I wish you all a peaceful and healthy 2024. I am excited to share with you the three main activities that have kept me busy as ASB Past-President.
1. I am honored to oversee the 2024 ASB Fellows selection process, which is in its final phase. The 2024 ASB Fellows will be announced later this spring. I would like to thank the Review Committee members for reviewing the nomination packages and providing feedback. Many thanks to Drs. John Challis, Chris Hass, Richard Hughes, Steve Kautz and Michelle Sabick. I could not have completed the 2024 ASB Fellows selection process without the help of this magnificent team of reviewers.
2. As Past-President I will manage the nomination for the Executive Board positions that need to be filled, and for the Nomination Committee members. You are welcome to nominate yourself or someone else for any of the positions. More information will follow. Please consider getting involved. You will find these service roles very rewarding (and fun!)! There are various ways you can make a positive impact in our society and biomechanics community. If you have interest, please reach out to me!
3. In my 2023 Newsletter article as ASB President (Newsletter Vol 35 No2), I wrote “… looking ahead, in addition to my “presidential” responsibilities, my number 1 priority in the remaining of my presidential tenure is to work with ASB’s Council of Fellows and Executive Board members to create a successful and sustainable fundraising strategy that supports our strategic goals.” Well, I am excited and proud to announce the formation of the ASB Development Committee. Many thanks to the founding members including Dr. Liz Hsiao-Wecksler (2022-2023 Past-President), Dr. James Ashton-Miller (ASB Fellow), Dr. Ajit Chaudhari (2022-2023 Diversity Chair, 2023-2024 President-Elect), Dr. Sara Myers (2022-2023 President-Elect, 2023-2024 President), Ms. Maria Pasquale (Treasurer) and Dr. Nick Stergiou (ASB Fellow). Next, is a summary of the Terms of Reference established by the founding members of the ASB Development Committee and approved by the ASB’s Executive Board.
The mission of the ASB Development Committee is to grow relationships and resources to support the strategic priorities of ASB. Two long-term goals have been identified, (i) oversee plans for fundraising based on the current financial needs and strategic goals of the Society, and (ii) develop an endowment to support the strategic priorities of the Society. Examples of immediate shorter term goals include (a) explore opportunities to increase financial support to the Society, (b) create a list of potential major donors (e.g., companies, foundations, granting agencies, individuals), (c) coordinate communication with potential donors, (d) begin to create a culture among the Society membership of annual giving (i.e., financial, time, talents, contacts, etc.), and (d) develop a fundraising strategy for the Society.
Standing members of the ASB Development committee are the ASB Past-President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect (in years when position is filled), Diversity Chair, two Council of Fellows representatives (3 years – position can be renewed) and a Podium Meeting Representative (ex-officio non-voting). The Chair of the ASB Development committee will be elected from and by the standing members at the start of the ASB business year (Past-President will be the default Chair). Ad hoc members will be invited to join the committee based on specific needs, e.g. Meeting Chairs, individuals who have relationships with potential donors, etc.
Based on the Terms of Reference summarized above, I am honored to serve as the Chair of the 2023-2024 ASB Development committee and feel privileged to serve with the following members: Dr. Ajit Chaudhari (President-Elect), Ms. Maria Pasquale (Treasurer), Dr. Christopher Wilburn (Diversity Chair), Dr. James Ashton-Miller (ASB Council of Fellow representative), Dr. Nick Stergiou (ASB Council of Fellow representative), and Ms. Cendrine De Vis (Podium representative). We are meeting on a biweekly basis, and I am thrilled to report that we are making great progress! For example, Ms. Cendrine De Vis and I have met with exhibitors and sponsors individually over Zoom to gather feedback and to discuss potential new and innovative partnership opportunities supporting the society initiatives and annual meetings. Comments were in general positive and many ideas for future activities were gathered. This information will be used by the ASB Development committee to develop avenues for our sponsors to support the biomechanics community and our society. Also, be on the lookout for an increased involvement of industry in the ASB Annual Meeting. I strongly believe this will benefit our student members, especially those who are exploring non-academic avenues post-graduation. Finally, I also anticipate more “FUN” events at ASB, events that will be supported by the generous sponsors of our society.
Finally, I would like to end my article by noting the importance of donating to your favorite society, i.e. ASB!!! Your support is needed to advance the field of biomechanics, to support the next generation of biomechanists, to increase the diversity of our membership, and to foster innovative and impactful biomechanics research. There are various ways to donate, whether you’d like to support ASB as an individual member, or as a corporate partner. Please check out our website for updated information. The ASB Executive Board is willing to work with you if you would like to donate for a specific cause that you do not see on our website. Please feel free to reach out!
Many thanks and warmest regards,
Rakié Cham, PhD
Past-President