When did the ECLSO start? This is not entirely clear, but it is certain that discussions were held in 1968 between Montague Ruben (UK) and Hanfried Laue (Germany) concerning the creation of a medical contact lens "club". The International Contact Lens Council of Ophthalmology (ICLCO) already existed but was U.S. orientated and had no formal constitution. Montague Ruben preferred a more formal approach so together with Hanfried Laue (Germany), Paul Cochet (France) & Hermann Kemmetmüller (Austria) a constitution was drawn up and the ECLSO was registered in Munich. After a few small meetings in Wiesbaden (with the Rhineland Ophthalmological Society) the concept of national membership emerged and National Representatives to council (the Praesidium) were invited. The first ECLSO Congress was held in London in 1971 at the Royal College of surgeons, presided over by Ruben and organised by Alan Higgitt, Michael O'Riordan & Michael Wilson. Prof. Jules François was Hon. President and was present in that capacity at this first Congress. Jules François, Paul Cochet, Jan Kiewiet de Jonge (Holland) and Mats Rydberg (Sweden) did much in the early days to establish Contact Lens Practice as a sub-speciality of ophthalmology. It was soon apparent that the Society had to be more important than any of its officers and so, by limiting the terms of office of the members of the Praesidium, a steady change was achieved. It was noted by Ruben at the time that a strong institution will be run by competent officers whereas a weak one will require strong, dictatorial personalities - remarkable insight for someone as powerful as he was, or perhaps his words were directed at someone else. An advisory panel was founded in 1983 so that, in difficult times, wise counsel could be sought, but the cost and logistics of assembling this group and the difficulties of keeping everyone informed of progress (with language difficulties, the absence of fax machines and email etc.) meant that it was seldom used. After Lyon the ECLSO settled into its now well known pattern of Congresses (see list of the past ECLSO congresses table 1) and with a few exception these have been well run and well attended. Great credit must be given to the hosts of these congresses as it was (and is) usually the enthusiasm and hard work of one or two individuals that made each one a success. As the ECLSO has no homebase, the Congress is in effect reborn each year in different guise in a different country. The administratively has frequently been reshuffled and in 1981 the National Representatives required the Praesidium to be more formal in recording their activities. Proper minutes were kept from then on and a true record began to develop. While in office Jan Kiewiet de Jonge died suddenly in 1981. As Secretary General he had held the Society together for seven years, without maintaining records. So we had to pause and rethink. Jonathan Kersley (UK) took on the mantle of Secretary General at the Congress in Stresa and the then President Werner Claas together with Wulf Ehrich revised the constitution of the ECLSO. There are two documents that control the Society, the Statutes which lay down the legal form and function of the Society and the Rules that are more flexible and govern the day to day running of the Society. Under the new Statutes the structure of the Praesidium remained unchanged but a new post of Vorstand was recognised. The Vorstand has to guarantee the proper running of the ECLSO and is the legal representative of the Society in the German Courts (the Society being registered in Munich).