The society will be holding its Annual General Meeting during the upcoming Cardiothoracic Surgical forum of the Society at San Lameer at 16.00 hrs on Saturday 14th July. There are many important issues for the Society to consider. The issues of remuneration for the private sector which have been severely and many of our members would consider unfairly distorted by RAMS will be considered in a presentation by Dr. Francis Smit who has been representing the Society at the Private Practice Negotiations Committee.

Changes to our constitution due to the Changes in MASA following its amalgamation with several other Medical Groups to form SAMA and the dissolution of the SAMDC and formation of the HPCSA.

Members are also to be asked to consider a new category of membership, an Overseas membership which it is proposed will carry no fee. This would allow the society to keep connections with members who have emigrated and other overseas surgeons who have an interest in Francen Cardiothoracic Surgery and who may wish to contribute to our congresses but who gain no benefit from the other work of the Society.

The Society will also be informed of the Committee' s decision to become affiliated with CTSnet and who are hosting our web page at sctssa.org . We feel the benefits to the society of affiliation with CTSnet should increase with time. All members have been issued with user names and passwords and these will be available from Mr. Buckels at the meeting.

The Society must also consider the election of officers for the next two years and nominations are invited either by e-mail to or by fax to 031-461-1724 or by mail to Dr. N J Buckels, Honorary Secretary to SCTSSA, Wentworth Hospital, Private Bag 4026, KZN or alternatively at the AGM.