Our May issue was dedicated to the subject of Fertility Preservation and highlighted recent advances in this field that were presented at the First World Congress of Fertility Preservation held in Brussels in December, 2009. With swift editorial prerogative, sensing both the timeliness and relevance of this topic, JARG obtained and ran with this opportunity and in the process overlooked the tiring efforts and inspiring dedication made by so many that were involved with the meeting in Brussels and the May issue of JARG. As my commentary intended to show, meetings that do matter are few and far between. Those meetings that leave a deep impression are usually those that have received support and encouragement from an organization that cares. In this sense, that the First World Congress on Fertility Preservation was a resounding success was most certainly due to the central role played by the Serono Symposia International Foundation(SSIF).

The importance of the SSIF in making this meeting meet and exceed its expectations was articulated by the meeting organizers and conveners, Professors Jacques Donnez and S. Sam Kim. In summarizing the conclusions reached after two and one half days of intense discussion and debate, the organizers cited the confluence of venue, participation, and the climate staged by SSIF as the driving force behind this meeting, an event that will be viewed as stage setting for the field of fertility preservation for years to come.

SSIF involvement did not stop at meeting’s end. Staff member Francesca Caputo, who oversaw the meeting from its inception to conclusion, was asked yet again by myself to assist in making the May issue of JARG one that would materially evidence the importance of this field and the issues that were raised at the meeting. My requests for abstracts and other media were pleasantly addressed by Francesca and with a timeliness that frequents the world of journal production and publication. To Francesca, I am deeply indebted.

In summary, a sincere note of gratitude is extended to the SSIF for their support of the First World Congress of Fertility Preservation on behalf of the participants, members of the International Society for Fertility Preservation, and the organizers. The birthright of this important field has been imprinted by SSIF!