Association Chairman hands reins to Sterling
Driven by sheer determination to find a cure for the illness that turned his life upside down, Marc M. Iverson founded The CFIDS Association of America in 1987. However, after 13 years as Chairman of the Board, Marc has stepped down due to his declining health.

Marc's contributions to the CFIDS community are far too many to list, but we are grateful that he will continue to share his vision and guidance with the Association and persons with CFIDS through his role as Founder.

We are delighted to introduce Jonathan B. Sterling, a former principal in the New York City school system, as our new Chairman. Jon is a PWC and past President of the New Jersey CFS Association (NJCFSA). He joined the Association's Board in 2000 as Treasurer and is currently the nonfederal cochair of the Department of Health and Human Services' Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Coordinating Committee.

Four members of the Board have retired. Thanks to Priscilla deLeon, Karen Lang, John Trussler, and Frank Wrenn for their many valuable contributions and years of service to the Association.

The Association also welcomes the following new Directors: Richard Baldwin, Dennis Irwin; Beth Levine; and Adrianne Ryan. More information on these new directors will follow in the next issue.

Symposium shapes research efforts
The Association held the first in a series of events intended to reinvigorate CFIDS research in December. A symposium on orthostatic intolerance (OI) in CFIDS was held to establish a consensus on the association between OI and CFIDS and identify opportunities for future research. [Editor's Note: For more information, see the Winter 2001 CFS Research Review.]

To broaden scientific knowledge about and interest in CFIDS and the important questions facing researchers, the Association will be offering research grants to scientists conducting promising studies in the priority areas identified by the panel.

Future symposia will address neuroendocrinology, immunology, and diagnostic methods in CFIDS. 

Grant acknowledged
The Jan. 3 Journal of the American Medical Association paper on Florinef treatment in CFIDS acknowledged the Association for a bridge grant to Johns Hopkins in support of the project. The bridge funding totaled $18,216 in 1996 and enabled the study to begin after approval but prior to the start of the National Institutes of Health funding for the project. For more information on the study, see the Research News column in this issue.

Ten-year anniversary
Feb. 1 marked President & CEO K. Kimberly Kenney's 10-year service anniversary with the Association. Kim's tremendous contributions and dedication to expanding the Association's programs have impacted the entire CFIDS community. Under her leadership, the Association has become the largest national organization dedicated to conquering CFIDS.

The Association wishes to thank Kim for her unmatched commitment and devotion to the CFIDS community and the Association.

WEB MAKEOVER
The CFIDS Association is preparing to launch its completely updated and redesigned Web site.  The new site will include interactive features and specific areas that address the needs of special audiences, including PWCs, caregivers, the media, and health care practitioners.

The revised Web site should be operational this spring, so visit us often at www.cfids.org.