Full Name: National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance

Other Incarnations/Names: National Association to Aid Fat Americans

Established: 1969

Founder: William Fabrey

Websites:

http://www.naafa.org
http://www.myspace.com/NAAFA
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2249949055
http://www.naafaonline.com/convention2010/index.html

Mailing Address:

NAAFA
PO Box 22510
Oakland, CA 94609

Contact Phone: (916) 558-6880

Membership fees: (Annual) General $15, Supporting $50

Organizational Hierarchy:

Board of Directors:
Frances White – Co-Chair
Jason Docherty – Co-Chair
Carole Cullum – Treasurer
Lisa Tealer – Director of Programs
Peggy Howell – Public Relations Director
Phyllis Warr – Membership and Member Services Director

Mission Statement: “To eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide fat people with the tools for self-empowerment though public education, advocacy, and support.”

Vision Statement: “A society in which people of every size are accepted with dignity and equality in all aspects of life.”

Organizational Promise: “NAAFA will be a powerful force for positive social change. Using our collec¬tive will, talents and resources, we will improve the world — not just for fat people, but for everyone.”

Tagline: “We Come in All Sizes…Understand it. Support it. Accept it.”

Current focus:

In 2006 at their annual national convention, NAAFA embarked on a 6 point, 5 year strategic initiative. The 6 points include:
•    Streamlining the organization to make it more nimble, responsive and effective
•    Creation of a $15 membership fee (which created a two tier membership) to increase membership
•    Pursuing Universal Healthcare
•    To promote FLARE – the Fat Legal Advocacy, Rights, and Education Project, that NAAFA legal aid program
•    To promote civil rights compliance and enhanced legislation ensuring the rights of people of size
•    To establish a national grassroots action team for child advocacy.

Other notes:

NAAFA is the name synonymous with the fat acceptance movement. They have an annual convention each year in which they decide on issues facing the organization and the people they represent. Highlights of the 2009 convention that was held in Washington, DC include:
•    Meeting with more than 30 Senators and Congressmen to discuss issues that people of size have
•    Celebrated the success that 96% percent of Fortune 500 companies have received NAAFA’s Size Diversity Toolkit
•    Work with the Association for Airline Passenger Rights (AAPR) to improve qualitry of air travel and fight discrimination of fat people when flying.
•    The success of Dr. Linda Bacon to get Dr. William Dietz of the Centers for Disease Control to admit during an NPR interview that “people can be healthy at any size!”
•    Workshops and seminars on fat activism
•    Plus size fashion show
•    Masquerade ball and awards ceremony

The 2010 NAAFA Convention will be held August 5 – August 9, 2010 in San Francisco

Active Affiliate Groups:

Northern Ohio NAAFA
Washington DC and surrounding areas NAAFA
Los Angeles NAAFA
Hill Country (Austin/San Antonio) Texas NAAFA