The Renal Pathology Society held a Board of Directors meeting on Friday November 2, 8-10,45 pm in the Pacific A room, Marriott San Francisco Hotel during the ASN 2007.

In attendance were: Steve Bonsib, president, Mark Has, vice president, Helen Liapis, secretary treasurer and the following committee chairs: Bob Colvin, Maria Picken, Surya Seshan,  Laura Barisoni, Ingeborg  Bajema, Franco Ferrario and Sharon Adler 2007 RPS representative to ASN program committee. Drs Meleg-Smith, Alex Magil, Pat Walker and Jan Bruijn were unable to attend.

1. Approval of the agenda
2. Previous meeting minutes (Helen)
3. Reports of committees:

International Committee: Surya Seshan
- Update
- Humanitarian grants – cover travel and living expenses to fund a trainee for 3-6 months at a US Nephropathology Site
- RPS involvement in upcoming international meetings and other Nephropathology initiatives in underserved regions

Nominating & Awards: Jan Bruijn
- Update
- Lifetime Achievement Award

Financial: Pat Walker
- Financial report
- Status of online membership renewal

Communications & Publications: Suzanne Meleg-Smith
- Update
- Consider a new web site category for RPS Meeting Updates, for instance, Banff 2007, ECP and RPS Satellite Meeting
- The Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine offer to publish summaries of major RPS meetings

Education & Scientific: Laura Barisoni
- Report on the 4th Satellite RPS-KUFA meeting in Istanbul 2007
- Update on the 5th Satellite RPS-KUFA Meeting in Denver 2008
(note: we need to invite Jim Pulman to the BOD Meeting)

Research:  Franco Ferrario
- Update
- KUFA Grants - $5,000 x 2 again?

Membership: Ingeborg Bajema
- Update – new members
- Action on members in arrears. The BOD and Members at the USCAP RPS Business meeting agreed to suspend member in arrears for 2 years. Originally there were 132 members in arrears, now there are 31 (several are prominent individuals).

Program: Alex Magil
- Update on USCAP and ASN

Training programs: Bob Colvin
- Update
 So far the main item is that I was invited to be an external reviewer for the Hopkins Renal Pathology Training Program, still the only one accredited by the ACGME.  I can provide a brief summary of that and a challenge to the society to decide whether we should push for more of the programs.  I can also mention the infrequency that renal pathology is part of the required residency training in the US. 

D. Other Old/New business
- Committee membership and Chairperson issues
Chair and Vice Chair for each committee?
Ascension from member to VC to Chair:
What about a committee requiring a more durable Chair such as Suzanne Melig-Smith and the Communication Committee. Should she have a separate position as Web Master?
Minimum number of years as RPS member prior to serving on a committee

- Update on the International Registry of Nephropathologists

- KUFA – status of funding

- ASN Board of Advisors – Codify in RPS Bylaws the mechanism for selection
Proposal: the BOD will select and contact a qualified individual to severe a 3-year term.

1. Ad hoc Members of BOD, such as KUFA?

5. Maria Picken

1. Evolution  of RPS standards of operation
2. BOD discussions via e-mail
3. Archieves of Pathology a publication of interest to RPS
4. Planning events for the following 2 years ahead of time
5. 30 year RPS Medal

The meeting lasted 90 minutes and important issues were discussed, debated and summarized for the Business meeting held next day. It was apparent that as the Society continues to expand, broad input and participation is required to ensure the success of the proposed initiatives, summarized under the RPS Business meeting agenda.

Helen Liapis, secretary treasurer