PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS

     Dear Colleagues,

My message to you this time is first of all based on issues considered at the board and council meetings, which were held during the IAPD congress in Paris September 11-12 this year. Both these meetings were important and fruitful for our Academy, as a number of important issues were discussed and settled. These are some of the most important issues:

Membership

The Academy has about 440 members from 36 countries, and about 350 of these have paid the Membership fee for 2001. The Secretary is still waiting for some of you to return "the pink form" that confirms your Membership and address. About 60 new members from 16 countries have been admitted during the last year. I find these numbers encouraging, especially the fact that we are attracting so many new members. The board has also been working, in collaboration with the Credentials Committee, on updating the criteria for active Membership, including the upgrading from associate to active Membership. The suggested guidelines will be presented to the council in Dublin next year.

Economy

The economy also seems to be sound and safe, since our yearly expenditures are about equal to our incomes, and since our assets (more than Euro 60.000) also allows us a certain amount of flexibility.

The Journal (EJPD), Web Site and Newsletter

We had meetings with the editors of these three EAPD media in Paris. The experience with the new Italian publisher (Ariesdue) is good, and Martin Curzon is able to keep things going . We are still very dependent upon having enough research papers from those of you who are doing research, and we would also appreciate good review papers and clinical reports on interesting subjects in paediatric dentistry. The editorial board is struggling to have the journal papers cited in the medical indexes, and this is dependent upon the quality of these papers. So, once more, please consider our journal for publishing your research or review papers.

The web site (http://www.eapd.gr) has recently been updated and a new section is now ready for access by members only. Each member has been allocated a username and password (enclosed with this issue of the Newsletter) to enable members access to this part of the page (look elsewhere in this Newsletter). The content contains an updated members directory, names and addresses, but will also be used for more immediate announcements and information for members only. Also note that there is a link to the EJPD journal from our web page, where the content and abstracts of previous issues are available.

The web page has made us less dependent upon the printing of Newsletters, and only two issues per year will now be printed.

6^th EAPD Congress and Future Congresses

William Fenlon, the Chairman of this congress, has assured us that the preparations of the Congress are going fine. He presented brochures and posters for the visitors at the IAPD Congress in Paris, and there seems to be considerable interest for attendance in Dublin. You should be aware of the deadline for submission of abstracts and registrations (details in this Newsletter). 

The 7^th EAPD congress will be held in Barcelona in 2004 and the 8^th in Amsterdam 2006.

After that, the 9^th Congress in 2008, is open for countries who want to bid for it. We have made some guidelines for the bid procedure, and these are printed elsewhere in this Newsletter.

MAM brochure

In collaboration with the Austrian baby article company MAM we have made an English version of the "Guide to oral health for the perspective mothers and their infants", a brochure aiming at teaching parents how to take care of their children's teeth, particularly during the first years of life. The brochure was initiated by the Hellenic Society of Paediatric Dentistry and firstly printed in the Greek language. Our intention is to make this brochure available for those of our member societies who want to have it translated and printed in their own language. This will be sponsored by the MAM company.

The brochure was printed and intended for distribution to the Councillors present at the Paris meeting. However, due to inadvertence by the staff at my hotel in Paris, the brochures were lost. New issues are, however, under way and will be sent directly to the Councillors in our member countries.

France

I also take this opportunity to congratulate those of our members who were responsible for the IAPD Congress in Paris. It was a nice Congress, and you really deserve all the praise you got. I am sure that the Congress has reinforced French paediatric dentistry, and I am also confident that this will increase the French Membership in EAPD. Looking forward to seeing many from France at the Dublin meeting next year.

Finally I want to thank those of you with whom I met in Paris for all the interesting discussions and nice company. I am looking forward to our next meet, which will hopefully be in Dublin next June.

Kind regards from
Magne Raadal

EAPD WEB SITE NEWS

Time runs fast as well as evolution and many things change. So our Web Page also had to change. This is the reason for the difficulties that you may have faced in the past, trying to access the page.

Now our Web Page www.eapd.gr is on the air!

To all the members of EAPD, pay attention to the following topics:

• Visit and surf often through our site:   Besides topics related to our academy, you can visit through the links of our page, dental schools in different countries, other associations, public libraries, companies. 

Please remember that the more you visit the stronger the site becomes and the more our Academy will benefit.

• 'Find a Paediatric Dentist':   Did you fill out the form in order to be included in the catalogue? If not, you can do it now using the form from the page. All our active members may be included in this section!

• Username and Password:   Be informed that all members will receive a username and a password so you will be able to have access to the Membership Directory. It is important that you become listed in that Directory. Please check your data and if they need any change please contact the page.  You are also free to be excluded at any time you decide.

• 'Latest news' new section:   After the last decision by the Council that the EAPD newsletter will be published twice per year, the need for having information about the latest news and developments of our group, our specialty and our Academy is even more demanding.  Therefore our web page from now on opens a new section entitled 'Latest news' where you can find the latest information and announcements regarding our group and Academy.  This is the section, which you should visit daily or weekly, and it is aimed to become our Academy's Notebook or announcement board.

To the Postgraduate Program Directors:

Another very important service our site intends to provide is to help dental graduates interested in Paediatric Dentistry to find the best program suitable to their needs.  Therefore, it will be very helpful if you download from the Web Page the form related to information about the postgraduate program in Paediatric Dentistry at your university and send it back!

 EAPD 6^th CONGRESS DUBLIN JUNE 15-17 2002 CALL FOR PAPERS

Abstracts

You are invited to submit an abstract for presentation at the Congress in one of the following formats:

·       Oral

·       Poster

·       EAPD Young Scientist Prize Competition. This is a competition for the best research presentation (oral or poster) in a subject of importance for paediatric dentistry, given by a young scientist under the age of 35 years.

Preparation and Submission of Abstract

Any topic relevant to paediatric dentistry is welcome.  An abstract, written in English, must be submitted on the Abstract Form, which is included in this publication and is also available on the EAPD 6th Congress web page www.conferencepartners.ie/eapd2002  You are strongly encouraged to submit your completed Abstract Form and Presenter Information electronically, by e-mail as an attachment, to:  eapdabstracts@conferencepartners.ie  If, for some reason, you are unable to submit your abstract electronically by e-mail then you can prepare the abstract on the enclosed application form and mail to:  Conference Partners Ltd., EAPD 2002 Abstracts, 96 Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.  Abstract forms must NOT be sent by FAX as they will automatically be rejected. 

The deadline for receipt of abstracts is February 15^th 2002.

You are only permitted to present one abstract. You may, however, be co-author on other abstracts.  A maximum of 5 authors is allowed on an abstract. Please note that submission of an abstract carries with it the obligation to register and present at the Congress.

Presentation Format

• Oral Presentation: Each paper will be strictly limited to 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes discussion.  Presentations must be delivered in English.  Facilities for 35mm single/double slide projection and computer video projection will be available.

• Poster Presentation: The poster size is 84 cm x 118 cm.  The presenter is obliged to stand by his/her poster for discussion at an appointed time to be advised on confirmation of acceptance of the abstract. 

• EAPD Young Scientist Prize Competition: The Scientific Committee will review and evaluate the abstracts submitted for this competition.  Only a certain number of these abstracts will be selected for entry into the Competition at the Congress.  The presenting authors of these selected abstracts will be informed by the Scientific Committee and must present their research papers at the EAPD Young Scientist Prize Competition at the Congress.  Abstracts that are not selected for entry into the Competition may be accepted for presentation at the Congress - the presenting authors will be informed of acceptance or rejection by the Scientific Committee.

Abstract Selection Criteria

Abstracts will be selected and reviewed by the Scientific Committee.  An abstract may be selected for oral or poster presentation (which may not necessarily be the preferred choice of the author), or it may be rejected.  Confirmation of acceptance or rejection by the Scientific Committee will be mailed to the correspondence address given on the abstract form, in March 2002. 

Reproduction and publication of accepted abstracts

All papers presented at the EAPD Congress become the property of EAPD.  Abstracts, which have been accepted, may be published in the European Journal of Paediatric Dentistry.

Registration

In order for the abstract to be presented, the presenter must be registered and pay the appropriate registration fee.  Registration for the presenter of an abstract must be received no later than 

EAPD 6^th CONGRESS DUBLIN JUNE 15-17 2002
SUBMITTING THE ABSTRACT

Please read the instructions carefully before completing the form

• Electronic submission: It is preferred if you submit your abstract electronically.  Abstract forms can be obtained from the EAPD 6th Congress web page www.conferencepartners.ie/eapd2002 or by e-mail eapdabstracts@conferencepartners.ie  Completed abstract forms should be saved as a file and the file should be attached to an e-mail message sent to eapdabstracts@conferencepartners.ie

• Postal submission: If, for some reason, you are unable to submit your abstract electronically by e-mail then you can prepare the abstract on the enclosed application form and mail to: Conference Partners Ltd., EAPD 2002 Abstracts, 96 Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.

• Note: Abstract forms must NOT be sent by FAX as they will automatically be rejected.

Abstract Form Instructions

• Print in Times Roman 12 pt, single space, black ink, in English.  Type the abstract directly onto the form. 

• A maximum of 300 words is allowed for the abstract and it must fit within the prescribed space. 

• Abstract Title:  2 lines maximum

• Authors' Names: Maximum of 5 authors allowed.  Omit degrees.  Place asterisk (*) after presenter's name.  Note: You are permitted to present only one abstract and the Presenter must register for the Congress. You may, however, be co-author on other abstracts. 

• Institution, City, Country: Abbreviate if necessary.

• Abstract Text: The text should include the  objectives of investigation, materials and methods used, results and conclusions.  The name of any supporting agency and Grant Number (if applicable) should be included at the end of the abstract. 

Information Section

• Presenter Information: Complete this section carefully.  It is very important that telephone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses are presented and are accurate.

• Mode of presentation: Indicate the mode in which you would prefer to present.  The Scientific Committee will make the final decision.

• EAPD Young Scientist Prize: Indicate if you wish your abstract to be considered for entry into the competition for this prize.  If you wish to be considered for entry into this competition then you must state your age (you must be under 35 years of age).

• Subject area of Abstract: Using the descriptions of subject areas for review of abstracts, indicate ONE area in which you would PREFER your abstract to be reviewed.

• Completion of Abstract and Information Section: Completion and submission of the Abstract Form and Information Section means that the author has proof read the abstract and understands the obligations of submission.  If the abstract is accepted the presenting author must register for the Congress and present the paper.  Remember that the deadline for submission of an abstract is February 15^th 2002 and the deadline for Congress registration of the presenting author is April 15^th 2002.

Send completed Abstract Form and information section as an attached file by e-mail to eapdabstracts@conferencepartners.ie  If unable to send abstract electronically send it by post (NOT by fax) to: Conference Partners Ltd., EAPD 2002 Abstracts, 96 Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Critical Dates

February 15 2002           Deadline for receipt of Abstracts

March 2002                      Confirmation of accepted Abstracts

April 15 2002                    Registration Deadline for Presenters of Abstracts

                                            End of Reduced Rate Registration Fee

June 15 - 17 2002           EAPD Congress, Dublin 

WEB PAGE USERNAME & PASSWORD

With this mailing of the Newsletter each member should receive an insert with their username and password.  Please record these safely so that you may access the restricted sites of the Web Site for members of the EAPD only.  

Membership SUBSCRIPTION 2002 REMINDER

Please note that subscriptions are due on FEBRUARY 1^st  2002

The Rate is 65 euro for  both Active and Associate members.
Credit Card payments are preferable, and help the administration of the Academy's finances.
Please complete and return the enclosed form to the EAPD Treasurer

Treasurer:

Dr. Lucb MARKS, Dept. Paed. Dentistry, De Pintelaan 185 P8, B-9000 Gent, Belgium, 
fax: (+32) 3 789.94.64,  e-mail: luc.marks@rug.ac.be
Included with this mailing of the Newsletter is an insert to complete and return to the Treasurer 
(Luc Marks) as soon as possible and no later than 1st February 2002 (PLEASE).