Dear IMS members, friends and colleagues,
I am greatly honored to serve as the new president of our society. I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the last eight years, and continue to see that our greatest strength is the networking opportunities within this community of expert metallographers. I appreciate my network of colleagues and friends that I count on for reliable answers and helpful, new ideas.
Our goal is to bring this network online in order to expand our reach so that more members can appreciate this invaluable resource. We will explore how social media can be used to create a sound board for metallography questions, similar to an “Ask the Experts” column. We are also investigating methods to bring more education content to the website. Please contact Coralee McNee, if you have any suggestions.
It brought me great pleasure that my first act as IMS president was presenting the President’s Award to my friend and mentor, Steve Dekanich of the Y-12 National Security Complex. Steve is a long time member of IMS, a past Jacquet-Lucas winner, past IMS organizer for the M&M conference, and past officer of the Board of Directors. Steve is currently an editor for the IMS journal, Metallography, Microstructures, and Analysis, and the unofficial IMS historian. I am forever grateful that Steve introduced me to the society and encouraged me to become involved.
I would also like to thank Past President Rick Blackwell for his efforts to include more student involvement and implement a student board member. I am thankful that he will continue on the board as a trusted advisor. I also look forward to working with all of our directors and members to continue to grow and strengthen this great society.
Sincerely,
Jaret J. Frafjord
