PRESIDENT'S LETTER

How to Get Involved in ASPB

The focus of my last two letters has been on the many contributions the Society makes to plant biology and how dependent the Society is on an engaged membership. Some of you may be interested in contributing to one of the Society’s many activities but don’t know how to get involved. Well, let me give you some ideas.

First, in addition to the editorial boards that are appointed by the editors-in-chief, the Society has 20 committees involved with governance and awards. In total, more than 100 members of the Society serve on these essential committees that oversee the publications, meetings, awards, and public outreach of ASPB. To get involved with one of these committees (listed in the Membership Directory and on our web page), one simply has to let the president-elect (currently Mary Lou Guerinot, guerinot@dartmouth.edu) know early in the year of your willingness to serve. One of the crucial duties of the president-elect in the spring of every year is appointing new members to each committee of the Society. The new appointments assume their positions on October 1 of the same year. Send the president-elect an e-mail stating your interest and detailing some of the qualifications you might bring to the job. This approach is the most direct way to get on the list for consideration.

Another way to get involved is to talk with colleagues who are members of a committee that interests you. Let them know of your desire to serve and, if appropriate, tell them about any special qualifications or experience that may be relevant. When the president-elect begins the search for new committee members, he or she usually asks for names from the chairs of each committee. Likewise, the chairs of each committee request suggestions from the committee members. This approach is much easier now because the committee members who attend the annual meeting have colored ribbons on their name tags indicating with which committee they’re involved. This idea came from the Membership Committee, whose aim is to highlight the large number of Society members involved in governance, as well as to encourage members to let these committee members know your thoughts about their business. Thus, seek them out and let them know about your interest to serve.

As I noted in my last letter, a dedicated membership is the foundation of a successful professional society. Sometime during your career, get involved and help keep ASPB at the forefront of serving the community of plant biologists!

Daniel R. Bush
USDA–ARS and University of Illinois
dbush@uiuc.edu