13th International Congress of EATB October 13-16, 2004 Prague, Czech Republic

THE CONGRESS IS OVER REMINISCENCE OF CONGRESS ORGANIZERS

Dear colleagues, dear business partners, dear friends:

The 13th International Congress of the European Association of Tissue Banks took place in Prague, Czech Republic in October this year. Those of you who attended the event have already evaluated the Congress from individual point of view, and we are sure that even the EATB Board will have that particular issue on agenda of the next meeting. Let us to share with you our personal feelings on behalf of local organizers.

When returning from the 12th International EATB Congress, from Brugge, Belgium, last year, we asked ourselves what EATB expects from the next scientific meeting in Prague. Our aims were as follows:
1) To attract as many participants to come, as possible – to concentrate on invitation of all European national tissue banking organizations, to invite the non European experts as well, and to reserve enough time not only for the scientific sessions, but also for the General Assembly.
2) To discuss the program of the Congress with tissue bankers, scientists, surgeons, commercial partners and other specialists to cover all important topics of Tissue Banking. Than contact experts, and ask them to prepare contributions, covering all issues of interest.
3) As Prague became very popular for tourism, as well as a venue for cultural & scientific actions in last years, we tried our best to prepare for you evening program introducing less known, but typical attractions. As Prague lovers, we have chosen special places, which show history, beauty, and emotional atmosphere, and which could be easily enjoyed in group of about 200 people.
4) And last but not least, with the help of professional Congress Organizers Guarant Ltd. we concentrated on an economical background of the meeting. Prague became quite expensive city, these days, so we focused our attention to be able to provide the whole Congress in reasonable price.

We would not like to complain, but it was a lot of work, a lot of personal, phone, as well as electronic communication, many small meetings, evaluations, and excursions. The reward was exciting for us – there were 211 registered participants from 30 countries of all continents. You have delivered 82 oral presentations in 16 scientific sessions, and presented 36 posters. Even the commercial exhibition consisting from 15 stands was interesting. We have to stress that we were happy, to have all of you here, in Prague, to see you enjoying the Congress, and listen to your words of thanks. Finally, the budget of the congress is not closed by now, but we could inform you that the economical result looks promising as well.

During the event, a lot of snaps were taken by professional photographer. We have to apologize to all of you, and mainly to Professor Glyn Owen PHILLIPS, but the Honorary Membership Award was not documented during the Opening Ceremony. We do not know how, but it happened, and we can not do anything now, just to express, how sorry we were about that!

On the website, the pictures are available from the main menu – “Photo Gallery EATB 2004”, so you could browse it, watch & download the photos, and return again to Prague, at least in your memory! We hope you would appreciate this special Internet service, which we have just launched.

Being honest, now, when everything is over, when you are back in your homes, we are missing all of you a lot! So, we are already looking forward to the 14th International EATB Congress, to the opportunity to meet all of you again!

On behalf of local organizers sincerely yours