Although it seems the 2005 AALL Annual Meeting just wrapped up, summer has quickly disappeared here in the soggy Northeast. Christmas decorations have already begun to appear in store windows, and I sit here planning the "Meeting Matrix" for the SIS for 2006. But before we switch our attention to planning for the Annual Meeting in St. Louis, I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make the 2005 Annual Meeting such a success. First, Mirela Roznovschi, who worked diligently as Chair to be sure the SIS events and programs were interesting, educational and well coordinated. Also, thanks to all of the leaders of Interest Groups and Committees (see the reports included in this issue for more information about these meetings), the hard working Executive Board, everyone who participated in meetings, and attended FCIL sponsored programs and events. The SIS membership's interest and enthusiasm keep this group so vital.

I would also like to thank the Education Committee, co-chaired by Mary Rumsey and Dennis Sears, who put together a wonderful slate of program proposals. And, of course, my appreciation also goes out to all of the proposal authors who worked so hard with the Education Committee to prepare program proposals - a lot of work following right on the heels of the Annual Meeting. The programs accepted to be presented in St. Louis are: "Developing FCIL Collections", "Do We Have the Numbers: Empirical Research in International Law?", "Pioneering Global Health Law", "International Legal Process: the Crime of Terrorism", "International Law in the Heartland: Implications of Consular Rights for Foreign Nationals", and "Trading Spaces: International Law Library Exchanges and Visits". As you can see, it is a varied slate of programs, and we hope there is something for everyone in the SIS.

Much to my dismay, the workshop on international labor law was not accepted. Although this is a great disappointment, the Education Committee and the Executive Committee are trying to find an alternate means to bring this information to you. Watch for more information in this column, and also on the FCIL listserv.

Finally, I would like to mention a new FCIL SIS blog on developing foreign law collections, please see http://foreignlawcollections.blogspot.com/ . Many thanks to Heidi Kuehl, Dan Wade and Marylin Raisch for using this new high tech tool to share the wealth of knowledge within the SIS about foreign collection development. I encourage everyone, especially those with collection development as part of their job responsibilities, to check it out.

As I will not be writing again until February, best wishes to everyone for a wonderful holiday season and peaceful New Year.