Dear XXX

I have the honor of inviting you to participate in the first meeting of the International Committee of the Botanical Society of America (BSA) in Chicago, 9 July, 2007. The International Committee was established as an ad-hoc committee in 2006. It is charged with extending the hand of the Society to botanical societies, botanical groups, scholars, and students around the world in an effort to support collaborations and the sharing of botanical information, including meetings and research as well as other related activities. This is a core component of the BSA's mission and objectives.

We are aware that true international collaboration and sharing will only be effective if we establish meaningful relationships through the appropriate national and local structures. As a Society we are committed to following the appropriate customs and protocols and ask for your assistance in moving forward.

Our immediate goal is to come together at the Chicago meeting on Monday, July 9th, at 4:30pm (location to be announced) to discuss how the BSA might best move forward. One goal of the meeting will be to establish a working committee to address the task.

The committee will consist of 6-9 members who will rotate on a three-year cycle. You have been selected to participate based on your membership in the BSA, you have submitted a paper/poster for the Chicago meeting, and you are a non-US based member. We are aware that this small grouping does not appropriately address the broadness of the task. This is a start and we are looking for your advice.

If you are able and willing to participate on the committee, please let me know at athorhaug@msn.com with a cc to wdahl@botany.org. We hope you will take the time to join us in Chicago.

Best regards, Anitra Thorhaug
Ph.D. Chair International Committee
Botanical Society of America
www.botany.org
www.BotanyConference.org
www.PlantingScience.org

Mission: The Botanical Society of America exists to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere.

The objectives of The Society are to: sustain and provide improved formal and informal education about plants; encourage basic plant research; provide expertise, direction, and position statements concerning plants and ecosystems; and foster communication within the professional botanical community, and between botanists and the rest of humankind through publications, meetings, and committees.