ASR News Letter

April 2011

 

Summary of the 24th ASR Meeting
July 31 - August 3, 2010, Stevenson, WA, USA

Meeting Summary

The 24th meeting of the ASR took place at the Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Washington, USA. The conference site was located in the magnificent Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The organizing committee together with the Division of Continuing Education at Kansas State University (KSU DCE) worked hard to ensure a scientifically stimulating and enjoyable meeting. The conference began on July 31, 2010 with a welcome reception, opening remarks by the ASR President, Dr. Roman Ganta, and keynote address by Dr. Samuel Miller of the University of Washington. This year marked the centenary of the untimely death from epidemic typhus of Dr. Howard Taylor Ricketts, for whom the entire taxonomic Order Rickettsiales, Family Rickettsiaceae, and Genus Rickettsia are named. Dr. Ted Hackstadt, Chief of the Host-Parasite Interactions Section, Laboratory of Intracellular Parasites, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health gave the Dr. Howard Taylor Ricketts Memorial Lecture, "The Achievements and Legacy of Howard Taylor Ricketts: 100 Years of Rickettsiology". Dr. Hackstadt's homage to the scientist that made the ultimate sacrifice in his research pursuits to benefit mankind and whose work founded the field of Rickettsiology was an excellent history lesson and served as an exciting kick off to the first full day of the meeting. The conference included oral presentation sessions on Host, Vector, and Pathogen Interactions (three sessions); Genetics, Physiology, and Functional Genomics; Pathogenesis; Immunity and Vaccine Development; and Ecology, Epidemiology, and Infection in Animals. In addition, three poster sessions were organized. Collectively, a total of 39 oral presentations and 90 poster presentations were given over three days.

The meeting was attended by 148 participants representing eight different countries. It was an excellent forum for exchange of the most recent scientific developments on all topics related to Rickettsial research. The meeting received gracious sponsorship from Fuller Laboratories. The ASR generously provided 25 travel grants to graduate students, postdoctoral scientists, and junior faculty to offset the cost of the meeting registration fee. The scientists who received the ASR travel grants represented six different countries from around the globe. The ASR is especially grateful to the members of the planning committee, to Liz Babcock, Ellen Stauffer, and Nichole Stoddard of the KSU DCE for all of their hard work in organizing the meeting and to the KSU business office.

Minutes of the Business Meeting-

1. An introduction was made by the president, Roman Ganta.
2. A finance report* was given by the Secretary/Treasurer, Jason Carlyon.
3. Jason Carlyon presented ASR Travel awards.
4. Six ASR officer nominees were brought forth by Yasuko Rikihisa on behalf of the nominating committee. The ASR members elected the new Executive Committee by secret ballot**.
5. The newly elected President, Guy Palmer addressed the society and thanked the outgoing Executive Committee and the Planning committee for organizing an excellent meeting. The outgoing President, Roman Ganta opened the forum for discussion for the upcoming international and national meetings.
6. The ASR Executive Committee agreed to work in collaboration with the KSU DCE group in identifying a suitable site for holding the 25th ASR meeting.
7. The meeting was adjourned.

*FINANCE REPORT (As of July 31, 2010)

Balance Forward (as of April 1, 2010)	$45,039.58
Fuller Laboratories sponsorship	$1,500.00
23rd ASR conference registration income	$59,716.58
ASR membership dues	$2725.00
Total Funds	$108,981.16

EXPENSES

24th ASR meeting organization expenses (Note: 25 ASR travel awards at $350.00 each were given in the form of a waiver of the registration fee.)	$62,199.28
Total expenses	$62,199.28
Available balance (as of July 31, 2010)	$46,781.88

On 7/29/2010, $22,000 and $18,000 of the ASR treasury was placed into a savings account and 12-month CD, respectively.

**Results of the election:

President:	Guy H. Palmer
Vice-President:	Ulrike G. Munderloh
Secretary/Treasurer:	Jason A. Carlyon
Councilor-at-Large:	Xue-jie Yu