Minutes of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Board Meeting New York City Park Plaza Hotel May 19th, 2003 Present: David Thomas, Andres Lozano, Rees Cosgrove, Sang Sup Chung, Dade Lunsford, David Roberts, Francisco Velasco, Tomokatsu Hori, Patrick Kelly. Guest: Mario Meglio Regrets: Brian Brophy, Alim Benabid, Peter Heilbrun, Yucel Kanpolet, Joachim Krauss, Bengt Linderoth, Raul Marino, Zengmin Tian, Marc Sindou, Khalaf Al Moutaery, Andries Bosch, Phil Gildenberg. President's Report Our president, Brian Brophy, was unable to attend. Interactions with other societies There was a discussion concerning the various societies, including the interactions between the World Federation of Neurological Surgery Stereotactic and Functional Section and the WSSFN. Dr. Thomas, in his senior role at the WFNS, led the discussion. It was generally thought that there was some degree of duplication between the WFNS Stereotactic Committee and the WSSFN and some consideration that the WSSFN serve as the Stereotactic Committee of the WFNS. As Dr. Lozano is the chair of the WFNS Stereotactic Committee and the WSSFN Secretary Treasurer, it was felt that he should bring forth and explore this possibility. Journal Issues Dr. David Roberts gave us a journal report and outlined some of the new initiatives and strategies for the journal. It is possible that the journal will become a source of revenue for the society. Some consideration was given to the possibility that the journal also represent the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery in addition to its representation of the WSSFN, the ASSFN and the Asian Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery Society. Awards Dr. Lozano spoke of the nominations for the Spiegel and Wycis Medal. In the past, two medals have been given at the World Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery meeting for outstanding contributions to the field of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. Website Dr. Michael Kaplitt gave an update of the web activities at wssfn.org and will call upon several members to increase the volume and keep the website up to date. Future meetings A large part of the discussion centered on planning for the WSSFN meeting to be held in Rome from June 14-17, 2005. Dr. Mario Meglio is the president of this meeting. We spoke of preparing a budget for this meeting, and the WSSFN would be prepared to have limited indemnification of this meeting. Dr. Meglio said that there would be the possibility of 700 and 600 people sitting down simultaneously for plenary sessions at the meeting and that there are many hotel rooms in the vicinity of the planned congress site. The members of the WSSFN offered to act in the Scientific Program committee and to offer any help and advice needed for Dr. Meglio to ensure the success of the meeting. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted by Dr. Andres Lozano, Secretary/Treasurer.