J. Bruce Millar

point.  I am therefore very pleased to be passing the baton, to mix my metaphors, at such a time as this.  I have been very privileged to see the concept of a professional scientific association grow from loose relationships between maybe half a dozen scientists spread over maybe five disciplines into a flourishing multidisciplinary association with an exciting future. That sense of privilege is enhanced by also remembering the quality and vision of the men and women who have shared in that journey.
At this juncture I want to acknowledge the four pioneers with whom I shared membership of the founding executive (Ed. pictured below with Bruce, left to right): Peter Blamey, John Ingram, Michael Wagner, and John Clark.  The vision of the pioneers has been superbly supported and developed by Julie Vonwiller, Jeff Pittam, Michael Scordilis, David Grayden, Roberto Togneri, Jan van Doorn, Ara

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As you will be aware from the various mailings about our 2001 AGM, this will be my last column in the newsletter as Association president. In recent Newsletters I have been reviewing some new directions in which ASSTA can move, building on both its solid financial position following ICSLP'98 and on the burgeoning awareness of the relevance of its science when expressed in technology. Having nurtured the idea that became ASSTA for the best part of 3 decades, I would feel a sense of failure if I were to leave the helm of the association at a low