I’m not an avid baseball fan, but I did see the movie "Field of Dreams." And like Ray, the idealistic Iowa farmer who builds a baseball diamond in the middle of a cornfield, I, too, am captivated by the mysterious words, "If you build it, he will come."

As an Internet enthusiast, I’d like to believe that if we built a better Web site, you would come.

And we did build it and we do hope you’ll visit the redesigned www.cfids.org today—and often. Why? Because we did more than put a fresh "face" on existing content.

We improved navigation and how we present and share information with members and donors. We created valuable resources for specific groups of users: an interactive questionnaire for people who think they might have CFIDS; areas dedicated to the unique concerns of women and those who’ve been living with CFIDS for years; a press kit for the media; sample letters and ideas for budding (and seasoned) CFIDS advocates; and research articles and answers to medical questions frequently asked by health care professionals and patients.

Visitors will be able to react to current issues using the Quick Vote feature and search Chronicle and Research Review issues in the archives section. A secure server allows us to offer e-commerce features so you can renew your membership, make donations, and shop the Association’s store. And as we utilized technology that lets us communicate instantaneously with thousands of people, we ensured we are still connected with the CFIDS community on a personal level.

The Internet is vital to what we hope to accomplish on behalf of people with CFIDS (PWCs). With approximately one-third of the U.S. population online, the Internet represents a fundamental change in the way we reach PWCs, the medical community, the media, and the public.

I’m proud to introduce the new Web site, and I hope you find it to be a helpful resource and a site you benefit from visiting.