ipdsc

24/8/09

President to hand over future development of IPDSC
Following is a message from the President on his decision to pass on the future of IPDSC's development due to restrictions placed on his activities by health concerns.

Dear Colleagues,
Some of you are aware that following the treatment I received in January for the health difficulties I was experiencing I was scheduled to have a full review of the position in June. Following these consultations and options presented to me upon my return from a recent three week trip abroad I now have to make some decisions on how to proceed; either undergoing further treatment (such as I have had) or to opt for surgery.

You will also be aware that I had stated that whilst honoured to be part of the huge task of creating IPDSC I was also aware that the work of taking the organisation to the next level of activity may be that of someone else and I believe that this is now the case as I will not be able to devote enough time to this important and prestigious position during the next few months.

I have, also, been offered some commercial opportunities that, health allowing I would like to explore, as and when I can at my own pace.
I have also been asked to assist another organisation in its set up and advancement.
At this time these opportunities come without the daily responsibilities of office and can be undertaken when I wish, without pressure or affect to my health nor will they be affected by any breaks I may need to take from time to time for therapy.

Bearing these things in mind I have decided to stand down as President of IPDSC effective immediately.

I believe this is important as it allows IPDSC to appoint a new President at the 2009 AGM along with any other officers or Presidium members you and the new Acting President decide; so 2010 may commence with a new team in place.

My proposal for the 2009 AGM, as required by the statutes, is withdrawn and the Acting President will be in contact with you to determine a new date and location, allowing him the freedom of choice on when and where the meeting should be. It will be for the new President to suggest the way forward for IPDSC toward closer links with IDSF or continued independence with co-operation with the agreement of the membership. I wish you all the very best in these important deliberations for the future of Dance Sport. I certainly hope that the high level of membership by many prestigious organisations endures and I urge all member organisations to work with the Presidium and new President to reach the best decisions for Dance Sport.


The suggested supporting programme in Monaco has the enormous prestige of the attendance of HRH Prince Amoury de Merod, who has taken over many of his late uncles responsibilities including his work with the IOC.
This event, under the Monaco DanceSport Association's auspices, Hon President HSH Prince Albert II, will be offered to the IDSF as a very important opportunity to further strengthen the position of DanceSport in its relations with the Olympic movement.

I strongly suggest that you, as the Presidium, appoint Daniele Tondon Acting President, as he is able to liaise with Ferruccio Galvagno the Hon. President of IPDSC and that within the Italian organisation they may be best placed to accommodate the practical aspects of arranging the AGM.

Please communicate to the Secretary General your approval of this proposal or your suggestions for an alternative choice as Acting President or method of selection. I will fully support and endorse your decision.

I want to thank you all for your considerable help, assistance and conviction in establishing this very important organisation. I look forward to seeing it succeed and prosper in the future and will help and support your efforts whenever I can.
For my own part I intend to consider my medical options, take a short break and slowly re-commence activities as and when I can later in the year or next.

I strongly hope and suggest that you will all chose to remain with IPDSC and help its future growth.
I especially want to thank all the Officers and particularly Lasse Odegaard and Tommy Shaughnessy (who recently had to step down) for the huge amount of work and effort they have made to the formation and establishment of IPDSC. Mike Shelton proved that dancing can be run efficiently and fairly by his tremendous management of the 2008 AGM and I would like to thank him for that and his work as Secretary General. My sincere thanks to the Vice Presidents and to each individual Presidium Member for your hard work.

Dancing is, in my opinion, in a very fragile state and I deeply regret that the factors above don't allow me to participate in doing everything possible to maintain the huge wealth of history we have as well as planning for the future through IPDSC.
Nevertheless, I will individually and through other collective possibilities and opportunities always support the very best for dancing, as well as speak out when I believe things to be incorrect or unhelpful!

Once again I want to say how proud I am to have helped to create a membership of over forty countries for a totally new organisation which included many of the Worlds leading Professional groups (which many thought an impossibility) in co-operation with our other IDSF colleagues. It was a very complex and difficult process, but one that brought great satisfaction.

I now wish the "baby" IPDSC a very bright future as an adolescent and then adult. I am sure that if properly guided IPDSC will reach a venerable old age, building on the great start in life it has been given and attaining huge importance in Dance Sport history.

My best wishes, thanks to you all.

Yours,

Peter Maxwell.