History and Objectives of the Association

The Florida Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, Inc., was chartered by the State of Florida in 1962 as a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the following objectives:

• To encourage scientific research in the causes and nature of cleft
  palate, cleft lip and other craniofacial anomalies.

• To promote the science and art of rehabilitation of persons with
  cleft palate, cleft lip and other craniofacial anomalies.

• To encourage cooperation among and stimulation of those specialists interested in the rehabilitation of persons with cleft palate, cleft lip and other craniofacial anomalies.

• To stimulate the public interest in, and support of, the rehabilitation of persons with cleft palate, cleft lip and other craniofacial anomalies.
  

Both professionals and parents are welcomed as members in the Association. Types of membership are as follows:

• Active Member - must hold the appropriate license or certification in the area of specialty.  An Active Member must be accredited in a related professional field, and have displayed an interest in the rehabilitation of persons with cleft palate, cleft lip or other craniofacial anomalies.

• Associate Member - a person, including parents, with an interest in cleft palate, cleft lip and other craniofacial anomalies.

• Honorary Members - persons who have distinguished themselves by their scientific contributions or by benefactions to the advancement of cleft lip, cleft palate and craniofacial rehabilitation.

• Student Member - a full time student in an academic institution working toward professional accreditation, who displays an interest in the rehabilitation of persons with cleft lip, cleft palate and other craniofacial anomalies and is recommended in writing by a member of the faculty.

• Life Member - status conferred by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee upon Active Members of the Association at the time of their professional retirement.
  

The Officers of the Association consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Editor, Immediate Past President and five Counselors-At-Large.

• The President presides over all regularly and specially convened meetings of the Association; directs and supervises its scientific and clinical programs and appoints all committees, serving as an ex-officio member of all committees of the Association.

• The Vice President assumes the duties of the President in the absence of the President, serves as Chairperson of the Program Committee and is responsible for the program of the Annual Meeting.

• The Secretary keeps accurate records of the business of the Association and the Executive Committee; keeps a current record of the names and addresses of all members of the Association; and notifies the membership of the date, time and place of meeting of the Association at least thirty days in advance of such meetings.

• The Treasurer collects and banks in a federally insured account all dues and other monies from members of the Association and disburses funds on order of the Association.  A report of the financial state of the Association is presented at each Annual Meeting.

• The Editor of the Association is elected for a period of three years. The Editor develops a program of publications for the Association; edits all publications of the Association and advises and assists the membership of the Association in publication matters.

• The Immediate Past President serves as a voting member of the Executive Committee and is chairperson of the Nominating Committee.

• Five Counselors-At-Large serve on the Executive Committee.  One represents Dentistry, one Medicine, one Speech Pathology-Audiology, one Nursing and one Social Work or Psychology.  Each Counselor serves one term of two years.