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View from the Top | Eyes Towards NOLA and Beyond

This truly is an exciting time. The world is opening once again and people are traveling, which is why the 2021 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA (October 23-27) is going to be a standout event. Registration is now open, so don’t delay, sign up and reserve your hotel room today!

But you say, the news keeps talking about so many people still unvaccinated and new variants waiting to take hold… Sadly, this is true, but we are prepared and will have many protocols in place to ensure your safety and enjoyment to the greatest extent possible. So, get your shot, grab your mask, and be prepared for a fabulous meeting. Kudos to co-chairs Cindy Morin, Gina Hedberg, and Mir Asghar Ali Khan for an outstanding program with education and professional development for all, regardless of your level of expertise. There will be lots of networking opportunities – and what we all crave – human interaction without a computer screen separating us!

By the time this article posts, the SRAI election will just about be concluded. We have a hugely qualified slate of candidates – no matter who wins, we all win. The most important thing you can do for your society is to be an active participant and vote!

It is about this time of year, that as President I think about who our Committee Chairs, Ad Hoc Board members, and 2022 Annual Meeting Co-chairs will be. Stay tuned as these will be formally announced in the September Catalyst.

You should also start thinking about how you would like to get involved. SRAI is an organization driven by members! A call for volunteers will be going out after the annual meeting to recruit members willing to serve on any of our committees: Education and Professional Development (e.g., programming, LevelUP, Senior Executive Institute), Membership (e.g., Awards, Distinguished Faculty, Future of the Field), Communications (e.g., Catalyst, Journal, Podcasts, Social Media), Governance (e.g., policy and procedures, SRAI structure), Data Integrity, By-Laws, Finance, and more. Reach out if you would like more information on any of these opportunities. 

I want to remind you about some other exciting SRAI initiatives:

• SRAI’s Podcast series, Shop Talk continues in July with Carla DeMarco talking to Katie Watkins, Associate Director, Research Administration, and IRB Administrator at University of Akron, about her “Pathway and Perspectives.”
• SRAI on Social Media: Do you Tweet? Post on Facebook? Check LinkedIn? Peek at Instagram? Watch YouTube? Maybe you don’t post or interact, but you are always looking and reading… either way, we hope you are friending, sharing, and liking all things SRAI! Look for SRAI’s #SRAIUnMasked! series – we highlight different members, and you can be next! To share your story, contact emincey@srainternational.org for details.
• iSRA Intensives: We are already planning for a full winter schedule of training intensives – check the website in the coming months for more details. 

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

Always looking to continue the conversation…

Best,
Debbie

Authored by Debra Schaller-Demers, Vice President, Research Outreach and Compliance
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
SRAI Board of Directors President