PSA newsletter

From Your President

The mid-year PSA Board meeting was held January 18-19, in Atlanta, GA. The day-and-a-half-long meeting was filled with many issues that are very important to the membership-at-large. I will attempt to summarize the key issues in this message.

The first day and evening were packed with discussion about the proposed Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS). One key point, identified by Carl Johnson, is that a driving force behind FASS is that the growth of the American Dairy Science Association operation (with whom PSA is currently contracting for management services) has reached the point at which the current management services model has outlived its usefulness. Carl believes that the societies have been held back by the lack of a more progressive management model. PSA should recognize that the level and cost of services we have enjoyed in the past will need to change in the future.

Chuck Sapp reviewed the FASS business plan in detail. He emphasized that if PSA were to contract its management services on the outside, there would be a considerable increase in cost to our society. Under the proposed business plan for FASS, we could utilize the management services as either a member or nonmember of the new organization. Chuck has agreed to do a detailed cost comparison of 1) PSA joining FASS, 2) PSA not being a member of FASS but contracting our management services through FASS, or 3) PSA contracting for these services outside of the Federation. This analysis will be presented at the "Town Hall" (Open Forum) session of our annual meeting in Athens this summer, for review by and reaction of the membership.

Whatever the cost to the society, it should be remembered that PSA has very strong financial resources (approximately four times its yearly operating costs), but we need to use them wisely and in the best interests of the membership at large.

There was general support by the board for the FASS business plan and for PSA to be a full member of FASS. However, all were in agreement on the importance of the Town Hall meeting and the need to keep the membership completely involved and informed.

Other major pertinent issues that were addressed included:

Glenn Carpenter was unanimously selected by the Board as the new PSA Newsletter Editor, to replace Lou Arrington.

A $500 donation from Pioneer was made to support having a job placement center at the annual meeting. Janet Brown will head up this effort at the meeting, and offered to put the applicants' resumes on-line. A motion was passed unanimously that any money required for this effort above and beyond the $500 would be provided by PSA.

A joint annual meeting of PSA with the American Dairy Science Association, the American Meat Science Association, and the American Society of Animal Science is being planned for the year 2001. The Board passed a motion agreeing on the city of Indianapolis and the dates of July 1519 or 2226, with a preference for the later date.

A motion was passed to encourage Heartland Lysine to sponsor a symposium on amino acid nutrition under the auspices of PSA at the annual meeting.

Janet Brown was charged with upgrading the Graduate Student Certificates of Excellence that are awarded to selected presenters at the annual meetings.

A Helene Cecil Leadership Award was proposed by Murray Bakst on behalf of Bill Cecil. The award will be given in recognition of the leadership activities of a woman in PSA. The exact wording and award details will be developed for presentation at the annual meeting.

The Poultry Science Resource List will be published and distributed by PSA.

Henry L. Marks (Local Arrangements Committee Chair), Sacit K. Biligi (General Program Chair), and Murray R. Bakst (Ad Hoc Ancillary Scientist Committee Chair) presented update reports on the upcoming annual meeting program and symposia, all of which appear to be developing nicely.

I would like to personally thank the PSA Board of Directors for taking time away from their families and busy schedules to participate in the mid-year meeting. I am excited about the upcoming annual meeting and hope we will have record attendance.

Recent PSA business meetings have been fairly straightforward, with no major controversial items on the agenda. The 1997 annual meeting could be different. There are two big items to consider PSA forming a federation with three other professional animal science organizations, and our consideration of using a mail ballot for elections. They may or may not prove to be controversial, but I would expect them to generate some serious discussion. This is only reasonable. They represent significant changes from the past, and they will affect PSA operations for a long time. Therefore, they need to be considered carefully.

I would hope that we will have a "final" proposal for the federation structure and operations for the July newsletter. A "Town Meeting" session is planned during the annual meeting, prior to the business meeting, for the purpose of reviewing the alternatives, discussing the position PSA should take, etc. Hopefully, this will focus on the key issues and not get bogged down by excessive discussion of the little points. The real purpose is to get us ready to take some form of action in the business meeting. Time is always somewhat limited during the business meeting, so study the information provided prior to the meetings, participate in the town meeting session, and attend the business meeting.

The question of using a mail ballot for elections may not be as big an issue, but it would be a real change. There are both advantages and disadvantages. All members would have the opportunity to vote, not just those who attend the annual business meeting but would they? Mail ballots often get poor returns, but based on the returns of some of our membership questionnaires, PSA members do appear to respond. Write-in votes are less likely to be a factor than nominations from the floor. The nominations would have to be received and evaluated much earlier than has been done in the past. There would be an appreciable cost to mailing out ballots, unless they can incorportated with some other mailing. The PSA Newsletter probably is mailed to some persons who are not eligible voters undergraduate student members, honorary members, department chairs who are not poultry oriented, etc. However, there may be a way to get around this problem. The dues notice goes out too early.

If you're not interested enough to attend the meeting, should you have a vote?; but if you have to miss the meeting in a certain year, why should you lose your vote? I even missed one year since I attended my first PSA annual meeting in 1959. Its normal for the location of the annual meeting to influence the attendance from an area the closer the meeting location, the more likely of a large turnout from a given area. How much of an influence is this on election results? Would a mail ballot be likely to change the results? What do you think?

Note in President Engster's column, that a new Newsletter Editor has been identified, to begin with the 1998 year. Glenn Carpenter was willing to have his name submitted, and the Board accepted him unanimously (they figured that anyone had to be an improvement). I've seen examples of his writing, and I'm sure you will find Glenn a very capable editor. We'll give him a proper introduction and welcome in the October issue. A number of other names were suggested as "volunteers", but when contacted, preferred to not be considered at this time, due to various commitments. This is understandable. We're all busy. Thanks, Glenn, for making the time commitment.

You may have noted that we started including a photo of the president with the "From Your President" column in the last issue. It was reported to me (by Bernie Wentworth), that during a recent conversation Jerry Cherry asked him, "Why didn't we (Jerry and Bernie) get our pictures in the newsletter when we were president?" The reason is that nobody suggested it to the editor, and he didn't think of it. Bernie actually suggested doing this when he saw another newsletter with this feature.

THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. The University of Georgia and the Georgia Poultry Industry are pleased to invite you to the 86th Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association, to be held on August 36, 1997 at the Georgia Cen- ter for Continuing Education, at the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia. It will be a pleasure to have PSA in Georgia again.

The University of Georgia was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly on January 27, 1785, making Georgia the first state to charter a state-supported university. In 1784 the General Assembly set aside 40,000 acres of land to endow a college or seminary of learning.

At the first meeting of the Board of Trustees, held in Augusta on February 13, 1786, Abraham Baldwin was selected president of the University. Baldwin, a native of Connecticut and a graduate of Yale University, had come to Georgia in 1784, and drafted the charter adopted by the General Assembly.

The University was actually established in 1801 when a committee of the Board of Trustees selected a land site. John Milledge, later a governor of the state, purchased the chosen tract of 633 acres located on the banks of the Oconee River in northeast Georgia and donated it to the Board of Trustees.

In 1931 the General Assembly of Georgia placed all state-supported institutions of higher education, including the University of Georgia, under the jurisdiction of a single board. This organization, known as the University System of Georgia, is governed by the Board of Regents. The Board of Regents' executive officer, the chancellor, exercises a general supervisory control over all institutions of the University system, with each institution having its own executive officers and faculty. The University System of Georgia includes 34 state-sponsored, public institutions located throughout Georgia 6 universities, 13 senior colleges, and 15 two-year colleges. Thirteen schools and colleges, with auxiliary divisions, carry on the University of Georgia's programs of research, teaching and service.

ATHENS THE CLASSIC CITY. In addition to the University of Georgia, Athens offers numerous attractions:

The 300-acre State Botanical Garden of Georgia provides trails and many small gardens of trees, shrubs and flowers that bloom throughout the year. A visitors Center/Conservatory has changing indoor flower and plant exhibits, art exhibitions, audio-visual presentations, a restaurant, and a gift shop.

The World's only Double Barreled Cannon was built in 1863 to protect Athens from invading armies. Although unsuccessful in test firings, this unique weapon is preserved to celebrate the town's escape from attack during the American Civil War. The cannon sits atop Athens' highest hill, sharing its history with the public.

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University is the official State Art Museum. In addition to its extensive permanent collection of American paintings, prints and drawings, the Museum presents special exhibits from around the world, and presents performing arts to complement the visual arts.

Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall Sports Museum displays the achievements of University of Georgia women and men in college championships and the olympic games through video and display panels in a modern and open-domed exhibition space.

The Morton Theater is the first vaudeville theater in the United States that was built, owned and operated by African Americans. Now restored and open to the public, the Morton presents a wide range of dramatic and music performances.

More than a hundred years ago, twelve Athens women founded the first garden club in the United States. A Founders Memorial Garden on the University of Georgia campus, always open to the public, invites all to enjoy the varying landscapes and seasonal foliage of a Southern garden.

For those seeking recreation facilities, Athens-Clarke County offers tennis, beach and pool swimming, picnicking, nature trails, and other educational and entertainment programs at several locations throughout the area. Golf is available at the University of Georgia and other nearby public courses.

If you are driving and your schedule permits it, take some time to visit the areas that best fit your interests as you come into or leave Athens. For additional information on Athens or for information on opportunities to extend your enjoyment to more places in the state of Georgia, call the number(s) listed for help in planning your trip:

for the Athens area 800/653-0603
for the State of Georgia 800/VISIT GA
for the Atlanta area 800/ATLANTA
for the Savanah area 800/444-2427
for Georgia parks/camping information 404/656-3530

As you know from items in the past several newsletters and reports at last year's business meeting, there has been a lot of ongoing discussion about a new Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS). This discussion has two major parts. There is a business or operations part; it is a given that changes in the Savoy office are going to occur. There is also an outreach or political part, involving the need to redefine the operations of the Federation of American Societies of Food Animal Sciences (FASFAS). Many hours of work by representatives of the four FASFAS-member groups (ADSA, AMSA, ASAS, and PSA) have resulted in a working document to be reviewed by the memberships of the four societies. The Board of Directors needs your input to ensure that PSA's interests are safeguarded and that our position in the new federation is as strong as possible.

As I view them, our options for proceeding are as follows:

1. Join FASS as a full, founding member, and an equal partner;
2. Buy management services from FASS as a nonmember;
3. Contract with another management services provider; or
4. Run our operation with volunteers.

The advantages of PSA's electing to join FASS far outweigh, I believe, the other options. On the financial side, although there is an initial buy-in involved, it will be the most cost-effective option in the long run. The buy-in would require a shift of some cash reserves to real investment (facilities and equipment), but it would not significantly alter the total reserves. However, our reserves are approximately four times the amount generally recommended as a good safety margin for an organization like PSA. The annual net profits would probably be less than what we are used to having.

The outreach function of FASS would retain the most effective elements of FASFAS, but would significantly strengthen the rest. Most importantly for PSA, it would ensure that our interests are highly visible in the legislative and other policy-making areas in Washington. This is critical both for our society, individually, and for all of animal agriculture.

In addition to the enhanced political clout, PSA would retain its identity as a separate, autonomous society, with control over all of our societal functions. This is not a merger with any other society, nor is there any requirement for joint meetings, although it would facilitate any joint programs we might wish to undertake.

Again, your inputs are essential as PSA's position on this question develops. We are a strong society with enormous potential. We need to be a strong voice in this federation. Please plan to attend the open forum on FASS at the annual PSA meeting this summer.

This statement was submitted to, and endorsed in principle by, the PSA Board of Directors at the mid-year meeting in January, 1997.

Discussion at the past annual meeting of PSA showed support for the use of mail ballots for the election of officers. The PSA Constitution Committee was directed to propose changes in the Constitution and/or By-Laws that would permit this voting procedure. The following changes are being presented for discussion and consideration at the 1997 annual business meeting. This publication of the proposal fulfills the requirement for 30 days' written notice prior to the consideration of such a change.

Recommended Changes to the PSA Constitution:

ARTICLE 8 --- Delete Sections 1 and 2, and replace them with Section 1 as recommended below. The numbers of current Sections 3 and 4 would change to become Sections 2 and 3.

Current Version:

Section 1. The officers shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meeting.

Section 2. Nominations shall be made by the Nominating Committee. A slate of one or more nominees shall be proposed for each office by the Nominating Committee. Additional nominations may be made from the floor. When only one candidate is nominated, he or she may be elected by motion or acclamation. In the event that two or more candidates are nominated, the candidate receiving the plurality and having at least 30% of the ballots cast shall be declared elected. In the event that no nominee is elected, only the names of the three nominees who obtained the most votes on the first ballot shall be considered on the second ballot.

Recommended Version:

Section 1. The Nominating Committee shall solicit from the membership of the Poultry Science Association, nominations for the offices of Second Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer and open Director positions. The nominations along with supporting comments must be received by the Business Office on a date specified by the Board of Directors. The nominees must have been contacted and have indicated willingness to let their names stand. The Nominations Committee shall evaluate the submitted nominations and shall select two candidates for the offices of Second Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer (when applicable) and for each open Director position. Current members of the Nominating Committee cannot be nominated and no more than one of the final candidates for office can be from the same institution or organization (see Article 7, Section 4). The Nominating Committee's recommendations shall be transmitted to the Board of Directors (or President) by a date specified by the Board of Directors. To conduct the election, the Business Office will send the eligible membership ballots containing the list of nominees, at least 60 days before the annual meeting. The marked ballot shall be returned at such time and place as designated. A plurality and at least 30% of the votes cast shall be necessary for election. In the case of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding ballot.

Recommended Changes to the By-Laws:

Article 4 Add the following as Section 2 and change the numbering of the current Section 2 to Section 3.

New Section 2. The Board of Directors may use a ballot mailed to eligible members to make changes to the Poultry Science Association Constitution or By-Laws, and to receive member input on other issues of importance to the Association. Two-thirds of the votes cast must be in support of changes to the Association Constitution or By-Laws for them to be adopted.

As the developing world becomes more affluent and continues to demand more animal products, increasing pressure is being placed on the available protein sources used to feed those animals. Furthermore, effluent from animal production units is receiving increasing attention from environmental groups and regulators. The prudent use of crystalline amino acids in conjunction with intact proteins has been shown to optimize the usage of proteinaceous ingredients and at the same time to reduce the excretion of nitrogenous compounds.

However, to ensure that production efficiency is maintained with changing nutrition practices, knowledge of animal growth and nutrition is essential. Heartland Lysine has, therefore, invited a group of experienced domestic and international speakers to present their thinking on amino acid nutrition in poultry and propose ideas that will assist nutritionists in advancing production performance while simultaneously optimizing feed ingredient usage.

Amino Acid Nutrition of Broiler Breeders, Colin Fisher, Roslin, Scotland
Ideal Protein Concept in Turkey Nutrition, Jeffre Firman, University of Missouri, Columbia
Making Progress in the Nutrition of Broilers, Rob Gous, Univ. Natal, South Africa
Specific Effects of Lysine on Broiler Production: Comparison with Threonine and Valine, Bernard Lerclercq, INRA, France

We would like to invite all interested parties to the 1997 National Poultry Extension Workshop. This includes not only the poultry extension specialists, but poultry allied industry personnel; industry, government and academia scientists; and all others with an interest in outreach programs related to poultry. The workshop will be held on Sunday, August 3, 1997, in conjunction with the annual PSA meetings, at the University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia.

This year's workshop will focus on the controversial issues that affect the poultry industry specifically human health and labor issues, grower-integrator relationships, and dealing with the Meg-Regs. Following introductory presentations, a panel discussion will address the role of extension in these issues. The workshop will conclude with topics that will help to improve our extension programming with the vertically integrated poultry companies.

A proceedings will be developed for the workshop. A new feature of the proceedings will be the inclusion of reports of extension activities for all states and Puerto Rico. The workshop program is planned as follows:

7:30 am

Welcome and Opening Comments - Teresa Y. Morishita, Ohio State Univ

7:45 am

The Future of Land Grant Universities - Keith L. Smith, Ohio State Univ

Session 1

Interactions with Vertically Integrated Companies and the Role of Extension in Controversial Issues - Dione S. Ward, Moderator, Univ of Arkansas

---

8:15 am

Human Health and Labor Issues - Francine A. Bradley, Univ of California-Davis

8:35 am

Grower/Integrator Relationships - Paul W. Aho, Poultry Prospectives, Connecticut

8:55 am

Pitfalls and Opportunities in Dealing with the Meg-Regs - Patricia A. Curtis,
North Carolina State Univ

9:15 am

Questions and Brainstorming with the Panel: What is Extension's Role? - Dione S. Ward,
Moderator, Univ of Arkansas

9:30 am

Break

10:00 am

Washington Update and Youth Ethics Issues - Richard D. Reynnells, USDA/CSREES

Session 2

Extension Programming with the Vertically Integrated Company - Casey W. Ritz, Moderator,
Univ of West Virginia

---

10:20 am

Extension's Contribution to Decision Making - Sheila E. Scheideler, Univ of Nebraska

10:40 am

Conducting Cooperative Research with Integrators - John B. Carey, Texas A&M Univ

11:00 am

Getting Funding for Extension Poultry Research - William D. Weaver, Jr, Pennsylvania State Univ

11:20 am

Developing Educational Programs for Integrators - Michael P Lacy, Univ of Georgia

11:40 am

Summation - Mike J. Darre, Univ of Connecticut

noon

Lunch

For more information, contact: Teresa Morishita at 614/292-9453 or send a FAX to 614/292-4142.

There have been numerous changes and advances in poultry slaughter technology over the past 15 to 20 years. Such developments as high frequency stunning, constant current stunning, stun-to-kill, gas stunning and killing systems, and electrical stimulation have been evaluated, and, to some degree, have been applied to commercial slaughter. Some of these developments have occurred in response to changing standards of animal welfare and others for improvement of carcass and meat quality. The purpose of this symposium is to examine some of these technical advances, to determine how they are interrelated, and to present the current status of these systems in commercial application in both Europe and North America. Specific topics will include the recent advances in electrical stunning, gas stunning, and electrical stimulation as well as the perspectives on slaughter technology in both Europe and the United States. Each topic will be presented by an eminent scientist in each of these areas such as S. F. Bilgili, T. Hoen, A. R. Sams, T. Uijttenboomgaart, and A. Thaler. The emphasis of this symposium will be on new technologies, their application in commercial poultry slaughter, and their impact on poultry carcass and meat quality. It is not the purpose of this symposium to cover the complex issues of animal welfare except as it impacts regulations and application of technology.

The PSA Ancillary Scientist Ad Hoc Committee and the American Association of Avian Pathologists (AAAP) invite you to the pre-meeting symposium "Infectious Poultry Diseases", co-chaired by Y. M. Saif (Ohio State University) and David E. Swayne (DEPRL/ARS/USDA). This symposium will provide an opportunity for scientists, extension specialists, and others from the poultry production industry, allied biological and pharmaceutical industries, government, and academia to meet and learn about the pathogenesis of infectious diseases and various control strategies for poultry. Emphasis will be on mechanisms of disease development, especially in relation to anatomy and physiology of the host, common etiologies, and current control methods.

Registration for this symposium is separate from the annual meeting registration, but is affordable at $40 ($20 for students). You can register for this symposium on the PSA '97 Annual Meeting Registration form.

Saturday, August 2, 1997
7:00 - 9:00 pm Opening Reception

Sunday, August 3, 1997

I. General Information - 8:00_9:20 am
8:00 am Impact of Genetics on Disease Resistance. Sue Lamont, ISU
8:20 am Nutritional Factors in the Development of Infectious Diseases. Kirk Klasing, UCD
8:40 am Understanding Immunology in Disease Development and Control. M. A. Qureshi, NCSU
9:00 am Discussion Period

II. Respiratory and Enteric Diseases - 9:20 am_2:20 pm
9:20 am Impact of Anatomy and Physiology of Respiratory Disease Development. Roger Fedde, KSU
9:40 am Bacterial Diseases of the Respiratory System. John Glisson, UGA
10:00 am Break
10:20 am Viral Diseases of the Respiratory System.Pedro Villegas, UGA
10:40 am Role of Mycoplasmas in the Etiology of Multifactorial Respiratory Disease. Stan Kleven, UGA
11:00 am Pathogenesis of Enteric Diseases. Fred Hoerr, Auburn
11:20 am Protozoal Diseases of the Gastrointestinal System. Larry McDougald, UGA
11:40 am Bacterial Diseases of the Gastrointestinal System. Rob Porter, Purdue
12:00 noon Lunch
1:00 pm Viral Diseases of the Gastrointestinal System. Jim Guy, NCSU
1:20 pm Broiler Industry Strategies for Control of Respiratory and Enteric Diseases. Mark Dekich, Perdue Farms
1:40 pm Turkey Industry Strategies for Control of Respiratory and Enteric Diseases. Peter Poss, Minnesota
2:00 pm Discussion Period

III. Immunosuppressive Diseases - 2:20_4:00 pm
2:20 pm Infectious Bursal Disease and Hemorrhagic Enteritis. Y. M. Saif, OSU
2:40 pm Chicken Anemia Virus. John K. Rosenberger, UDEL
3:00 pm Poultry Industry Strategies for Control of Immunosuppressive Diseases. Leonard Fussell, Tyson
3:20 pm Discussion Period
3:40 pm Break

IV. Tumor Viruses - 4:00_5:20 pm
4:00 pm Marek's Disease. Richard Witter, USDA/ARS
4:20 pm Lymphoid Leukosis and Tumors Caused by Other Oncornaviruses. Jim Payne, England
4:40 pm Chicken Industry Strategies for Control of Tumor Virus Infections. Kenton Kreager, Hy-Line
5:00 pm Discussion Period
5:20 pm Concluding Remarks

Looking for a Job?

The PSA Careers Committee is organizing a Job Placement Center at the PSA Annual Meeting. Graduate and undergraduate students and professionals looking for a job are encouraged to participate. If interested, send 20 copies of your resume to PSA Headquarters by June 15. These resumes will then be sent to interested companies, universities, or governmental agencies for their review. You may be contacted before the meeting to set up an interview. In addition, there will be opportunities for formal interviews at the meeting. There is no charge for this service. If you miss the June 15 deadline, you can still bring 10 copies of your resume to the meeting.

If you would like your resume to be placed on-line at the PSA Web Site, send your resume on diskette, in ASCII Text or HTML Format, along with a payment of $20 to the Poultry Science Association. URL's to other file locations are acceptable. Upon request, a blind request file will be placed (reference number instead of name given) for anonymous career searches.

by June 15, send 20 copies of your resume to:
PSA, Job Placement Center-Resume, 1111 North Dunlap Avenue, Savoy, IL 61874

Looking for a Few Good Employees?

The PSA Careers Committee would like PSA members who are at companies, universities, or governmental agencies to participate in the 1997 Job Placement Center. If your company/university/agency is interested in receiving resumes of qualified applicants, contact Janet Brown at the PSA office by June 15. If you know of a position opening, or just want to meet people for future job openings, the Careers Committee will make sure you receive the resumes of people participating in the Job Placement Center before the meeting. You can contact qualified applicants in advance of the meeting to set-up interviews or make arrangements to meet at the PSA Meeting. There will be an interview area available for your use.

If you would like your position announcement to be placed on the PSA Web Site, send the announcement, in ASCII Text or HTML Format, to the PSA office. URL's to other file locations are acceptable. There is no charge for this, but the positions will be on-line for a limited time.

Many PSA members who are university staff members received an e-mail message during the past few months from Mickey Latour. The following summary of the message is meant to draw it to the attention of those who may not have received the message, including allied industry members, and to encourage your response if it got set aside.

Latour has been hired as an Assistant Professor and extension specialist at Purdue University, starting mid-summer, when his NIH appointment at the Washington University School of Medicine is completed. He is putting together a project using the latest telecommunications technology to provide individuals in rural America with general poultry information. Material currently on the Internet tends to be fairly technical, thus not easy to read. Many individuals in rural areas lack the knowledge and experience to access information from the Internet. This project would attempt to teach rural individuals how to use the Internet, and to create the most informative virtual poultry resource on the Internet.

Latour's plan is to target turkeys, ducks, broilers, and layers, addressing issues such as waste management, environment/management, nutrition, disease, animal welfare, food safety/processing, and business/economics.

Your participation is sought to help make this virtual world a reality. Those who choose to participate are asked to make a committment to 1) submit a short summary (about one-quarter page) of any journal article you have read, addressing a specific area of your interest, and/or 2) provide your expert insight on what changes are occurring in your region related to poultry.

The American Registry of Professional Animal Scientists (ARPAS) has made major advancements during the past year in establishing five colleges for member certification. Constitution and By-Laws have been adopted and officers are in place. New board-certified members will be accepted through nomination and examination.

The American College of Animal Food Science officers are Glenn Schmidt, Colorado State University (970/491-6526), Chair, and Bob Rogers, Mississippi State University (601/325-2802), Vice Chair.

The American College of Animal Genetics officers are Larry Cundiff, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center (402/762-4171), Chair, and Allen Schinkel, Purdue University (765/494-4836), Vice Chair.

The American College of Animal Nutrition officers are Jim Nocek, Nutritional Services (315/677-0085), Chair, and Fred Owens, Oklahoma State University (405/744-6621), Vice Chair.

The American College of Animal Physiology officers are Bob Wettemann, Oklahoma State University (405/744-6077), Chair, and David Ames, Colorado State University (303-491-7803), Vice Chair.

The American College of Applied Animal Behavior Science officers are Ted Friend, Texas A&M University (409/845-5265), Chair, and Julie Morrow-Tesch, Purdue University (765-494-8022), Vice Chair.

The colleges, through Board Certification in specific areas of expertise, are the ultimate step in establishing and maintaining the credentials of professionally trained and experienced members in the various fields within the animal industry. There is an ever-increasing need to assure professionalism by those involved in teaching, research, consulting, production, and processing.

Why, Hello Dolly! And Hello Public Interest! We have a grand opportunity here! With the announcement of the cloning of Dolly, agricultural research is now on the minds of the general public and the policy makers. This is an incredible opportunity to educate the press and, therefore, the public about the benefits of agricultural research. A question that was put forth during a House hearing on the "Ethics of Cloning" to Dr. Harold Varmus, Director of the National Institutes of Health, was "why didn't scientists do a better job at preparing the public for this discovery?" The public just typically doesn't want to know what is going on in the scientific arena. As I have heard it described before, "science is not sexy enough to garner news attention." Therefore, we should utilize this opportunity wisely. This "window of opportunity," comes at an interesting time. The 105th Congress is now settling in to work and one of the major projects on the slate for the Agriculture Committee is the 1996 Farm Bill's Research, Extension and Education Title reauthorization. Is it possible to use the "Dolly dilemma" in a positive way to increase funding? I think so! Put your thinking caps on and be creative get the word out that research has incredible benefits that most people never consider; such as converting poultry feather fiber into a variety of products, including absorbent baby diapers, or using calcium-magnesium acetate (CMA), produced from corn fermentation, as an environmentally safe, noncorrosive alternative to chloride salts for highway and airport de-icing.

We, as scientists, need to do a better job of conveying the excitement of our work to the public. To do this, we need to translate what we do into terms that everyone can understand. It is important that we use easily understood topics and show direct benefits when we justify increased funding for research. An oversimplified example would be that research in stem rust will decrease the cost of hops which will then decrease the cost of beer. Simple examples that can be understood and appreciated by the given audience are important.

Now, after that little commercial, I will tell you what has been happening from my point of view on the Hill. In addition to the Research, Extension and Education Title hearings and subsequent drafting of legislation, there have been hearings on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Act and it appears that new legislation should be worked up by summer. Recently, there have been numerous briefings on the proposed Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) user fees, the FSIS study on Advance Meat Recovery systems, as well as the FDA proposed ruminant-to-ruminant ban to decrease risk of BSE transfer, should it ever occur in this country. Consumer groups are very concerned about the BSE issue, and it is important to get good information to them. Although there has never been a case of BSE in the United States, a crisis in consumer confidence in the meat industry could occur. As in all legislation, the final rule must be based on the best science available. I am hopeful that policy makers continue to listen to the science that is presented.

As the weather continues to warm here in Washington, so does the daily life on the Hill. Soon it will be time for the next group of individuals to come to Washington, D.C. to interview for the fellowship. I am already excited for them and I am as enamored with the program as I ever was it is an absolutely incredible opportunity to be here and learn about policy making, while concurrently promoting agricultural research. There is always something new to learn in this environment and I hope that as I continue to learn, I continue to teach.

First, may I congratulate those who have followed me as the organizing Editor since 1977. It seems almost impossible that it has been nearly 20 years since Volume 1 No. 1 was issued! What a period of change this has been. Much of the chronology of these changes can be followed and traced through the Newsletter.

I have in my possession nearly all issues of POULTRY SCIENCE from 1908 through 1987, BRITISH POULTRY SCIENCE, Volumes 515, WORLD'S POULTRY SCIENCE JOURNAL Volumes 2547, and the PSA NEWSLETTER Volumes 120. I also have a collection of various poultry text and reference books.

If anyone happens to be in the area (Seattle, Washington) and would like to sort through these materials, they are free for the taking. My address and phone number in the current PSA Directory are correct.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Bray
Professor Emeritus
University of Illinois

Editor's Comment:
I was looking through some of the early newsletters just a few days before Don's letter arrived, and it jogged my memory that he was the first PSA Newsletter editor, and he served us well in that capacity for nine years. Unfortunately, we tend to lose, or at least have less, contact with our PSA member friends after they retire. For that reason, I like to see the retired members come to the annual meetings when they are able. This is the one place we can meet to renew friendships and keep current.

Don's offer in his letter would be a good opportunity for someone to obtain some of the earlier volumes of poultry journals and books. Admittedly, their usefulness is limited in relation to the modern poultry industry. However, as we get older, many of us develop an interest in the historical aspects of our industry. We like to see when and how some of the changes came about. As an extension specialist, I've received a lot more questions in the last year or so on pasture or range for poultry it's back to the old books and bulletins. Every so often, we even find out that some "new' idea isn't as new as we thought. Some new aspects may have been added in the current research, but it's not too unusual to find that someone already did some research that relates fairly closely to our "new" ideas.

The Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching (Ag Guide) has just been revised. Want to know how, why, and what it all means? Bill R. Baumgardt, Director of Purdue University's Agricultural Research Programs, has organized a workshop that will interest you.

At the opening session, Thursday afternoon, June 12, the philosophy behind the changes to the Ag Guide will be outlined. Then, author representatives of the species chapters will highlight key points and the rationale for changes to their chapters.

Friday morning, representatives of farm animal groups and organizations will discuss voluntary guidelines for farm animal producers. Scientists and animal care professionals will then discuss the advantages of working through an Animal Care and Use Committee and the impact on animal care professionals.

Friday afternoon, breakout sessions will give everyone the opportunity to discuss implementing the Ag Guide changes. Saturday morning will feature presentations summarizing your decisions. The closing session will ask "Where do we go from here?"

There's more:

Your registration fee will also cover the cost of your copy of the newly revised Guide for the Care and Use of Agricultural Animals in Agricultural Research and Teaching.

Distinguished speachers will share still more information at mealtimes.

You can take an optional pre-workshop tour of Elanco Animal Health Facilities, a division of Lilly Research Laboratories in Greenfield, Indiana, and participate in a post-workshop tour of Purdue University's animal research facilities.

APHS
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The American Poultry Historical Society held its annual meeting in Atlanta, in January, during the U S Poultry & Egg Association's Expo. The following officers and directors were elected:

President - John C. Fuller, Jr., Ames, IA
First Vice President - Paul H. Patterson, University Park, PA
Second Vice President - Yvonne Vizzer-Thaxton, Jackson, MS
Secretary - Glenn H. Carpenter, Pittsboro, NC
Treasurer - Louis C. Arrington, Madison, WI
Directors - Thomas A. Carter, Raleigh, NC, Nickolas G. Zimmermann, Princess Anne, MD
Continuing directors are Phillip J. Clauer, Blacksburg, VA; Richard D. Reynnells, Washington, DC; J. Paul Thaxton, Mississippi State, MS; and Bonnie S. Walters, River Falls, WI.

Membership information can be obtained by contacting any of the officers/directors or by writing to the Society at 260 Animal Sciences Building, 1675 Observatory Dr, Madison, WI 53706.

Hall of Fame - The APHS is now accepting nominations for the 1998 Poultry Industry Hall of Fame. This recognition is conveyed every three years, and up to five nominees may be selected. The award is given for lifelong achievement and dedication to the American poultry industries. Individuals selected are honored by having a bronze plaque with their portrait and accompishments on display in the National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, Maryland.