The Massachusetts NAHA Meetings

The Northeast Region has been dormant in meetings for well over ten years. I have felt lonely for many years without colleagues to speak with.

I was asked last year to consider being a director, and was granted that Honor at the NAHA Conference last year in Seattle, WA. I surely was NOT prepared for the monumental task of leadership.

We are a wonderful group of woman and one gentleman sometimes 15 strong who attended meetings. The first one was held this past April at a Panera Bagel Shop in Bellingham, MA. It was delightful. We exchanged recipes (per my request for stress), talked about ourselves and planned our next meeting. The initial group comprised of an Herbalist and Certified Aromatherapist, a Jane Buckle graduate who does Reiki as well, a Dental Hygienist studying with Jades Shutes and myself a Clinical Aromatherapist and Psychotherapist who had recently finished a four year study with Valerie Worwood's AromaGenera. The meeting lasted nearly 3-1/2 hours. We also had a volunteer of someone to take notes, and starting a Regional Newsletter. What a great start, I no longer have to worry about having colleagues to share things with.

 Our next meeting was in June, as we four had come up with four meetings a year. The meeting had twelve attendees, an overwhelming showing of support. We are quite fortune in this region of Massachusetts (Southeastern) to have many nurses who studied with Jane Buckle's program and are now teaching around the country. The attendees are also other types of practitioners e.g., Reiki, Massage Therapy, Psychotherapy, Herbology and Physical Therapy. We again exchanged recipes not only for stress but general well being.

 Our region isn't much different than those around the country, diverse, spread out and sometimes-low attendance. I know that over time we will continue to grow, and if we don't there is a wonderful group of men and women who like sharing and gathering information from one another. We decided at our recent meeting to realistically hold meetings quarterly, attempt to hold a conference over the summer months and our Newsletter has just been completed with another one due out in January 2004.

I have NO regrets for being given this position it has come with a wealth of knowledge and camaraderie.

Sincerely,

Joyce Benoit

Regional Director

Massachusetts and Rhode Island

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