Dear Colleagues

In November 1999, I took up the new position of Director of IASO, based in shared office accommodation in London, with the IOTF Secretariat. At the time of writing, I have been in post for nearly four months. My first 10 days were spent in Charleston attending the NAASO Congress and preceding satellite meeting in Seabrook Island, to honour Professor George Bray. This provided an ideal opportunity to attend the various Committee meetings, meet members of IASO in person, and to gain greater insight into IASO’s key areas of activity.

Current initiatives are highlighted in this Newsletter, but high on our agenda at present is the Site Selection process for the 10^th ICO 2006, re-negotiation of the contract with Nature Publishing Group for the International Journal of Obesity, implementing the revised process for the Awards Committee, and progressing IASO’s recognition as a non governmental organization (NGO) by the World Health Organization (WHO). 

One of the key issues which I consider critical for IASO’s success, is regular, iterative communication with member associations. It is therefore important that appropriate systems are in place to facilitate communication, and so, with the assistance of colleagues in the IOTF office, I have been engaged in the creation of a central dataset of information about member associations, whilst encouraging members to submit material about activities in their locality for dissemination to a wider audience, via the IASO Newsletter. Following this, an update of the IASO website will also take place to reflect the updated information. 

Despite being in the not-for-profit sector, IASO operates in an increasingly competitive environment, and I will need to work with key stakeholders to ensure that we have the necessary resources in place, both physical and human, not only to survive, but to grow and thereby promote awareness about obesity research and education to a wider audience. 

A key area of my responsibility will therefore be fund-raising and I am working closely with the IOTF, to ensure that a co-ordinated approach to prospective donors is adopted and that high quality stewardship is offered to existing supporters. This work will also involve close liaison with the Organizing Committees of future ICO’s and the International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association, as well as investigation of other avenues of support to diversify IASO’s sources of revenue. 

Finally, to stay ahead we need to find ways to innovate and differentiate ourselves from the competition. As part of this process, I have proposed that a strategic analysis of IASO be conducted, which should generate a variety of options for future development.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the IASO officers, committee chairs, members and IOTF staff for their help and support to me in my first few months in post and for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to working with you all in the future as IASO makes the transition from voluntary to paid management.

I am keen to hear members’ views on how the quality of service provided to member associations can be improved, and suggestions for ways in which you feel membership of IASO can add value to your association at national and regional level. I would welcome suggestions via email to kate.baillie@iaso.org or telephone on +44 (0) 20 7691 1914, but I also plan to spend time at the IASO exhibition stand during the 10^th ECO meeting in Antwerp, so please feel free to drop by for a chat!