The Canadian Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors reports that delegates to the first official meeting of the CAIFA/CAFP Chapter Advisory Council last week were enthusiastic about the possible merger of CAIFA and CAFP.

A vote on the merger is scheduled for September 28. If it goes through, the Council will play an important role in the new organization. CAIFA is supported by 50 chapters based in most major cities and towns across Canada. CAFP maintains an additional 15 chapters in the same major cities. Cities that currently have a chapter from both organizations will merge together.

Donni Robertson, Council co-chair and a CAIFA member, and Sandra Hrvacanin, Council co-chair and CAFP member, will serve as leaders of the new body, which will serve to: fairly represent chapters across the country; offer continued leadership and training for chapters, fulfil the role of conduit between the National office and chapters; and investigate initiatives to further serve and support chapters.

Chapters across the country will merge as of June 30, 2003, allowing current executives to finish their elected year. They will be asked to appoint nominating committees to facilitate the lection in the spring of 2003.

“The joining of the CAIFA and CAFP chapters will be a benefit to both groups by bringing the financial and insurance planning backgrounds together, adding voices to CAIFA locals, and providing more options for CAFP members on available chapters to join,” said Lee Raine, CAIFA chair. “And CAFP chapters in Atlantic Canada will see 60% of their members access a chapter within a more serviceable area,” he added.