Minutes of the meeting of AORTIC International at AACR 2002

held at Hyatt Regency San Francisco

Hospitality Room

April 8, 2002

Present:

  • Holland, J.F (USA/USA).
  • Elegbede (Nigeria/USA)
  • J.A., Akomeah, R. (Ghana/USA)
  • Landys, Karl (Sweden/Sweden)
  • Hosten, C. (USA/USA)
  • Ochieng, J. (Kenya/USA)
  • Nyormoi, O. (Uganda/USA)
  • Oshodi, T. (Nigeria/Scotland)
  • Ogunbiyi, P. (Nigeria/USA)
  • Fareed, A. (Ghana/USA)
  • Boadi, W. (Ghana/USA)
  • Nakaar, V. (Ghana/USA)
  • Boyiri, T. (Ghana/USA)
  • Adegoke, O. (Nigeria/USA)
  • Brown, A. (USA/USA)

Sections:

The meeting started at about 6.30 PM, with Chris Williams, Protem Secretary, explaining that in the interest of time, the earlier part of the agenda would be deferred. The deferred portion of the agenda included: review of the agenda, minutes of the meeting at AACR 2001 in New Orleans, minutes of the meeting at ASCO 2001 in San Francisco, and matters arising thereof.

Organizational matters:

Sulma Mohammed, whose special AORTIC duties include organization of AORTIC annual meetings, briefed the audience about difficulties that she continues to encounter. She requested advice as to the preference of members for the day of the week during AACR and ASCO annual meetings for holding AORTIC annual meetings. The choice was between Sunday and Monday. She advised members about the cost of holding the meetings and the difficulties of finding sponsorship to cover the expense.

The year in review:

Chris Williams, the Founding Secretary-General and Protem Secretary reviewed the process of reactivation of AORTIC during the past year. He made special reference to ideas that emerged at the meeting at ASCO 2001 as the result of which the Resource Development Committee was created. Other results that derived from that meeting were the effort towards incorporation of AORTC. He reported that the organization was incorporated as of October 25, 2001 and that IRS had granted AORTIC tax-fee exemption status. He pointed out that AORTIC would henceforth be able to raise funds more easily because of these developments. The question as to the need for incorporation in jurisdiction of the US other than New York State was discussed and the need to refer the issue to appropriate advisers for further clarification was agreed upon. Other developments of significance were the acquisition of an Internet domain, the creation of a web site (http://aortic.org) , the acquisition of an e-mail account (infomail@aortic.org), and the creation of a draft constitution.

The Resource Development Committee:

Carrie Hunter, Chair of the Resource, described the activities of her committee over the past year, including an outline of realistic goals through which AORTIC should be able to address its stated objectives.

Incorporation of AORTIC in USA: implication for AORTIC financial health:

Chris Williams on behalf of Barrie Adedeji, Protem Treasurer, who was unable to attend., gave the report. He described the process and commended Barrie Adedeji for her commitment that led to the rapid attainment of the status. He expressed the hope that the status of incorporation and tax-exemption status would facilitate the payment of membership dues as well as encourage donations from members, members' friends and associates, institutions, and drug companies.

International Organizing Committee of the AORTIC Africa Conference, Accra, Ghana, 2003:

J. Abiodun Elegbede, Chair of the International Organizing Committee of the AORTIC Africa Conference reported on the process of identifying a host site for the proposed AORTIC Africa Conference and the challenges encountered along the way. He explained that Accra, Ghana had been agreed to by the Steering Committee, and that Augustine Kwame Kyere had agreed to host AORTIC. He also announced that the Steering Committee had proposed October 6-10, 2002 for the holding of the conference, and that formal acceptance of the proposals by Kwame Kyere was still being awaited.

Development of an agenda for the scientific program of the AORTIC Africa Conference, Accra, Ghana, 2003:

Carrie Hunter, Chair of the Scientific Program Subcommittee of the International Organizing Committee presented a draft of the scientific program. Suggestions for modification included inclusion of presentation/session on bioethics, internet/infomatics, as well as surgical oncology. Dr. Susan Molloy-Hubbard of the NCI-USA was proposed as a possible resource person for this aspect of the conference. The need to provide ample opportunity for the review and discussion of AORTIC organizational issues and the draft constitution was agreed to.

Fundraising for AORTIC programs

Jacinta Aniagolu, the Chair of the Fundraising subcommittee of the International Organizing Committee, was not present to make her presentation.

Potential for collaboration with ICC:

Francis Ali-Osman, who was to speak to the subject was not present to make his presentation.

Presentation by Dr. Oluwole Odujinrin, representative of our sponsors Cell Technologies, Inc.:

Following a brief introduction of Dr. Oluwole Odujinrin by Chris Williams, the Protem Secretary, and after the acknowledgement of the generosity of CTI had been expressed, a unanimous vote of thanks was carried in appreciation of the sponsors. Dr. Odujinrin described the technology of polyglutamination in which his company specializes and through which some common chemotherapeutic agents have been conferred with altered and beneficial pharmacokinetic properties. He expressed the hope that some of the agents would soon be marketed.

Other matters:

None

Group photograph:

Some of the attendees who were available joined at post-meeting photographs.

Adjourn:

The meeting adjourned at 8.10 PM. The next meeting will take place at ASC0 2002 in Orlando, Florida in May 2002.


 

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