Description: At the E&R section breakfast at the Annual Meeting on Monday, October 13, Tom Edwalds handed over the (notional) gavel and the keys to the E&R safety deposit box to me, as the new section chairperson. I am honored to be able to lead the section in the coming year.

Description: Editorial on Continuing Education.

Description: Table of contents

Description: Survey results from the Marketing and Distribution Section. From News Direct, June 2007, Issue No. 56.

Description: MacGinnitie discusses how retirement may change in the 21st century. First, he discusses what forces are shaping current retirement trends and what might happen to redefine retirement in the 21st century. He then examines what this might mean for private pension systems, and how actuaries can adapt.

Description: At least 60 percent of households are now on the Do Not Call list, the level of telemarketing is down, but it still remains an effective marketing channel for insurance companies.

Description: Discussion of the merger between the the Actuarial Education and Research Fund and The Actuarial Foundation. The named of the merged organizations will be The Actuarial Foundation. Legally, the AERF will go out of existence, but all of its functions will be continued by the new, merged organization.

Description: Discussion of the October 23 & 24 Meeting of the Society of Actuaries Board of Governors, at which two motions addressing matters of interest to academic actuaries were approved. 1. Undertaking a process of accreditation for academic actuarial science programs. and 2. SOA exam exemption for certain students attending certain institutions.

Description: The 6th Annual Product Development Symposium was held June 26-27 at the Hyatt Regency Lake Las Vegas Resport. Cosponsored by the Product Development, Marketing and Distribution, Reinsurance and Actuary of the Future Sections, the symposium enjoyed record attendance of 300 actuaries and other professionals.

Description: Happy 2008 from the Marketing and Distribution Section Council!! As we begin 2008, let's review some of the MaD accomplishments from 2007: Product Implementation Survey–summarized for the membership and presented in several venues. Development of the first version of a Subject Matter Expert List Implemented a membership and marketing plan–initial efforts included conducting the survey described elsewhere in this issue. Continuing Education–MaD continues to sponsor and/or co-sponsor sessions at SOA meetings and other functions. Worked with SOA Staff to archive old issues of NewsDirect, including developing better search criteria for easier access. From News Direct Newsletter, January 2008, Issue No. 57.