The meeting was called to order by Dr. Sylvia Asa, President.

The agenda of the meeting was adopted as printed on page 230 of the program book. Minutes of the previous business meeting held in San Antonio on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 were approved as printed in the 2006 program book.

Dr. Asa recognized the international dignitaries in attendance. Her report began with a welcome to all registrants to the meeting. The USCAP is an amazing Academy, it continues to grow, and it is also very agile as this is the first time the Academy has had to quickly change the venue—from New Orleans to Atlanta. This is the 50th anniversary of Short Courses offered in the Academy which was started in 1956. She extended thanks to Council, Committee chairs and the Augusta office for their unflagging support of the Academy during her time as president.

Those persons receiving Recognition Awards from the Academy for service rendered during the year 2005 were then recognized and thanked.

The Secretary-Treasurer's report was presented by Dr. Fred Silva. He expressed gratification that the Academy continued to flourish during another very successful year and thanked the membership for making it such a vibrant organization and is very proud of all who help make it so. He showed a powerpoint presentation which included membership in the Academy which now exceeds 10,000 with over 2150 being junior members. At its meeting last Saturday, the Council confirmed the admission of new members of whom 62 were granted Emeritus status. He announced the total registration for this meeting exceeds 3100 with last year's meeting in San Antonio being the largest ever of 3287. The USCAP website is getting up to four million hits/month, with about 12,000-17,000 unique visitors/month, 500,000 page views/month with over 30% being from over 60 countries outside of the U.S. and Canada. These free offerings are for pathologists throughout the world. Much time, effort and money have been invested in our USCAP Website (www.uscap.org) which has free educational offerings/modules and an overall Table of Contents (with 19 organ systems/subspecialties) and also by key word/index search; also included are the last 3 years of scientific abstracts which are searchable by topic, author, disease, technology. He stated this year had a record number of scientific abstracts submitted (2228) with a record number of Stowell-Orbison submissions (490). Also, in the last two years we had a record number of Short Courses proposals submitted. Companion Meetings had one of the top three in number of attendees and Short Courses also had a high number of attendees. This is the second year for Diagnostic Cytopathology and this year the USCAP implemented a new weekend course Practical Pathology Seminars for March 2006. Membership on committees is to be commended. The Nature Publishing Group (NPG) and jobs website has job postings for pathologists (Pathology Jobs). The NPG Website also has many other advantages including free abstracts of all articles, integrated searches across the NPG portfolio, online archives (all full-text articles from 2000 on), author index across all articles, Table of Contents e-mail alerts, supplementary online materials, reference linking and links to other NPG resources including natureevents, news, nature.com site index and naturejobs (pathologyjobs). The NPG also publishes our journals Modern Pathology and Laboratory Investigation which are extraordinary. The Altruism of the Academy continues to flourish with the Chinese initiative and the Friends of Africa. Dr. Silva mentioned that what we do when "no one is looking" betrays the "heart and soul" of a person or an organization like the USCAP. The Altruistic endeavors of the USCAP have been going on, courtesy of Jo Ann Johnson, Jim Crimmins and the central Augusta office for over 26 years. The Academy included educational offerings which have been mailed to over 27 countries for the last 27 years including 8 countries in South America, 4 in Central America, 10 in Europe and 5 in Asia. Other International efforts include the USCAP's involvement with the International Association of Chinese Pathologists and the Friends of Africa. Over 40 subscriptions to our Academy journal and the Nature Publishing Group (NPG) Website have been sponsored for university pathologists in mainland China by colleagues in Hong Kong (through the efforts of Drs. HK Ng and David Hardwick) and the USA and already almost 50 pledged for pathologists in Africa. "Sustaining the Academy" continues to be successful with over $130,000 invested for funds for underserved pathologists and of course the Dr. Leland Stoddard Will contributing $50,000 for the education of underserved pathologists and electronic access to Educational Materials. The USCAP Council has set aside $75,000 for travel funds for a young pathologist from the 50 or so IAP Divisions to attend the IAP Centennial Congress in Montreal in 2006. Lastly, Dr. Silva acknowledged the many important contributions of the French, British, and Arab Divisions of the IAP to many underserved pathologists in underserved countries. He announced the USCAP has ACCME Certification as a CME Provider through November 2008. He then asked the audience to stand in remembrance of the deceased members while he read their names as follows: John N. Abbott, Donald Alcott, George K. Baer, Archie H. Baggenstoss, Herbert Braunstein, John C. Carnes, Jacob Churg, Andrew Climie, Robert L. Farrelll, Robert Good, Martin Hicklin, H. Richard Hinrichs, Frank B. Johnson, Frederick A. Johnson, Leonard S. Kaplow, Paul E. Lacy, Clarence J. Lafler, Michel Laurent, Klaus Lewin, Ewald R. Lonser, Michael McRae, Emmett Pierce, Conrad Pirani, Bohdan Rozdilsky, J. Chandler Smith, Edwin F. Stula, Joseph L. Teresi, Louis B. Thomas, Louis E. Van Petten, Doris D. Vendrell, Austin L. Vickery, and Jacqueline Wharton. The Secretary-Treasurer's report was adopted by motion, second, and vote.

Dr. Jack P. Strong, Chairman of the Finance Committee, presented the Finance Committee's report. He stated that all financial documents for FY 2005 have been examined by the Finance Committee and Council. The audited financial statement for the year ending June 30, 2005 has been reviewed by the Finance Committee and Council. The investments and investment policies of the Academy have been reviewed by the Finance Committee and reported to Council. Net assets of the Academy increased by approximately $100,000. The budget for FY 2007 was approved by Council with a dues increase for regular members of $25. All financial reports are available for review. He said to remember New Orleans. The report of the Finance Committee was accepted by motion, second, and vote.

Dr. Jeffrey Myers, Chairman of the Education Committee, presented the report of the Education Committee. He thanked the 19 members of the committee for their hard work to provide a superior and diverse educational program and stated that the committee members are appointed for four-year terms, are diversified, meet twice a year, and are present members of the Academy. What's new this year is the Education Committee has added two housestaff members. He stated the important and dynamic role this committee plays in the Academy for the annual meeting and all educational offerings of the Academy. The Diagnostic Pathology Course will be in Bar Harbor July 8-14, 2006 (see website: www.uscap.org). The Education Committee has the operational responsibility for the annual meeting abstracts; Short and Long Courses;

Short Course selection at the Interim meeting, the summer Diagnostic Pathology Update Course, Special Courses, Specialty Conferences, Companion Meetings, platform and posters. This is the first annual meeting of going `paperless' for handouts at the Specialty Conferences and Companion Meetings as these can be easily access from the USCAP website. Also, virtual microscopy has been implemented into some educational offerings. This is the second year of the Fellowship Fair (50 Departments present) plus Housestaff Specialty Conference and Housestaff Hospitality Room with very good attendance. The second Diagnostic Cytopaathology Course was offered in January 2006 and was successful. This year is the first time the Academy is offering a Practical Pathology Seminars in March 2006. The Education Committee remains very committed to the electronic media to enhance our educational product. He presented a powerpoint presentation which included an implementation of the Strategic Plan of the Education Committee. The report of the Education Committee was accepted by motion, second, and vote.

Dr. Allen Gown presented the report of the Publications Committee. He thanked the two editors Drs. John Eble and James Crawford and the associates who help them—Marsha Cline and Dr. Catherine Ketcham. The new NPG Executive Editor is Neil Christensen. He also thanked the Committee members. This is the third year with Nature Publishing Group for the Academy journals Modern Pathology and Laboratory Investigation with many quality improvements. Manuscripts submitted have increased since 2003 and the acceptance rate has declined which means more quality journals. What's new for 2006 in Laboratory Investigation is the "Pathobiology in Focus" section. Also, for 2006 the Continuing Medical Education program Medscape, and for 2007 the "Naturatization" of Modern Pathology and Laboratory Investigation. The report of the Publications Committee was accepted by motion, second, and vote.

Dr. Richard Zarbo reported for the Ad-hoc Bylaws committee on behalf of the committee. The changes in the proposed bylaws sent to members September 1, 2005 were approved. The report of the Ad-hoc Bylaws committee was accepted by motion, second, and vote.

As Chairman of the Nominating Committee, Dr. Ricardo Lloyd submitted the following slate of nominees: President-Elect, Christopher P. Crum, Vice-President, Dr. Victor E. Reuter. There being no nominations from the floor, it was moved to close nominations and adopt the slate. This was done by unanimous vote. By ballot of the membership, Councillors: Drs. Phyllis Huettner, Peter Humphrey, and Mary Kay Washington were selected.

Dr. Henry Appelman was introduced as the Academy's new President, to take office April 1, 2006. Dr. Asa presented a new gavel to Dr. Appelman. Dr. Asa recognized Dr. Ricardo Lloyd and his many accomplishments as President by a presentation of the Academy's Past-President's medal.

The AFIP/ARP report was presented by Dr. Gardner. He stated "Business as Usual" and the offices have not closed. The DOD has made changes, but all is still in progress and it is not clear the outcome of both organizations.

Other business was reported by Dr. Silva of the future congresses. The IAP will experience the first Centennial September 16 - 21, 2006 in Montreal, Quebec hosted by the USCAP. This meeting will celebrate Maude Abbott and will be spectacular. He invites everyone to attend, and stated registration is only on-line from the Website.