I'd like to offer warm greetings to all our readers on behalf of EAM. Everyone is busy preparing for the EAM 2000 conference that will be here before we know it. Steve Meisel and his Track Chairs have put together a really exciting program built around a challenging and provocative theme. I expect there will be much discussion and development of ideas for future symposia, papers and other forms of research collaboration to emerge from what promises to be a highly interactive conference. Jeanie Forray, as Proceedings Editor, has been working with Steve to have our first ever Proceedings on CD-ROM.

The Local Arrangements Committee, led by Frances Amatucci, is putting finishing touches on what promises to be a truly special first meeting for the New Millenium.

We have never held an EAM meeting at a conference resort before so the 2000 meeting will be quite unique and memorable. As some of you may know, the Sheraton Ferncroft Conference Resort is situated on a 600 acre private estate in Danvers just 25 minutes north of Boston (off I-95). Ferncroft prides itself on excelling in providing consistent, quality service for meetings. Some of the activities listed include golf, a driving range, tennis courts, jogging trail, fitness center, and a salon and spa. If Steve and his group hadn't such an outstanding job of designing such a great program, I'd really be concerned about the "lure" of activities - not our wonderful scheduled ones but those of attractions such as the Salem Witch Museum, House of the Seven Gables (birthplace of Nathaniel Hawthorne), Peabody Museum, whale watching and shopping at the outlets in Kittery.

Many of you know that from time to time we have had discussions about the timing of the conference coming in early May and coinciding with the end of the semester. Well, my suggestion for this year is to give yourself a perfect end of the semester reward by attending the EAM 2000 conference at the Sheraton Ferncroft and perhaps enjoying the rest of the weekend in Danvers! So register early! Please note that the EAM will incur a financial penalty if the guaranteed number of room reservations are not received by April 21st. The conference room rate is also valid until that date. So look for your Program in the mail shortly or check the EAM website for scheduled sessions and activities and register for the conference by April 15th and benefit from the lower preregistraition fee.

In closing, I hope your academic year has been satisfying and productive. We will shortly begin preparing for the Board of Governors meeting so please send me any comments, ideas, or general feedback at kaplane@mail.montclair.edu. I look forward to seeing you at EAM 2000 at the Sheraton Ferncroft in Danvers in May!