Decade by Decade:
Board Leadership Provides Strength

Boards of nonprofit organizations serve an essential role in our society. They act as stewards and visionaries for such diverse entities as schools, hospitals, libraries, arts organizations, shelters for the abused and homeless, places of worship and health-related charities, including the CFIDS Association of America, Inc. The Association was founded in 1987 by Marc Iverson, who served as chairman of the board for 14 years. Over the past 18 years, the Association has been blessed with leadership from more than 70 individuals who have contributed their “time, talent and treasure” to shape and grow this organization. We extend our gratitude to all who have served on the Association’s Board and list their names below.

The Association has recently welcomed three new directors to its board: Diane Bean, Katrina Berne, Ph.D., and Terry Hedrick, Ph.D. Diane’s 21-year-old daughter, Lauren, has had CFIDS for six years. Diane works for the U.S. Department of State and learned much about governance as a member and chairman of her local school board. Trina is a clinical psychologist who retired from practice three years ago due to disability from CFIDS, from which she has suffered for 20 years. She was a member of the Arizona CFS Association’s Board of Directors, has authored numerous materials on CFIDS and has spoken at many CFIDS conferences around the country. Terry was assistant comptroller general for the U.S. General Accounting Office until CFIDS struck in 1994. She holds a Ph.D. in social psychology and has served on several boards, including the American Evaluation Association. All three members of the “class of 2005” bring much strength to the board and are dedicated to meeting the challenge of conquering CFIDS.

In 2005 the board will meet monthly, most often by conference call. Susan Jacobs, J.D., will chair the board in the coming year, and Rick Baldwin will serve as vice chairman. Jane Perlmutter continues as treasurer in 2005, and John Trussler will be secretary. Lynn Royster, Ph.D., J.D., is leading the effort to develop a long-range strategic plan and Jane Perlmutter will chair the board’s Nominating Committee. The year’s officers balance long-term Association leadership with new insights and outside governance experience. They bring varied perspectives, as persons with CFIDS (PWCs), parents of PWCs, close friends and caregivers to PWCs, and as professionals in fields relevant to the Association’s work.

The Association is approaching its 20-year anniversary of service to the CFIDS community and the board is carefully evaluating past performance and future opportunities. If you would like to be considered for board service, please submit a letter with a brief summary of your experience and interest to: Nominating Committee, CFIDS Association, PO Box 220398, Charlotte, NC 28222-0398 or board@cfids.org.

Directors with terms beginning in the 1980s
Marilyn Asbury
James Bavis
Pat Bradshaw
Susan Dorman
Alan Goldberg
Jonathan Goldberg
Betty Guthrie
Effie Hall
Jeanne Hardy
Mayhugh Horne
Kenneth Iverson
Marc Iverson, C.P.A., M.B.A.
Hal Levinson, J.D.
Richard Patterson
Adrienne Rosenberg, M.S.W.
Kathryn Schwille
Cindy Teal
Robert Yentes

Directors with terms beginning in the 1990s
Sheba Anderson
Debra Arnold
David Bell, M.D.
Jeffery Blum, M.D.
Richard Bourne, Ph.D.
Coco Crum
Priscilla deLeon, R.T.
Thomas English, M.D.
Heather Frese
Bill Gareau
Betsy Haas, M.S.W.
Bruce Hardy
Barbara Hautau
Chester Helms
Jhan Hiber
Edward Isenberg
Wilhelmina Jenkins
Tim Kenny
Karen Lang
Kimberly McCleary
Maggie McKenzie
Rebecca Moore
Marion Nelson
Allison O’Neal
David Patterson, C.P.A., M.B.A.
Jane Perlmutter
Kim Phillips
Lea Rhodes
Cathryn Rivers
Julia Sain
Charles MacBrayer Sasser, J.D.
Patti Schmidt
Michael Shulimson
Carolyn Startsman
Marilyn Stewart
Harriett Thompson
John Trussler
Marcia Wallace, M.D.
Frank Wrenn

Directors with terms beginning in the 2000s
Rick Baldwin
Diane Bean
Katrina Berne, Ph.D.
Barbara Comerford, J.D.
Terry Hedrick, Ph.D.
Dennis Irwin
Susan Jacobs, J.D.
Joseph Lane
Beth Levine
Mark Peterson, D.D.S.
Lynn Royster, Ph.D., J.D.
Adrianne Ryan
Jonathan Sterling