How does the SWOG Cancer Research Network sound? I sure hope you like it, because, starting next month, it’s our official name. And in Chicago, you’ll get a chance to see the logo that goes with it.

Why “newish”? Well, our Board of Governors voted overwhelmingly at our San Francisco meeting to keep “SWOG” in our name. I listened and, with the blessing of my executive leadership team, settled on SWOG Cancer Research Network. The new name addresses the biggest complaint about plain old SWOG: It doesn’t express what we do, which is design and manage cancer clinical trials. The “network” is a nod to the National Cancer Institute’s National Clinical Trials Network, of which we’re a proud member since 1956. Our publicly funded network is our strength, our pride, and our defining value in the cancer research community. “SWOG” also did not address our true membership or administrative geography: The former is currently 13,000+ members strong, from countries around the globe (i.e., not just in the American Southwest!).

As we make this transition, here is what you can expect:

Monday, October 1
SWOG.org and SWOG’s social media accounts will change to reflect the new name and logo

Friday, October 5
The new SWOG logo (and the new Hope logo!) are presented at the Chicago plenary

Monday, October 8
SWOG staff begin to change their email signatures, and receive digital letterhead, an updated PowerPoint template, and new logos for publications. The template and logos for presentations and publications will be posted on SWOG.org

Friday, Oct. 12
New email templates roll out for Front Line and the SWOG TM Link of the Week

By the end of November, our group chair’s, operations, and statistics and data management offices will receive business cards and printed letterhead, envelopes, and other materials. And so, the complete refresh of our communications materials will be complete before the year is out. Next spring, you’ll see updated agenda books, signs, and swag in San Francisco.

I’m excited about the new name and the new look. The logo feels both familiar and fresh. I think you’ll feel the same about The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research – the new name for Hope. Our charitable arm is also set to launch their own new logo, and we’ll be rolling them out together on roughly the same timetable. Now in their anniversary year, Hope is eager to reboot their look, make their case for 25 years of impact, and try both out with donors before 2018 is through.

If you have any questions about the new name or logo, please contact Wendy Lawton, our communications manager, at lawtonw@ohsu.edu See you in Chicago for the new reveal!

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