Publisher's note: Conference, awards, anniversary

I'm very pleased to announce a brand new conference, the HME Business Summit, presented by HME News. This event is unlike anything else in the HME industry. Developed by HME News as an outgrowth of our State of the Industry White Paper, the Summit will organize and present data in an entirely new way and show you how to use that data to increase your profits. The HME Business Summit will take place in Chicago, September 11-13. Registration is limited and we've allowed plenty of time for networking, so you'll get a chance to meet and know your peers. Look for the ad on page 70 of this issue for more information about speakers and sessions. On another front, this is the time of year we solicit nominations for the HME Excellence Awards. The Awards, co-sponsored by Medtrade and HME News, in cooperation with AAHomecare, are presented each year at the Medtrade Kick-Off Event. We've learned that, in the past, some companies have been too modest to nominate themselves for the selection process. That's why for 2005 we've changed the rules a bit to ask manufacturers to send us nominations from among their customers. However, that shouldn't preclude anyone from nominating their own company. The deadline of April 15 is right around the corner, so contact me right away if you'd like to be included in this year's judging. Finally, next month marks the 10th Anniversary of HME News! It's been an exciting decade and in celebration, we'll have a special anniversary issue, with a retrospective on changes in the HME business. Be sure to look for it.