Greetings, and welcome back to the AMAA Journal!

I’m thrilled to re-launch the journal of the American Medical Athletic Association. It’s been a year since our last issue, and there have been a lot of changes with your association.

* We’ve updated our information technology systems, and are now overhauling our business processes.

* We have a new executive director and many new staff.

* New programs and services are in the offering. We’ve just launched our new AMAA web site. Check it out at www.amaasportsmed.org.

* Even this publication has a new title and a slightly changed format. We plan to make bigger changes to the journal over the next year.

We’re making these changes with one goal in mind; to serve you better. As I write that phrase, I’m aware how hollow that phrase may sound to those of you who, because you haven’t been members very long, don’t know us well. From time to time, my mail delivers advertisements that offer a similar claim: some megalith is doing something new or different, “to serve me better.” Riiiiight! In most national organizations, that seems to be the rule.

If you’ve been an AMAA member for a while, you know we’re different. We strive to know each member. Many of you are participants in the Clinic or the Speakers’ Bureau. Or, you participate in national programs like last year s “Stay Fueled, Stay Cooled.” We see you at the Boston Marathon and at other races. Hundreds of you have attended the CME symposia at Boston and the Marine Corps Marathon. We treasure those personal contacts with you; those opportunities build the bonds that make AMAA an exception to the rule.

So, with that in mind, allow me to bid a fond farewell to a familiar face, and introduce you to several new ones (I said there were lots of changes in our office!).

Since our merger with the American Running Association, the American Medical Athletic Association enjoyed the talents and exuberant enthusiasm of Executive Director Susan Kalish. In early December, Susan moved on to the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) to tackle new professional challenges as NRPA’s Director of Communications. We are indebted to her for her leadership, creativity, warmth, and friendship over the years. Although she will be missed in our day-to-day operations, she continues to support the American Running Association by serving on its Board of Directors. We wish her great success in her new endeavors. Good luck, Susan!