GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE I want to encourage all Fellows in the Nevada Chapter to take a more active role in our chapter. We need more of a turnout at our dinner meetings, which provide a good forum for communication of ideas. We could also use more input at the Council level. The Chicago office is trying to pursue many different issues at this time, and we may not see instant results. I would also encourage you to attend the National meeting that is coming up in San Francisco in October. Since it is on our side of the country, it would be nice to see a large attendance from our Chapter members. I look forward to seeing you at our local Chapter meeting on September 28th. Joe Thornton, MD FACS Nevada Chapter, Amercian College of Surgeons Secretary/Treasurer & President-Elect Report July 26, 1999 The Leadership Conference of the COS was in Chicago on May 13-15, and both Camille Spenner our Chapter Administrator and I attended. It is the First time the Nevada Chapter has actually had someone to go to all of this conference. The chapter offices are beautiful and they overlook Lake Michigan. The COS now uses the top floors of its building for offices, and leases out the bottom floors of its building for a brand-new Wyndam Hotel. From what I found out, our chapter could use a five-year plan. We need some continuity from one president to the next. Also, we could use a larger Council, with more representation from the residents and young surgeons. I think we could use more representation from the sub-specialties perhaps as a group. The COS will have some exciting new programs for residents and young surgeons in the next year. Many of the chapters are setting up websites at the same time we are. Camille and I are trying to have this newsletter appear both in your mail and on the Internet at the same time. I suspect we will all be communicating by Email in the near future. Our website address is: www.facs.org/chapters/nevada/ If any of you want to help with the Website, please let me know. Camille and I have set up some informative meetings for the next year. We will be meeting September 28th at Ruth's Chris Steak House. Our November meeting will be sponsored by: Rhone Poulenc Rorer and should be November 9th. The January meeting location will be announced and is our resident research presentation and award meeting. For 2000, it will be sponsored by Gore. Our Spring meeting will be in April on trauma and is being arranged by Dr. Fildes. The next year should be a good one for the Nevada Chapter. I will be spending even more time on the Chapter, as I will be finishing my third term as President of the Las Vegas Pediatric Society this autumn. It has been challenging to play a leadership role in both areas at the same time, but a lot of fun. I will see you at our September meeting. Kathy Mahon, MD FACS FAAP