Letter from the president

Dear EDSA-members

1. This is the first letter you receive from me, Cora Halder, just
elected to the new EDSA-President. Ofcourse I feel honoured about
this new task ? also being the first female president after seven
very honourable gentlemen ?, but at the same time I realise that it
means a lot of work, if I want to do this job properly. I have
accepted this new challenge  because I believe, that we have a very
good team on the board. We will collaborate, conform to the spirit of
EDSA, promoting the well being of persons with Down syndrome.

2. Writing a letter to the members was something Prof. Juan Perera,
one of our former presidents used to do regularly. I always liked to
get these letters, where he short and clear pointed out the latest
news. I have decided to copy his idea.

3. Last week in Palma de Mallorca we had the pleasure to meet
representants of 19 edsa-membergroups from 16 different european
countries. They all had come to visit the 7th international
symposium, organised by ASNIMO on "Early intervention in Down
Syndrome and other Developmental Disabilities" and to attend to the
General Assembly of EDSA.

4. I have to thank Prof. Juan Perera and his organisation ASNIMO for
this very interesting conference and their great hospitality. Not
only could we listen to well known scientists from all over the
world, learn about new research and studies in Down syndrome and meet
parents and professionals from Spain and other countries, we were
also invited to a formal reception in the beautiful historic Town
Hall of Palma to be welcomed there by the young femal lord mayor of
Palma city. Last but not least an excellent diner was served to
celebrate 21years of EDSA. Thank you so much Juan!

5. I also want to thank Prof. Alberto Rasore Quartino, who has now
stepped back as president of EDSA, for all the work he did in the
last three years. I am sure, that he will go on  supporting EDSA.
Thanks to Prof. Jean Rondal for his talk and presentation about the
history of EDSA, which can be set out on the edsa website as soon as
we get this going.

5. The minutes of the General Assembly will be send to all members by
E-mail as soon as possible.

6. Attached to this mail you will find a pdf in which the EDSA-
boardmembers present themselves, with some sentences and a photo of
each one. That makes, I think us, the board  less anonym and more human.

7. Because of a misunderstanding no invoices for the annual
memberfees have been sent out for some time. Isidro Moyano, our new
treasurer will sent you an invoice in the next weeks over the
memberfees of 2008.

8. As most of you know, I am dutchborn, so my first language is
dutch, the second one is german, as I have been living in Germany for
many years and english comes only on the third place. So my english
is far from perfect and I have to apologise for mistakes in my
letters! I hope, inspite of that, you will understand. I do my best.

This is all for now. I wish you all a good adventtime.

Cora Halder