
Dr. Nicholas Barden,
Noted that he is impressed by the Melbourne meeting and invited the participants to take part in the next meeting to be held in Quebec, Canada on August 4-8, 2001. He notified the attendance that the local organizing committee is finalizing the scientific program that is going to be announced shortly.
Prof. Nikolai Sapronov, St. Petersburgh, Russia
Announces that a regional meeting of the ISPNE will be held in June 2001 at St. Petersburg, and the program of the meeting will be available by February 2001. He welcomed everyone to attend the June meeting in St. Petersburg, Russia, next year and emphasized that the city is a worthy place for a visit.
Dr. Jaime Smolovich, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Announced that at June 2001, the 1st regional Latin American meeting of the ISPNE will be held in Buenos Aires in Argentina focusing on the effect of psychoneuro- endocrinology and psychoimmunoendocrinology on mood and mental health. He hoped that all the participants of the Melbourne meeting will have a chance to visit Argentina in the future.
Report of the Current meeting
Professor Travel Norman, Melbourne, Australia reported that there are altogether close to 200 participants from 23 different countries in the Melbourne meeting. He took the opportunity to thank all those present for their contributions to the success of this meeting.
New Business
In response to a question from the floor, the President noted that due to the need to increase industry’s support and the high cost of travel to Australia, the Society did not offer young investigator travel awards. This will be considered for future meetings.
Prof. Travel Norman of Melbourne, Australia proposed the meeting to be closed and Professor Alan Lim of Melbourne, Australia seconded the proposal.
The meeting closed at 1.00pm
Prepared and submitted by,
Professor Alan Lim