Dear Colleagues:

I extend belated, but heartfelt, best wishes to each of you for the New Year. I grow older, but the sense of excitement and passion I feel and for the science and profession entomology never diminishes. I look forward to this year's meeting 28-31 March in Des Moines, with the same eager anticipation felt when presenting my first research paper at the1960 NCB-ESA meeting in Milwaukee.

Donald Lewis and his Iowa State colleagues have made great arrangements for this, the 54th annual meeting of NCB-ESA. The hotel is the Des Moines Marriott. You will truly enjoy this hotel. It is beautiful and the meeting facilities are world class. Room rates will be $92.00, single or double.

William Hutchison and his hardworking Program Committee (Bradley Binder, Larry Chandler, Joel Coates, Ann Fallon, Rick Foster, Tom Green, Rick Hellmich, Shripat Kamble, Larry Larson, Tim Nowatzki, Hassan Oloumi, Cliff Sadof, and Paul Tinerella) have twelve great symposia planned! I especially wish to call your attention to the NCB President's Symposium - "Implementation of the Strategic Plan: Involving the Practitioner." You may recall my appointment of a "Council of Elders" (Larry Larson, Kevin Steffey, Dave Horn, Tom Turpin, and Mark Zajac) to revisit the Branch Strategic Plan. This seminar will present the work of this committee and provide you opportunity to share your vision of mission of our Branch as we move to the 21st century.

And while we plan for the future, we don't intend to forget our roots. Rick Weinzierl and Tom Turpin will moderate "Connecting with our Heritage: A Brief Look at the Fascinating History of Entomology in the North Central Region. Keep posted on program developments and much more by regularly visiting our 1999 NCB-ESA Annual Meeting Web Site (http://www.ent.iastate.edu/entsoc/ncb99/). The deadline for submission of oral papers is 25 January, but you have until 15 February to submit poster presentations.

Included with this mailing is an election ballot and brief resumés describing the accomplishments of those members nominated for Branch office. You honor your colleagues and serve the Branch by voting. Please review this information and cast your ballot today.

Sincerely,

Ted Radcliffe, President
North Central Branch, ESA