Message from the Interim Director

As I write this near the end of 2003, I feel we have so much to be grateful for. Janet is astounding her doctors and filling us with joy at the speed of her recovery in the current phase of her treatment. AAVSO President Bill Dillon, Secretary Martha Hazen, Treasurer Lou Cohen, and all our other Council members are working very hard on behalf of the Association.

AAVSO Headquarters is very busy: the Data Validation Project is 67% completed; plans for a very exciting Spring Meeting in California are progressing; membership renewals are pouring in; members and friends are responding generously to our fund-raising letter; visual, CCD, and PEP observations continue to arrive in impressive numbers; research is going on; gamma-ray burst afterglows are being chased; archival materials are being catalogued....

In early January, Dr. Matthew Templeton, Aaron Price, and I will attend the American Astronomical Society meeting in Atlanta to represent the AAVSO and present posters on different areas of AAVSO activity. Matt will discuss some of his LPV research findings, Aaron will describe the grass-roots outreach to observers occurring through our High Energy Network, and I will discuss the Data Validation Project and show some examples of the exciting long-term light curves -- the results of our observers' dedicated work over the decades -- that are becoming available as the project progresses. We look forward to spreading the good word about the AAVSO to our colleagues!

Personally, I thank Janet and the Council for their faith in me in appointing me to act as Interim Director during Janet's illness, and I am very grateful for the guidance, support, and encouragement I have received from them. I recognize the great responsibility I carry and am doing my best for the AAVSO. We are so fortunate to have an excellent, reliable, and committed staff at Headquarters that works as a true team.

Yes, we have much to be grateful for! May 2004 bring all of us and our loved ones good health, happiness, and prosperity!

—Elizabeth

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