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April 10, 2013
Dear Friend,
As May 12, National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day, approaches it reminds all of us at the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA) of just how far we have come since January 1, 2011. We thought it would be helpful to provide the following background information to give you a better historical understanding of events and how they unfolded in the creation of the NFMCPA.
It all began in September 2010 when the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) following in the footsteps of so many nonprofits, fell on hard economic times and turned to its trained Leaders Against Pain (LAP) volunteers for help. It was then that I, a trained NFA Leader Against Pain, approached Lynne Matallana, NFA Founder and President, and offered to salvage as many of the NFA programs and other assets as possible to ensure the ongoing success of those valuable resources for people with fibromyalgia.
Through many discussions, it was decided jointly between Lynne and myself that under my CUREFM 501(c)3 non-profit organization, I would quickly create the NFMCPA. This mutually agreed upon name also addresses the painful and overlapping conditions occurring with fibromyalgia that would be included in the new organization’s outreach and education programs. Through a series of meetings over the next several months plans were laid to transfer the majority of NFA assets and programs to NFMCPA.
Beginning in October 2010 several announcements were made by Lynne and the NFA regarding these changes including a presentation at an Orange County meeting that included FM support group members where Lynne introduced me as the Founder of the NFMCPA and expressed confidence in my leadership capabilities. Then on March 10, 2011 Lynne posted the NFA President’s Message on the NFA website homepage praising the NFMCPA and giving her support to the new organization and to me as she announced the transition of major NFA programs including Fibromyalgia Awareness Day events and the Leaders Against Pain program along with the Leaders Against Pain (LAP) Coalition to the NFMCPA.
Then on March 15, 2011 the NFA sent out a press release authored by Lynne stating, in part:
“The NFA will continue to focus on facilitating research, patient education and continuing medical education (CME) programs, while handing off its other awareness and advocacy programs, including National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day and the Leaders Against Pain program, to the capable management of Jan Chambers and the NFMCPA.”
These NFA public announcements acknowledged that due to financial difficulties they could no longer support and facilitate their awareness and advocacy programs. As a result of these changes, for the past three years, the NFMCPA has enthusiastically moved forward with these initiatives, including the LAP scholarship training program (November 6-9, 2012 in Washington, DC). The NFMCPA looks forward to continued development and sponsorship of future LAP events, as well as other awareness, advocacy and educational initiatives, including the CARE to Make Fibromyalgia Visible awareness and advocacy program.
Since March of 2011, the NFMCPA has proudly
To serve the fibromyalgia community, the NFMCPA continues to function as a full-service, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in collaboration with patients, researchers, educators, and policymakers to carry on these important initiatives and resources for the FM community. Additionally, the NFMCPA works with researchers, advocating nationally on behalf of the FM community, exhibiting at national medical meetings and patient meetings, and educating patients.
I am thankful that the NFMCPA was there at the right time to not only carry on the NFA vision and continue its programs, but also to now be here to create and advance our vision of a better life for millions of people with fibromyalgia. We at the NFMCPA look forward to many years of working for our constituents, listening to their concerns, and being their voice when they can’t be present to speak for themselves.
Sincerely yours,
Jan
Jan Favero Chambers, President/Founder
National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association
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