The well prepared IRB professional - 25 years ago (1974) and today (1999)

Enter: Woman (sorry it's true) wearing period clothes carrying a pad of paper, pencil, bottle of white-out (yes it can still be found), a box of 3x5 file cards, and a small stack of papers (research protocols), is smiling. narration and explanation of each item.

Then enter:  woman or man... wearing trench/raincoat with items attached inside and pushing a cart full of papers (protocols) and spread sheets from the database and other items.  wearing.. black & white striped referee shirt and whistle to 'ref' the meetings, roller blades to get nowhere fast; hard hat to avoid the blows; glasses with funny nose attached (grouch marx type) to disguise ones self; a towel over the shoulder for researcher to cry on; keys to everything (copier, bathroom, supply room) since housekeeping, facilities etc all leave at 4pm;  rose colored glasses for those bad days;  ice scraper to de-ice the situation after you've suggested a change in procedure; baseball cap  for being a good sport on some days;  resignation letter and updated resume - just in case;  a stick to beat the bushes with to find irb members; shovel (small plastic beach type) for burying the 'problems'; white 'kid' gloves for handling those most difficult situations; detective hat and glass for reviewing protocol closely; wind vane to determine which way the wind is now blowing;  rake (small plastic type) for 'raking in the dough' from the irb service fees; etc... is not exactly smiling. 

I'm not sure how to portray the future...may want to leave this out...perhaps ultra dressed sophisticate with laptop. Flow charts and business plans with brief case and toting resume and new irb professional certification certificate...