AIVF and AEVF merge

[William Marques]

I received this yesterday:

"After 22 years of historical research and helping pilgrims from 28 countries, we join forces!
AIVF is happy to share with you here the agreement AEVF - AIVF, signed 18 October 2019.

And we're offering discount prices on our SHOP items for pilgrims to Rome. Take advantage of this opportunity!

An upcoming newsletter for our FRIENDS (AMIS) will give you more details.

Long live the Via Francigena!"

• Letter of Intention !
  (translation)
  between :
  Associazione Europea delle Vie Francigene
  (hereafter AEVF)
  and
  Association Internationale Via Francigena
  (hereafter AIVF)
  Considering that:
  the Via Francigena, on the initiative of the Italian Ministry of Tourism at the time, was designated in
  1994 “Cultural Route of Council of Europe” because of the historical importance of pilgrimage in the
  founding of the European identity and culture. The Via Francigena passes through England, France,
  Switzerland, Italy and Vatican City;
  The Council of Europe and the European Union support the transnational Cultural Routes because of the
  values they defend and their ability to promote intercultural dialog, democratic participation in culture,
  valorization of European heritage and a diversified offer of tourism in Europe;
  AEVF
  is an association of local institutions founded in 2001, which includes to this day 155 European
  municipalities, provinces and regions;
  - in 2007, AEVF obtained the authorisation as “Lead Network” for the Via Francigena, becoming the
  official organ charged by the Council of Europe for the valorization and the development of the
  European itinerary;
  - AEVF performs a coordination and governance function at all institutional levels – local, regional,
  national and European – and connects the European local associations which participate in improving
  the route for pilgrims’ use;
  AIVF
  - is a private, not-for-profit association under Swiss law, founded in Martigny (Valais) in 1997 with its
  statutory seat in Blonay (Switzerland);
  - since 1998, it manages a website in 4 languages dedicated to the Via Francigena: www.francigena-
  international.org; it is a partner of the European Institute of Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe;
  - in 2001, it obtained the patronage of the Holy See, of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and
  Activities, of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, and of the Swiss Federal Department
  of the Interior; it also received the IX Premium Sancti Benedicti of Rotary International;
  - since 2001 AIVF has helped pilgrims to travel the Via Francigena thanks to about 28 publications on
  the theme: European VF, APP, Guide-Vademecum, Dormifrancigena (list of affordable
  accommodations), Topofrancigena (historic hiking route of 2000 km), historical-scientific research
  with two books on the themes of San Pellegrino and Borgo di Cesano. It also created a Documentation
  Center on the Via Francigena and an academic scientific Committee.
  - since 2001, it has promoted the dissemination of the VF at European level with the first European logo;
  - since 2001, it has organized, in collaboration with Vatican City, the welcome and recording of pilgrims
  carrying a credencial, as well as the issue of the Testimonium;
  - since 2003, it has created specific accessories for pilgrims with its own symbol;
  - in 2004, along with AEVF, it obtained for the Via Francigena the diploma as “Grand Route of the
  Council of Europe”.
  In view of what precedes:
  In twenty-two years, AIVF has more than accomplished its operational mandate; it recognises that
  AEVF, charged by the Council of Europe with the valorization of the Via at the European and world
  level, has the will and the means to manage and valorize the Route.
  AEVF recognizes the fundamental importance of the work accomplished by AIVF to valorize the Via
  Francigena and make it a success.
  Both associations consider it fundamental to share the heritage of documentation and of editorial
  products of AIVF and to integrate them into the official communication channels of AEVF. In particular,
  they agree on the necessity of integrating into those channels the information contained in the AIVF
  website, as well as the publications produced from 1997 to the present, and to replace the AIVF pilgrim
  passport solely by the official AEVF credential.
  Annex A gives the details of the documentary heritage of AIVF, the result of historical research and
  studies, publications, conferences, multimedia products and contacts established by AIVF from its
  beginning to the present day.
  AEVF intends to valorize, in accord with its own decision-making organs, the work accomplished by
  AIVF in the area of historical research and the variants proposed to the official route of the Via
  Francigena. Annex B mentions the details of historical variants resulting from AIVF research. These
  proposals will be adopted by AEVF and discussed with the associations involved.
  AEVF obtains, without cost, the applications “Dormi Topfrancigena” and their contents, committing
  itself, as much as possible, to integrate the information included in those applications into the official
  AEVF application. The applications are conceived primarily as a support for foreign pilgrims (they are
  in 4 languages, give the pilgrim’s position on the route and give possibilities of lodging nearby).
  AEVF wishes to maintain a working relationship with the current members of AIVF in the context of
  international relations, events and conferences, as well as scientific, historical and cultural research on
  the Via Francigena; it accordingly wishes to organise an annual encounter of the two associations, to be
  arranged in a way and a place to be decided of a common accord.
  Massimo TEDESCHI
  President AEVF
  Associazione Europea Vie Francigene
  Adelaide TREZZINI
  President AIVF
  Association Internationale Via Francigena

 

[caminka]

at least now I know what the difference in the acronyms is...
may they keep up the good work!