Six senior physiologists (Vernon Bishop, Clark Blatteis, William Dantzler, Harvey Sparks, Ronald Freeman, Frank Knox, and Harvey Sparks) comprise the Senior Physiology Committee. One of the primary duties of each Committee member is to develop and maintain liaison with emeritus members and members about to retire. This liaison is accomplished by submitting, on behalf of the Society, a personal 70th, 80th, 90th, or 100th birthday greeting. Thus, each committee member makes about three dozen mailings in the course of the year. Each greeting includes an invitation for the senior recipient to inform APS about his current activities, interests and whereabouts, and requests words of wisdom for younger colleagues. The historical and philosophical commentaries evoked by this invitation provide the material subsequently published in Senior Physiologist's News in each The Physiologist. By the end of 2008, the Senior Physiologist Committee members will have sent birthday wishes to 59 members reaching age 70, to 80 members reaching age 80, to 29 members reaching age 90, and to four members reaching the age of 100! From these greetings, 15 response letters have been received and published in The Physiologist. Responses from recipients of these birthday greetings are extremely positive and enthusiastic. Whether retired or still working in their labs, the majority of seniors obviously retain their passion for science. They express in innumerable ways how fulfilling they have found life and how important APS has been during their careers.
Another responsibility of the Senior Physiologists Committee is to review applications and recommend to Council the annual awardees of the $500 G. Edgar Folk, Jr., Senior Physiologists Award. This award is designed to support the scientific activities of a senior member. The Committee received and reviewed one application in 2008.