during preparations for the frankfurt meeting otto kraus and the french zoologist max vachon discussed the establishment of a formal organisation to improve international cooperation among arachnologists. in 1963 of the centre international de documentation arachnologique (c.i.d.a.) based at the muséum national d'histoire naturelle in paris was formed. max vachon was the first "président" and otto kraus the "président-adjoint"; with kraus becoming "président" in 1965 and vachon "secrétaire général". a series of national correspondents were also appointed as local representatives of the emerging society.