Message from Interim President

As some of you might not know, Mr. John M. Lovett passed away on Thursday, 30 October from multiple myeloma at a hospital in Melbourne.  We created a special tribute to John and a photo album on www.ciss.org and www.deaflympics.com.  

Mr. Kuo-tung Chou, President of Asia-Pacific Deaf Sports Confederation, represented CISS at the funeral services on Friday, 7 November in Melbourne.  A private burial took place afterwards.  The Lovett family has requested that in lieu of flowers a donation may be made to CISS/DEAFLYMPICS in loving memory of John Lovett and mailed to CISS Secretariat in Frederick, Maryland USA.  CISS and the Lovett family also received condolences from many and many people and organizations, for which we are deeply touched and appreciate.

Since the position of Vice President is also vacant since October 2002, I was recently named as Interim President by the Executive Committee until the next election during the Congress in Melbourne which will take place in early January 2005.

Filling Mr. Lovett's shoes is never easy, but I am more than ever determined to carry on his passion and vision for this prestigious organization and Deaflympic Games.  To fulfill a long list of goals that the Management Team created under Lovett's leadership, I will now ask all members on Executive Committee and Technical Directors to assume more responsibilities during this difficult and challenging time.

In two more weeks, I will meet with key officials of International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee in Lausanne to discuss ways in which we can increase and promote more visibility for DEAFLYMPICS.   I will also work with IPC in clarifying the individual national situations related to internal difficulties that deaf national sports federations face when attempting to apply for direct membership with CISS.

After my trip to Europe next month, I will spend the holidays with my family at home before flying on 27 December to Melbourne for a site inspection visit and meeting with the M2005 Organizing Committee. 

I am certain I will have lots of new and exciting news to share with you in the next E-News!

Happy Holidays!

Donalda K. Ammons
Interim President & Secretary General

By Donalda Ammons