The merger process between IACFA and the ICF(M)A continues as both organizations look to draft a new constitution that incorporates the agreements that we reached in Vienna in the middle of 2001.

Since that time, the Executive Committees of both organizations have received a draft Constitution. Both organizations held Executive meetings in Orlando in October 2001 and also held a joint meeting.

At this meeting there were some changes made to the document and there was also discussion of a proposed Mission Statement and Logo.

It was agreed at the October meetings to continue the process so that a final draft could be presented to the Annual Meetings of both organizations in Genoa in June 2002.

To this end, the President of ICF(M)A, Herman Weggen, has had a lawyer provide a revised draft, which was circulated to the ICF(M)A Executive and the members of the IACFA merger group. This draft incorporated the changes recommended in October and is now being prepared as an official document which it is hoped will be circulated to all national CF Associations and IACFA EC members prior to the Genoa meetings.

It is hoped that following a vote in Genoa, we will be able to launch Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide (CFW) in the 2nd half of 2002.

Stay tuned for further developments. This is an exciting time for both of our organizations and we hope that it will allow us to provide better support and acknowledgement of the challenges facing all those whose lives are affected by Cystic Fibrosis.

Mitch Messer
A/Chairperson
IACFA

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