“We hope you will take full advantage of the new opportunities we create.”
Our association has, for years, received kudos from members and nonmembers alike on the high quality of our annual LabAutomation conference, our JALA journal, and the unique educational and networking opportunities that both initiatives offer to lab automation professionals. To the Association for Laboratory Automation (ALA) Board of Directors, however, this just wasn't enough.
As an ALA member, your elected leadership has been committed to providing you with even more educational programs, opportunities and access, practical value, and solid reasons to join and remain a member of the ALA.
In 2004, the ALA Board of Directors, select industry leaders, committee volunteers, and staff worked long and hard to create the first comprehensive strategic plan that this association has ever had. This plan is more than just a formal document for posterity's sake. It is already coming to life in many ways.
For starters, as an ALA member, you soon will have the opportunity to visit the new ALA Member Center at http://labautomation.org. It's there that ALA members will be able to browse regular timely updates to JALA World News Online to keep pace with new products and industry news, reference a growing collection of technical notes and application notes, and access educational resources available in the online libraries of our LabAutomation exhibitors. You will also be able to cast your vote for the 2005 JALA Reader's Choice Award via the ALA Member Center.
The ALA Member Center at http://labautomation.org also will house the online component of the new ALA Career Connections, our exclusive new service program for introducing talented individuals to prospective employers. The real world practicality of this new program has already been applauded throughout the laboratory automation community. We look forward to hearing real life success stories as ALA members begin to take advantage of this practical tool to advance their professional interests.
The LabAutomation2006 Scientific Committee is also shaping programming in response to direction established by the strategic plan. This direction builds on the momentum and success of the revitalization efforts that began at last year's conference. Our lineup of short courses is just one of the most obvious examples of how changes are being made to better reflect the expanding educational priorities of ALA members as defined by an in-depth series of member surveys and focus group interviews.
For those on the cusp of our industry, the ALA Grant Program is enabling more and more students, graduate students, postdocs, and junior faculty to participate in ALA programs and events. Membership and conference registration fees are available to this important generation of emerging professionals for just $25. On top of this, the ALA Grant Program gives active and interested applicants the opportunity to have their registration fees waived for both the conference and one short course, and to have their airfare and hotel room expenses paid in full. Last year, we received a 62% increase in ALA Grant Program applications, and are happy to be able to continue to increase available funding this year.
As we grow as an organization of scientific specialists, we hope you will take full advantage of the new opportunities we create. Your participation and feedback are critical to our association's continued success both on paper and in practice. We are professional partners, and together we can continue to achieve greatness.
