The ISGE News June 2003 Volume 9 Issue 2

	June 2003 Volume 9 Issue 2 Editor: Togas Tulandi, MD Editorial Board: Alan Alperstein, Michelle Nisolle, Robert O’Shea, Kazuo Satoh
Inside this Issue: Editor’s Corner President's Message Vice-President's Message Laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine myoma

Professional Etiquette
Suppose for instance, that last year, the chair of an organizing committee invites you to lecture at a meeting. You accept. You then assist this chair in organizing the program by inviting other speakers to the meeting. Two months before the meeting, the invitation for you to speak is withdrawn. You are told that this is due to the excessive number of outstanding speakers. You feel that a professional courtesy was simply forgotten. Your colleague, a medical professional, has largely implied that you are not one of the outstanding speakers.

"Once an invitation has been issued to a player, it must not be withdrawn provided the player accepts the invitation by the reply date. If an event is cancelled or postponed, the organizers shall provide compensation."

Etiquette is paramount in life. Both medical and non-medical organizations, and their officers should follow this professional courtesy. This will allow all of us to live in a harmonious relationship with each other.

We look forward to seeing you at the ISGE Regional Meeting, on October 12-14, 2003 in Toulouse, France and at the 2004 ISGE Congress, April 8-11, 2004 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The theme of the Annual Congress is "Gynaecologic Endoscopy: Bringing the message home".

You will notice that ISGE NEWS has a better appearance. This has been made possible by a donation from Storz Endoscopy. On behalf of the Society, I express my great appreciation to Ms. Sybill Storz and her staff.

In this issue, you can read the messages from 500 words). We like to keep you up to date with the latest developments around the world.

It is a privilege and a great honor for me to assume the presidency of the ISGE. This is my first message as President. I plan to communicate with you frequently, through this Newsletter and by electronic means.

I am pleased to report that the Annual Congress in Cancun, which was organized and presided by Dr. Alberto Valero, proved to be a big success. In addition to faculty and invited speakers, there were 350 paying registered participants. It was impressive to note that almost all of the speakers in the program traveled to Cancun despite the prevailing economical and political adversities.

With this, my first message I wish to express my sincere thanks to all the speakers and Board members who were present at the Congress for their important contributions during the meeting and the pre-congress courses.

At the Board Meeting, Harry Reich was elected Vice-President. During same Board meeting it was also agreed that henceforth the Vice-President would assume the task of Chair of the Scientific Committee.

Ray Valle remains the Treasurer and Victor Gomel continues as Honorary Secretary. I wish to acknowledge their work and dedication during the course of the last two years and especially during the last year, which was a difficult and critical period of the Society.

I have asked Victor Gomel henceforth to function as executive Secretary. He will closely collaborate with Kees Wamsteker, Consultant of the ISGE, and Simone Wamsteker, during the next two years, the transitional period that will lead the Society to the acquisition of professional management.

My sincere thanks to the previous two past Presidents, Lip Kee Yap and Jack Sciarra. I look forward to their continuing contributions.

I would like to thank John Newton, chairman of the Congress-Coordination for his innovative suggestions for the forthcoming meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Cape Town, Osaka, Vancouver, Beijing, etc …

Many thanks to Togas Tulandi, Editor of the ISGE News. He has worked single-handedly to produce the News. We will ensure that he will have an active Editorial Board to provide him with the support that he deserves.

I strongly believe that the ISGE plays an important role internationally. We have a democratic and open structure. We serve every continent of the World. I recognize that we must strive to have greater commitment by the members of the Board, greater involvement by individual members
in the running of the Society; that we must improve the effectiveness of our Scientific Committee and its collaboration with the local Congress organizers.

Finally, do not hesitate to contact me with your ideas, suggestions and concerns. We, the President and Executive, are here to serve you the members, and improve the quality and efficiency of our Society.