Allow me to recall the birth of the Internal Family
Systems Association (IFSA). Following the annual IFS conference in
May, 1995 a large group of us gathered to consider the possibilities.
Ideas abounded. In mid-summer a smaller group gathered, still leaderless
but developed the resolve to produce a newsletter and a mission statement.
Fall 1995, saw the first post-Booster meeting.
Here the mission statement was discussed further, we called ourselves a
board and I accepted the role of president. The next board met on a bitterly
cold December 9, 1995. It became for me the birthday of IFSA.
We adopted the mission and vision statements and decided upon (after much
discussion) the name, Internal Family Systems Association. Within
a couple of months the first issue of this newsletter appeared under the
editorship of Frank Schleicher.
The Spring board meeting of 1996 was hosted by
Marta Chausee on the north side of Chicago. For the first time we
met in the “open space” format guided by Kay Vogt. More than attend to
business, we shared our interests and cutting edge ideas about the IFS
model. The summer meeting found us at the Pedigo’s in south suburban
Chicago. There we explored IFSA’s potential in light of Dick Schwartz
intention to leave IJR. September 1966 Bob Thompson offered his newly
acquired loft apartment. There we announced the triumph of Olga Meza-Lehman’s
extensive efforts to obtain an IFSA checking account and submit an application
for non-profit status. The structure of an IFS training program began
taking shape, plans for the 1997 annual conference developed and the slate
for new leadership was proposed. I am pleased to see Jan Mullen
and Marta Chausee edit and publish this issue of the newsletter.
Rather than do something for the first time, we have finally done something
for the second time.
It has been my privilege and challenge to be one
of the mid-wives of the IFSA. I have seen us grow from a loose association
of individuals into an organization that can get things done while retaining
the thrill of bringing new ideas into being. (The board meetings remain
open to all members of IFSA.) Although I mentioned some of the persons
who have put extraordinary effort into IFSA, there are more who have traveled
many miles and have spent dozens if not hundreds of hours to make IFSA
a reality. I would like all of you to accept my sincere appreciation
for birthing IFSA and making her/him a promising child for the future.
Mark Hirschmann
President IFSA
September, 1996
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