Members of both SBS and ALA showed overwhelming support for uniting as Sections within the new inclusive organization — the Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening (SLAS), and on Wednesday, May 5, both memberships officially authorized the merger with more than 95% of the votes cast in favor.
The inspectors for the proxy voting process reported that SBS and ALA exceeded quorum requirements by 124% and 218%, respectively, and certified the results as valid. The SBS Inspector was the law firm of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, LLP, Washington, DC. The ALA Inspector was the law firm of Gaido & Fintzen, Chicago, IL.
SBS and ALA will now unite as individual Sections of SLAS. Each Section will continue to pursue their current mission while collectively addressing the SLAS mission, which is to provide forums for education and information exchange to encourage the study of and improve the science and practice of laboratory automation and screening.
Under the SLAS umbrella, the SBS and ALA Sections each will preserve SBS’s and ALA’s former identities and specialized educational pursuits. In addition, both will benefit from the expanded scope, international influence, and enhanced program and service offerings that the unified organization, SLAS, will provide.
Inaugural SLAS President Michelle Palmer, Ph.D., Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, said “SLAS will become the premier international community dedicated to advancing scientific research and discovery through laboratory automation and screening technology.”
Palmer also said “the transition phase will take place throughout 2011, with SLAS supporting two annual conferences, one representing the original SBS Section and another representing the original ALA Section. Planned symposia, journals and virtual services will continue. During this transition period, the new SLAS Board of Directors, together with the leadership of the SBS and ALA Sections, will be working to develop and unveil a longer range strategy and educational vision for all activities under the SLAS umbrella.”
Date: May 10, 2010
Source: Society for Laboratory Automation and Screening
