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View from the Top | Travel Memories

Oh, how I miss travel! One of my favorite things about Facebook is the memories feature. Each morning I check to see what I posted on this day in past years. This time of year is heavy with SRAI travel memories. In the last week or so I was in Boston, Washington DC, San Francisco, and Vegas all for SRAI. I miss the sightseeing – for me it’s always about finding a new museum or historic site, the food, continuing education, phenomenal networking, and seeing my great SRAI friends.

In May 2020 I was supposed to be heading to Hiroshima, Japan for the INORMS meeting. Of course, we all know that didn’t happen and it was postponed till May 2021… sadly it is still not safe for that kind of international travel and INORMS will be virtual for the first time ever. The theme this year is: “Promoting Diversity in Research and Research Management Collaborations: More Trans-National, More Trans-Disciplinary, More Trans-Sectoral.” INORMS is an amazing international networking experience. You get to meet and learn from research management professionals from around the globe. This year, you can have the experience from the comfort of your own home. Check out the information about this year’s virtual event here. You may just recognize an SRAI member or two on the program!

I want to remind you about some exciting SRAI initiatives:

• Future of the Field – this is a new program designed to recognize research administrators with 15 years or less experience. Nominees do NOT have to be SRAI members. Deadline for nominees to submit their applications is April 30^th. See details here.
• iSRA 2021 Spring Joint Section Meeting - where NE meets S meets W meets MW!
  To keep everyone safe (until we can come together in person in NOLA in October 2021) and maximize learning and networking opportunities, the iSRA Joint Section Meeting will be presented online, April 26-30, 2021. Registration is open now – check out the institutional discounts for group registrations. This week-long virtual conference will include, an amazing slate of workshops, main event activities, educational sessions, and networking opportunities designed to fit your schedule and to amplify and accelerate your professional growth, including two full certificate offerings - National Institutes of Health Grant Fundamentals and Leadership. 
• SRAI Awards season has opened. This is your opportunity to recognize the long-term exemplary contributions your peers have made to the research administration profession and the Society. Self-nominations are also accepted. See details here. The deadline to apply/submit is May 14, 2021. Don’t wait for the last minute – get those nominations in now. Winners will be recognized at the 2021 SRAI Annual Meeting in New Orleans.
• iSRA Spring/Summer Intensives - There are several programs geared for intermediate level administrators in development. See the website for topics, dates, and details as they become available: https://www.srainternational.org/meetings/intensive-training/online-intensive-programT

There’s so much happening each month – don’t miss an opportunity to share, learn, engage, and grow.

Hope to see you at one (or more) of our 2021 events! Always looking to continue the conversation...

Best,
Debbie

Authored by Debra Schaller-Demers, Senior Director, Research Outreach and Compliance
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
SRAI President