A Year of Continuing Introspection, 1972-73

Abstract

A year ago at the Annual Meeting of this Association, President John W. Curtin summarized in capsule form the pertinent facets of our organi— zational evolution, flavored them With personal observations of the significance of craniofacial anomalies, and admonished the membership to get at the task of encouraging more recognition and participation of those scientists and professionals whose interests embrace all craniofacial con— genital aberrations ; not just cleft lip and palate. His remarks highlighted a rather active, and sometimes controversial three year period of Association introspection concerning our objectives and need for soliciting new interest bloodlines. Approaching the presidency last year, I felt that the Association was adrift, to some extent, unsettled. To be certain, our annual meeting programs had lapsed into a patterned production which has been described as unimaginative, sterile, and redundant. Perhaps, the scientific sessions were reflecting a plateau of research accomplishments and improved clinical management, which had been reached through the generous infusion of federal support, both philosophical and financial. As the governmental stimulus for basic research and clinical investigation has waned, abstracts of papers submitted for presentation at our annual sessions have decreased in number and oftentimes lacked originality, sophistication, diversity, and depth. Without a good number, variety, and quality of papers, or suffi— cient funds to regularly seek guest speakers, program chairmen have been limited in their efforts to arrange attractive scientific programs utilizing the format which had evolved of late. This year 39papers provided the abstract response for the program committee's deliberations and 29 of these have been, or will be, presented as a part of the 1973 program. Total meet— ing attendance in recent years has ranged from 200—300, reflecting an approximate 20—25% membership participation. With few exceptions, committee rosters had reached status quo, decisions were made by a proportional few, and new member prospects were not inundating the member— ship committee with applications. With these few rather obvious observa— tions as background, do we see a need for new interests, expansion of the