Thank you to the members who nominated new members and a quick reminder that the deadline for new nominations is Friday November 20th.

Dear US Based Rosaceae Genomics and Genetics Community,

It is time to nominate the 2010 USRosEXEC and International Liaison Members.

After three/four years of excellent service the following US members are rotating off the RosEXEC committee:

* Albert Abbott (Amygdaloideae, Univ, S), * Chad Finn (Rosoideae, ARS, W), * Abhaya Dandekar (Maloideae, Amygdaloideae Univ, W) * Schuyler Korban (Maloideae, Univ, E) * Gennaro Fazio (Maloideae, ARS, E)

The committee thus loses:

* 1 Rosoideae, 2.5 Maloideae and 1.5 Amygdaloideae crop focus representatives; * 3 university and 2 ARS representatives; * 2 eastern location (E), 2 western location and 1 southern (S) location representatives.

Members who will continue to serve in 2009 include Nahla Bassil, Chris Dardick, Amit Dhingra, Jim Luby, Gayle Volk, Angela Baldo, Jim Hancock, Jim McFerson, Bryon Sosinski, Philip Stewart and Cameron Peace, so no need to nominate them as they will already be serving.

To help maintain a balanced committee, we are asking you to nominate, by email, research and industry community members of whom one should have a major focus on Rosoideae, two on Maloideae and two on Amygdaloideae. Individuals with mixed focus can also be nominated. Please take this into account when you nominate candidates and please confirm with the prospective candidates that they are willing to be nominated and potentially serve before you submit them as candidates to Nahla.

International liaison members rotating off this year include Sue Gardiner (Aus/NZ), Herman Silva (South America) and Dan Sargent (Europe). Remaining members through 2010 are Jasper Rees (Africa) and Eric van de Weg (Europe). Two new members are needed to serve two year terms where we are seeking at least one to be outside of Europe. Please nominate candidates and again confirm their interest before submitting your nominations.

US Rosaceae Genomics, Genetics and Breeding community members may nominate as many candidates as you wish at this stage by sending a list of the nominees to membership chair, Nahla Bassil at nahla.bassil@ars.usda.gov. You have until November 20th to nominate candidates. Following these nominations, we will compile a candidate list for the actual vote via a webform. If you have any questions please contact Nahla Bassil at the aforementioned email address.

Many thanks,

Nahla Bassil Plant Geneticist USDA-ARS, NCGR 33447 Peoria Rd. Corvallis, OR 97333-2521 Tel: (541) 738-4214 Fax: (541) 738-4205 nahla.bassil@ars.usda.gov