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- Torino,
December 2008
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- Dear
Friends and Colleagues,
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As the end of the year is
approaching, I would like to update you on what has been
achieved by the ISPP Executive Committee and Secretariat since
ICPP 2008.
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- From
an administrative point of view, steps are underway to transfer
the ISPP bank account to the United States, where the ISPP
Treasurer, Thomas Evans is located, as well as to encourage more
member Societies to pay their due annual fees. Both operations,
particularly the second one, will take time, since we lack
instruments for ‘gentle persuasion and control’, and have to
rely on inspiration, and the effort of member activity!
However, we are doing our best to convince more Societies
to pay their dues. Together, we can do so much more. Chuji
Hiruki, our Past Treasurer, is still helping us in these tasks.
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- Our
Business Manager, Peter Williamson is continually improving the
ISPP web-site, providing more opportunities for interactions
with members. A
recent change is the addition of Google Translations. This
addition is offered only as an aide and is not meant to replace
the English version. Translations may not be accurate and
may not always reflect the actual content that is intended by
ISPP, however, it may be of assistance to some members.
I
hope that you all take advantage of the web site, and please
communicate your ideas for any improvements to Peter. Also, 3
issues of the ISPP Newsletter have been provided for the site by
Brian Deverall since ICPP 2008.
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- Vice-President
Wafa Khoury, with sage advice from her predecessor, Tang Wenhua,
has started liaising with the chairs of the Subject Matter
Committees. She would like to hear from you!
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- I
visited Vice-President You-Liang Peng in Beijing during October,
having a chance to visit the Congress Centre which will host
ICPP 2013, and starting discussions on its organization. I’m
quite sure that the organising committee of ICPP2013, under the
stewardship of the Chinese Society for Plant Pathology, will
organise an excellent programme and attract a huge number of
participants!
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- In
addition to forward planning for ICPP2013, contacts with some
Regional and/or National Societies have been initiated, to
discuss the possible organization of ISPP Workshops in-between
our traditional Congresses, in conjunction with Regional
Conferences and Congresses. The first possibility could be the
organisation of some activity related with the next Congress of
the Mediterranean Phytopathological Union, to be held in Rome
(Italy) in 2010. Also other options are under consideration, and
I will be very glad to receive inputs and offers from any of
you.
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- Considering
that Milano (Italy) will host in 2015 the World EXPO, with Food
Safety and Food Security as key issues, I have approached the
Milano Mayor, as well as the organisers of the event, in order
to offer the scientific cooperation of ISPP. The offer was
appreciated and has been accepted, and in the next months the
first steps will be taken to evaluate how we can cooperate.
Perhaps 2015 seems a long way away. However, the organisation of
such big event takes time, and by then, Food, and also Forest
Security, may be even more dominant issues for global effort. I
believe that, in relation to the key themes of World Expo 2015,
ISPP could play a role, and our discipline could get some
significant visibility.
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- We
all are looking forward to the publication of the first issue of
the new ISPP Journal on Food Security, due in March 2009, thanks
to the outstanding work of Richard Strange and Peter Scott, and
our publishing partner, Springer.
Also, the preparation of the 4 books, derived from some of the
invited lectures of ICPP 2008, is proceeding smoothly.
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- In
the time since ICPP2008, I have had emails and letters from
delegates all around the world, expressing thanks or frank
criticism, and providing feedback on ISPP and ICPP2008. Thanks
to all those who have contacted us. It is good to receive these
messages as it helps to make the Society and our future
Congresses better. So, if you have been meaning to write, but
have not had the time, we would still like to hear from you!
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- While
inviting you all to send comments and suggestions, together with
the ISPP Executive Committee and Secretariat, I wish you and
your Families a Happy, Healthy and Fruitful New Year. And as the
slogan of the Australasian Plant Pathology Society Says: Plant
Health is Earth Wealth!
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- Warm
Wishes
- Lodovica
Gullino
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ISPP
