President's Message from Zane Robinson Wolf

IAHC's 23rd Caring Research Conference at the University of Stirling in Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom, June 5 to 7, 2001, was an extraordinary experience. Betty Farmer and her colleagues welcomed attendees from many countries. An opening reception with a Scottish piper and Roddy McKenzie and his poetry welcomed attendees and started the conference on a wonderful note. Over 50 paper presentations, offered during concurrent sessions, and a poster session inspired all of us while at the same time the conference provided time for reflection and revitalization. Additionally, the courtesies of the conference team and the Program Committee, University of Stirling personnel, the delights of the celidh, and all of old and new friends embraced us and made us feel at home. We were very appreciative of the keynote addresses by Jean Watson, Carol Picard, Sara Eagger, Dawn Freshwater, Christopher Johns, and Betty Farmer. Several workshops were also very well attended.

The greens and grays of Scottish scenery, Stirling Castle and plain, and the beginning of the Highlands graced our views every day while the occupants of rabbit warrens amused us. Shopping in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling, touring at Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, viewing Mackintosh Art Nouveau, revisiting the history of William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Wars of Independence, and Glencoe and the Valley of Tears, golfing at St. Andrews Old Course, and enjoying the Firth of Forth, Scotch Whiskey, oatcakes, haggis, salmon, porridge, and sausages made the conference memorable. A special thank you goes to Jean Watson for the $3,000 contribution to the conference dinner that was set on the University of Stirling's Campus, a beautiful location for walks, thoughts, and friends.

Future conference sites are Boulder, Colorado (2003) Montreal, Quebec, Canada (2004); Anchorage, Alaska (2005), and Richmond, Virginia (2006). Please be aware of the Jean Watson Fellowship with recently developed criteria provided by Kathryn Gramling and endorsed by the members of the Board. The Fellowship will enable a student to attend IAHC's Caring research conference with the first award available for the May 2002, IAHC Caring Research Conference in Boston, Massachusetts.

Donna Taliaferro is preparing revised bylaws with the help of feedback from IAHC members. Increased membership and earnings from yearly conferences will assure our financial stability. Also, purchases of our merchandise will add to fiscal health. The International Journal for Human Caring and the web site list merchandise options. Members are encouraged to purchase merchandise (including note cards, quilt patterns, posters, previously published journals, pens, post-it notes, heart paperweights). They are asked to contemplate a social action agenda since an exploratory discussion was held in Scotland. IAHC's appeal to practitioners and consideration of population-focused themes were discussed. Members are asked to respond to a future mailed survey to revisit the mission, vision, goals, and strategies of the organization.

IAHC has traditionally welcomed scholars from disciplines other than nursing. Conference presenters and journal authors from various disciplines are appreciated.
On-Line Continuing Education is coming soon. Donna Taliaferro and Marian Turkel are the editors and plan a once a year offering. Anne Boykin is preparing to store conference quilts in glass cases at Florida Atlantic University, College of Nursing's Christine E. Lynn Center for Caring as a permanent display once cases are obtained.

Since Jim Woelfel recently resigned as our business manager, Christine Filipovitch of www.pronursingresources.com is our new business manager. Chris's home base is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is willing to work with board members to improve services and contain costs. Chris and her staff are transitioning IAHC now as they work with Marian Turkel, Treasurer/Corresponding Secretary, and me to facilitate IAHC's operations.

This is my last president's message. Please accept my thanks for the opportunity to meet you, to share ideas and reflections, and for the many friends cherished during my IAHC journey. I am continuing as the editor of the International Journal for Human Caring; I am looking forward to reading your manuscripts.

Zane Robinson Wolf, PhD, RN, FAAN