|
Indru
T. Khubchandani, M.D.
Director General
|
It is well to recapitulate where we have come from. International
Society of University Colon and Rectal Surgeons was incorporated
in Mexico City in 1962 by Harry E. Bacon, M.D., Fidel Ruiz
Moreno, M.D., and Stuart Ross, M.D. They wrote the bylaws,
and recognizing the intricacies of an international organization,
gave broad powers to Director General, an office occupied
by Dr. Bacon, until his health failed. Then I was elected
to take over in the eighties. The Bylaws Committee appointed
the Director General as Program Chairman to shift the burden
from local political pressure to a central “outside”
figure to make some unpopular decisions.
The Society had a limit of 50 members then, and the eligibility
requirement was Full Professorship at a major university.
Over the years, the Council saw fit to increase the membership
to 80, then to 250, and now to no ceiling. Although the
bylaws have been relaxed to have ‘only academic interest’
as a criterion for joining the Society, careful scrutiny
of the applications is still exercised after appropriate
endorsements.
I sponsored an associate to join the Society of Surgery
of Alimentary Tract in 1984, and he was turned down because
he had only four publications, rather than the requisite
of 10 to 12. Now, SSAT is advertising freely to enroll members
with relaxed requirements. American Society of Colon and
Rectal Surgeons is also making efforts to recruit members
by advertising in publications and on the internet.
There is strength in numbers, certainly in the quality of
the membership. The funds of the Society are generated by
membership dues, registration fees at the Meetings, commercial
support, and sometimes governmental support. The dues structure
has been kept low. The Registration fees have been kept low, with
a maximum of $400.00-$450.00, while other organizations
charge $700.00-$800.00 as a norm. The Society is cognizant
of the varying income levels around the world, and it wants
people from all parts of the world to be able to attend.
The membership currently runs at 550 dues paying surgeons
with no other categories except Honorary Fellows. An indictment
has been made that ISUCRS is a travel club. Certainly the
quality of scientific program at the Malmo Meeting in 1998
and the record registration of over 1400 attendees at the
Sao Paulo Meeting in the year 2000 would not so indicate.
The selection of the future meeting site is made by the
Committee largely on the basis of geographic location and
the strength of the local host. Naturally, there is some
attraction for attendees to prefer to go to ‘exotic’
locations, but for the past twenty yeas, the locations have
been based on strong University support and not on the slot
machines of Las Vegas. The only ‘weak’ meeting
the Society had was in Glasgow, Scotland in 1988, because
there was misrepresentation of the support from the Royal
College of Surgeons. The selection of the venue is particularly
difficult when projected years ahead. Who would have predicted
the financial situation in Argentina in 2002?
The Planning Committee has an extensive agenda to make recommendations
to the Council and the Bylaws Committee. A dynamic group
must evolve with events. The weakening forces of international
participation due to economic conditions have to be countered
with globalization at all levels in the world today.
ISUCRS is the only true international organization in Colon
and Rectal Surgery. Other societies have, and are currently
attempting to further enhance their exposure. We are already
there!
The Research and Education Fund (Harry E. Bacon Foundation)
has not been exploited to its fullest advantage. A financial
grant invited lectureship is granted to several international
organizations. Brazilian Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons
has been a leader in providing funds for young researchers.
With wisdom and stewardship of our elected leaders, my prognosis
for the next millennium is optimistic. Those who try to
detract from the healthy progress of the Society are best
left on the sidelines. There is enough to cheer about.
|
