Dear MAFS Members,

The dog days of summer have arrived. This time of year is known for being the hottest and most humid. Historically, it is named after Sirius, the Dog Star. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, and during the summer it rises and sets alongside the sun. Ancient Greeks and Romans believed that the combined light of the sun and Sirius contributed to the extra heat. Obviously, we know that isn't what is happening, but it makes for an interesting proposition. In forensics, we deal with propositions all the time. One proposition that I know to be 100% true is that MAFS is an amazing organization full of talented, caring scientists!

I hope you are enjoying the summer as much as possible. Maybe you have been on vacation, or maybe you have one coming up. Either way, I encourage you to get out of the lab and enjoy time with your family and friends. Take that break and give yourself a chance to decompress and relax. I know we are committed to our work and are constantly pushing to move cases forward, but we also need to remember to take some time for ourselves.

We are less than a month away from our 55th Annual Fall Meeting in Minnesota. This year's meeting has a few important deadlines approaching. The hotel block deadline is August 3. We also have a great outing planned to watch the minor league game between the St. Paul Saints and the Toledo Mud Hens, so be sure to get your tickets. Watch for updates with additional information. The conference features some excellent workshops as well as outstanding speakers. Wildlife Forensics will demonstrate how forensic analysis is being used to help solve cases. Our second speaker is with Season of Justice, and will be highlighting programs that help laboratories and investigators solve challenging cold cases. As with all of our conferences, we will also have our gala, and I know several of you will be dressed up. I encourage you to be creative with your attire and be prepared to see some awesome costumes.

In closing, I hope to see everyone in Minneapolis in August. Please be sure to mark your calendars for Lexington, Kentucky, in 2027 and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 2028. MAFS has so many wonderful members, and I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Davey McCann

MAFS President 2026