Hello everyone,

The Executive Committee are continuing to move forward with developing our new strategy for the British Society of Gerontology that we will present and discuss during the Annual General Meeting this September 2009 in Bristol. We have made real progress identifying priorities and setting near and future goals for the Society. It is a very exciting and dynamic time.

Alongside this we have of course been making changes to the way the Society is organised and my thanks here go especially to Rachel Hazelwood, our Administrator, for her outstanding contributions – in particular her commitment, diligence and enthusiasm - to ensure that we continue to work toward our objectives. In particular, we have been improving communications with and between our members – and this continues to be our key priority. In the near future we also plan a membership survey to learn how best we can represent you all and, in liaison with our excellent Website Manager Rachel Pitman, a new website group has been formed to develop and update the BSG website.

There is real dynamism and energy surrounding the Committee and wider Society at the moment. So I am delighted to announce that there are some key opportunities for you to become involved in work of the BSG and be involved in our changing and evolving Society.

I therefore encourage you to take this chance to join a vibrant and forward-looking team, increase your profile and networks within ageing studies and the Society, and improve the lives for older people, by considering the following opportunities as ways to participate more actively in the BSG:

• Be nominated to become a member of the Executive Committee:

In May 2009 there will be a call for nominations for the following positions on the BSG Executive Committee:

* 4 Executive Committee members, and

* 1 Secretary- Elect

We invite you to join us to develop and implement our new vision and strategy. Full information about the roles and how to be nominated will be available on the website and on BSGmail from May 2009.

• Become editor/s for the online BSG newsletter Generations Review:

A call for expressions of interest for a new editorial team for the online newsletter Generations Review will be issued in May 2009. This is an exciting opportunity to promote communications between and with BSG members and promote our multidisciplinary approach to ageing. The new editorial team will start in January 2011 – more information and how to apply will be available on the website and on BSGmail from May 2009.

• Organise a future BSG annual conference:

Expressions of interest to organise our annual conference in July 2011 and July 2012 are being requested. This is an excellent opportunity to bring together all the leading researchers, academics and practitioners in ageing studies to your own area. Please contact Rachel Hazelwood at britishgerontology@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

As you can see this is a great time to become more involved in the Society. Please check the BSG website and mailing lists for how to apply for any of the above.

If you require more information about any of these opportunities please contact either Judith Phillips, President of BSG, at Judith.phillips@swansea.ac.uk; Dr Wendy Martin, Honorary Secretary of BSG, at w.p.martin@reading.ac.uk; or Rachel Hazelwood, Administrator, at britishgerontology@yahoo.co.uk.

We very much look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our contact details are:

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