At its inaugural meeting of members at Deerhurst Resort in Hunstville, Ont, the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners elected its first chairman, vice chairman and board of directors.

John Charrette, a CFP with CIBC in London, Ont., becomes chairman and Marion Weisgerber, a CFP with Advantage Credit Union in Watson, Sask., becomes vice chairman.

The other directors are: John Barnett of Bermuda; Paula Beer-Eligh of Rusagonis, N.B.; Keith Costello, founding director; David Gobeil of Stouffville, Ont.; John Kaszel of Richmond Hill, Ont.; Rod Landgraff of Kitchener, Ont.; Ernest Lawson of Lethbridge, AB; John Murray, also a founding director; Miklos Nagy of Toronto; Ian Skaith of London, Ont.; Lloyd Snyder of Charlottetown, PEI; Barbara Tarr of Toronto; K.C. Tsirigotis of Surrey, B.C.

The CIFPs has over 1,000 members across the country. The new organization has four classes of members with one vote per member. The full members — CFPs only — elect 12 of the 15-member board. Associate members and student members each elect one director. The final category is the sponsoring members which is the Canadian Institute of Financial Planning, the sponsoring organization.

Now that its bylaws are approved by the membership and the board of directors are in place, CIFPs will form five standing commitee and a number of other committees.