IHC RESOURCE GROUP COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT

June 19, 2000

PATSY RUEGG, CHAIR

This committee continues to be very busy.  We sign up new people all the time, and help our members find IHC controls and in some cases reagents.  Here is a list of some of the work we have done in the last year.

1.    We passed out gobs of material at the NSH S/C in Providence.  There was a display showing printed pictures from our web site.  We signed up lots of new members and made sure they were NSH members or became so.  Our committee meeting in Providence was very productive.

2.    We distributed two Bulletins since September 99, and we are planning another at the moment

3.      After the Providence meeting I updated our membership directory, removing those from our mailing list who have not renewed their NSH memberships.  I sent post cards to all those removed, encouraging them to renew their NSH membership so that they can resume their privileges with this committee and NSH

4.   Our web site domain has changed, the new address is: http://www.ihcrg.org

5.   We put the names and email addresses of our members on our web site  

6.    I continue to respond to weekly and sometimes daily referrals from NSH and else where.  Most of the referrals need help with IHC issues and help with taking the QIHC exam

7.    We continue to maintain a tissue and reagent bank in Tucson for access by our committee members

8.   We offer help with meetings by providing printed material and help with speaker selection

9.    I used the Ventana IHC scholarship award I received to attend a Molecular Techniques meeting in Santa Fe, I will share my experience with the group through the Bulletin.  This award is sure to benefit the entire IHC Resource Group, not just me as an individual.

10. I have a lot of help with this committee and frankly could not sustain this committee with out the help.  I would like to acknowledge Diana Goodwin for helping to put the Bulletins altogether, Ethel Macrea for managing the tissue and reagent bank, Sara Williams for putting the data base together,  John McGinley for his master work with the website, and the vendors for donating reagents and funding for AV and internet connections for my presentations.  It is a lot of work, but we have a good team to make it happen

11. I attended the Colorado Society of Histotechnology meeting March 5, 2000 and displayed the IHC committee banner, website pictures, membership forms and reference information

12. I did a presentation at the Colorado meeting on “Internet Resources in Histotechnology” and featured our website

13. I attended the Arizona Society Region VII meeting June 8, 2000 also displayed the IHC committed information and did an even more extensive presentation on “Internet Resources” featuring our website

14. The IHC Resource website is running a survey asking questions about controls and fixation for IHC

15.  We are working on another Bulletin which will be distributed before the September NSH S/C