Announcing ICAN's New Vice President!

The members of the ICAN Board are very excited to announce Melody Thompson (former Development Director) as the new Vice President. She is incredibly bright, motivated, gifted, caring, and dedicated to serving. We look forward to supporting her in her growth in her new position for you, the ICAN family, and the organization as a whole.  Please send encouraging words or a welcome note to vp@ican-online.org.  We know those of you who do not know her yet will adore, respect, and love her as much as we do.

It is with tremendous excitement that I begin my term as ICAN’s new Vice President. My time on the Board of Directors so far has been both challenging and fulfilling, and I have a lot of high hopes for ICAN’s future that I can’t wait to put some energy into!

For those that don’t know me, let me introduce myself. I married my high school sweetheart almost 10 years ago, and I am a proud Mama of two wonderful boys. My oldest, born in 2005, was a planned birth center birth that turned into an every-intervention-in-the-book hospital transfer, leading to cesarean for iatrogenic fetal distress. Soon after, in 2007, I became involved with ICAN as Chapter Co-Leader for ICAN of Orlando. At the time, I was planning my first VBAC. Unfortunately, that pregnancy was lost at 16 weeks. In the midst of that tragedy, I experienced first hand the amazing support, knowledge, and community of the women of ICAN. They were major players in my emotional recovery. I was overjoyed to become pregnant again later that year, and planned my HBAC with care and excitement, this time much more relaxed and confident. At the end of the summer of 2008, I went into labor and worked hard to birth my second son. Unresolvable fetal distress forced our hospital transfer after hours of pushing, and I again went under the knife. And again, the women of ICAN were instrumental in my mental and emotional stability. I am hopeful for a VBA2C someday in my future.

I continued to volunteer for ICAN as Fundraising Coordinator near the end of 2008, and in 2009 was elected to the Board as Development Director, where I have served for the last two years. At the 2011 Conference, I directed the survey and focus group project that many of you participated in. (THANK YOU!) I continue to serve as ICAN of Orlando Co-Leader, and I am also acting secretary of ICAN of Gainesville. As VP, I will focus on supporting and implementing the Board’s many ongoing projects, most specifically the upcoming website makeover, the many changes we are making in response to the Conference feedback, and a revitalization of our volunteer base.

Thank you all for your continued support of ICAN and its Mission. It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your Vice President, and I look forward to an exciting two years.

We have many other volunteer opportunities available – visit our website https://stg.ican-online.org/volunteer/listings to find out where you can help.