Hello everyone,

Happy New Year!

The BSG is off to a dynamic start this year. Our new President Judith Phillips has the BSG Committee busy scenario planning and considering the possibilities and challenges as we look forward to the years 2015-2020: imagining our futures in relation to both BSG and the ageing world is a fascinating and enlightening experience, and of course leads to both consensus and debate amongst our shared visions! You will no doubt soon be hearing more about our explorations that will result in us identifying our priorities, vision and organisation for the future.

In the more immediate world, you have probably already noticed changes to the way BSG is organised and how we communicate with you. Rachel Hazelwood, our Administrative Support Officer, has been busy improving our databases and communication systems. Not only do we now have a dedicated telephone number and address for BSG (see below); but we are also re-launching our JiscMail mailing list BSGmail; and sending you monthly updates to inform you about the work and news of BSG. We are also planning to create a mailing list for emergent researchers, practitioners and students ERAmail in the near future. These changes will ensure you will always be informed and in time for making nominations, submitting abstracts, registering for BSG events and making those important bursary applications.

Support for our Emerging Researchers in Ageing group BSG-ERA is another important priority. Ian Sidney has been an excellent Chair, co-ordinating and representing the group as well as organising ERA events. I would like to take this opportunity to remind BSG members of two important ways that we support the work of ERA during our annual conference:

• You have the opportunity to apply for a bursary that can contribute towards the funding of your registration to the BSG annual conference and other BSG events. The submission date for applications this year is Friday 1st May 2009.

• The Executive Committee have agreed to donate a £50 book token as part of the prestigious Stirling Student Poster Prize awarded at each annual conference. If you are a student I would very much encourage you to submit a poster and have the chance of winning!

More information will of course be available on the BSG website and in our monthly e-mail updates.

As you plan to renew your membership this year, don't forget that you now have the opportunity to take out a reduced rate subscription to the Journal of Population Ageing and Ageing and Society. These are significant benefits for BSG members.

We very much look forward to hearing from you throughout the year!

Our contact details are:

Email:

britishgerontology@yahoo.co.uk

Phone:

Please leave a message with your name and number on the BSG answering service on 07532 248 835. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

Post:

British Society of Gerontology

PO Box 607

York

YO26 0EQ

end of news and reviews section