Dear Fellow MAFS Members,

I am excited to serve as the MAFS President for the next year.  MAFS is an amazing organization that has been a huge part of my professional life for the past 26 years.   I look forward to being able to give back to our organization as president and am honored to be able to carry on the legacy of my esteemed predecessors.

In the MAFS bylaws, we state that the objectives of our organization are to “encourage the exchange of ideas and information within the field of forensic science through improved contacts between those engaged in the field, stimulate research and develop new and/or improved scientific techniques for forensic application”, and “promote the improvement of professional expertise of persons working in the field through education and scientific seminars.”  These objectives are at the core of everything that MAFS does for its members, and I encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities that MAFS provides. 

There are so many ways for members to network, learn and grow through MAFS.  At the beginning of my career, I met people and learned skills for my job by attending workshops and fall meetings.  Now MAFS chats and webinars are also offerings that I benefit from attending.  As I progressed in my career, I started to serve the organization more, volunteering my time as a workshop and meeting coordinator, committee member and chair, and as a board member.  Many members choose to present papers or teach classes at the fall meeting.  There are numerous ways to network, learn and grow through MAFS, and I encourage you to explore what most interests you. 

Please reach out to me or any Board Member, Section Coordinator or Committee Chair if you have any ideas you would like to share with us on how to strengthen our organization.  Whether it be a training topic, a potential meeting location, or just some random opinion, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let us know your thoughts.

Kathy Boone