President's Letter.

In February 1996, the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) begin its 50th year celebration. Computing Week'96 (CW96) is the first of the two events that will bound a year-long suite of 50th anniversary activities. CW96 mixes a journey down computing's memory lane with fascinating events that demonstrate challenges and opportunities of today's cyberworld. Activities include a historical retrospective technical program and a reception and banquet honoring many pioneers of computing world. At ACM Chess Challenge, none other than world chess champion Garry Kasparov will be challenging Deep Blue computer chess program of IBM Corp. in a six-game match. ACM will examine the interplay of entrepreneurially fired technological innovation, fundamental research in both academia and industry, and enabling public policy and support. With goings-on in the U.S. government, and in the computer industry worldwide in recent years, these issues are of particular relevance to today's computing professional.