On Friday, 31 August 2007, we held our annual meeting in the MRB III main lecture hall at Vanderbilt University and the key highlights were as follows:

1. Election results for the Chapter’s Executive Committee, for the period 2007 – 2009 were announced. Dr. Mark Wallace was elected as the new Secretary-Treasurer and Dr. Sanika Chirwa was re-elected as President. Dr. Sanders-Bush will continue to serve as the Past-President for the Chapter.

2. Dr. Craig Kennedy, outgoing Secretary-Treasurer for the period 2005-2007 was recognized for his excellent service and contributions to the Chapter. In addition, Mrs. Terri L. Ray was commended for her selfless service to the Chapter including maintaining our web site and help with hosting the annual meeting.

3. Chapter members were informed that the neuroscience meeting and course held in Zambia in June 2007 was a resounding success. Briefly 71 participants (including 10 from Nashville) attended the retreat and workshop, 22 platform presentations were delivered, and 4 round-table discussions were held at the meeting.

4. The successes of the neuroscience meeting has spurned several activities including new plans for biannual neuroscience meetings in Zambia and assistance with teaching neuroscience as part of the local medical curriculum annually. Visiting instructors from the Chapter will be invited to assist with instruction of the course.

5. The meeting in Zambia was supported with funds from small grants from SfN and IBRO, as well as contributions from Meharry, Vanderbilt, and donations from individuals. Funds from the Chapter were not used for this meeting. However, a small deficit was incurred and fund-raising efforts continue on to cover the shortfall.

6. The Chapter’s budget was presented and approved by the members in attendance. Subsequently members also voted and unanimously passed a motion that the Chapter contributes $2,000 and partially assist with the recovery of some of the expense balances associated with conducting the meeting in Zambia.

The Chapter continues to be a vibrant organization with many successes. This includes garnering competitive travel awards by our scholars (i.e. IBRO 2007 Travel Award to Jennifer Steiner, SfN 2007 Graduate Student Travel Award to Christopher Ciarleglio), securing the SfN Chapters award and the IBRO conference grant. Please visit our website at http://www.mtncsfn.org for additional information on Chapter activities.

Submitted by
Dr. Sanika Chirwa. President, MTNCSfN

Remember that if you haven't paid your Middle Tennessee Chapter Society for Neuroscience 2007-2008 dues, they are due and payable (dues application: http://www.mtncsfn.org/MTNCSfNdues.doc)

*Email confirmations have been sent to those whose 2007-2008 annual dues we have received

June 2007 Zambia Retreat PHOTO Sampler HERE

******************************************************************
2007 MTNCSfN Travel Award WINNERS Announced!!
Our local chapter of SfN has nominated one graduate student and one postdoctoral fellow for SfN travel awards:

Congratulations!!! Graduate Student Travel Award MTNCSfN Nominee:
Christopher M. Ciarleglio, Neuroscience Graduate Program,
Vanderbilt University / Nomination by Douglas G. McMahon, Ph.D.

Congratulations!!! Postdoctoral Travel Award MTNCSfN Nominee:
Anthony J. Baucum II, Ph.D., Molecular Physiology and Biophysics,
Vanderbilt University / Nomination by Roger J. Colbran, Ph.D.

Local Chapter 2007 Travel Award Winner's Flyer HERE (pdf)

****************************************************************** POST-Zambia WORKSHOP REPORT TO BE POSTED SOON!!!
Zambia Neuroscience Retreat and Workshop
INFECTIONS AND BRAIN DISEASE BURDEN

Printable Meeting Notice HERE (pdf)
Printable Meeting Program HERE (pdf)
Zambia Meet to Explore Brain Diseases (VUMC The Reporter Article)