We look forward to an interesting and well attended 2007 NAVREF Annual Conference on November 4-7. We are very pleased that Under Secretary for Health Michael Kussman, MD, and Acting General Counsel Paul Hutter have accepted our invitations to make opening remarks. Our program speakers are fine-tuning their presentations to ensure that the content is directly relevant to NPCs and can be applied immediately on returning to your office. A great deal of information on timely topics of importance to NPCs will be presented, and all NPCs are strongly encouraged to send at least one representative to the conference.

The deadline for early bird registration – and a savings of $75 - is close of business on October 5. Please do not delay sending in your registration form and making your hotel reservations. The NAVREF room block is filling quickly. Conference details and the registration form are posted at http://www.navref.org/development/2007_AC/conference_2007.htm

Please complete and return your NPC’s ballot for NAVREF board of directors’ elections as soon as possible. Packages including background information about the candidates were mailed to all NAVREF members on September 4. If your package does not arrive within a reasonable time, please send an email to amurakami@navref.org. It is important for every NAVREF member to vote and to return their ballot by close of business on Wednesday, October 10, to ensure the quorum necessary for a valid election. NAVREF thanks all who expressed interest in a position on the NAVREF board and appreciates the willingness of its members to support participation on the NAVREF board.

The next conference call for staff of NPCs submitting proposals for the DOD TBI/PTSD funds has been scheduled as follows. The call will be unstructured and will focus on administrative matters. Please join in with your questions and tips.

Date: Monday, September 17
Time: 4:00 p.m. East Coast time
Dial up: 973-935-2013
Passcode: 586-668 followed by the # sign