Vermont Reiki Association Spring/Summer 2005 newsletter

        One year ago the Vermont Reiki Association established paid memberships.

We began our organization with just a handful of dedicated Reiki practitioners who supported us with their membership dues, by volunteering on one of our many start up projects, by attending meetings, participating in our public Reiki clinics, and with their caring support.

Today we have twenty-nine members, a web site with practitioner listings, a code of ethics, a mission statement, regular planning meetings, and public Reiki clinics.

        Our mission is two-fold: to educate the public about Reiki, and to support Reiki practitioners in their healing work. This spring we have been involved in some very fulfilling events. The most recent on June 4th was our participation in Camp Knock Knock located on the shores of Lake Champlain in North Hero. (The camp is named for a child with cancer who loved “knock, knock” jokes.)  The camp offers counseling, recreation and relaxation to help families with children adjust to the loss of a family member. Donna Thomas coordinated our participation in the event. Donna, Jean Potter, Bridget Kimsey, Nicole Poirier, and Kelly McDermontt-Burns gave approximately 25 Reiki sessions to the participants (about 70 people attended). Some of our members stayed for dinner and the John Galimor concert. A saying on a teashirt given out at the event best expresses the camp’s purpose. “Camp Knock Knock, Opening the Door to Healing.” This is an annual event and we hope to participate again next year.

        On April 30th nine of our members gave approximately 80 Reiki sessions to participants at the Stowe Weekend of Hope for cancer survivors. Donna Thomas and Chris Hanna coordinated the event. Donna, Chris, Kelly McDermontt-Burns, Nicolle Poirier, Bridget Kimsey, Susan Fortier, Tanya Cimonetti, Reenie Sargent and Lynn McNicol attended. Jean Potter leant us her Reiki table. We had 4 Reiki tables set up in the gymnasium and did sessions there throughout the day. We also gave two one hour classroom presentations where we spoke about Reiki and answered questions. Some of our practitioners gave Reiki to participants in the group while others were talking about the benefits of Reiki for people undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments. People who had already received Reiki in the gymnasium commented on how much it had helped them. There was a noticeable difference in the before and after energy level of the participants Approximately 1000 people from all over New England (and

beyond) attended the Weekend of Hope. Every aspect of dealing with cancer was presented at this free event. Free transportation on Amtrak and free lodging in the Stowe area were offered to participants. This is an annual event sponsored by the Stowe Area Association and local hospitals. We hope to participate next year.

        I had a chance to help give Reiki at Respite house, a comfortable home for people in their last weeks of life. It is operated by the Visiting Nurses’ Association. We gave sessions to staff, volunteers, and residents. Being able to provide healing energy in this end of life setting was humbling but very meaningful. VRA member Jean Potter is coordinating our participation at Respite house. Jean, Resa Williamson, and Bridget Kimsey have been giving regular Reiki sessions there. Contact Jean at 732-887-9831 or jeangenevap@adelphia.net if you would like to help.

        I have spoken with more people about Reiki in the last year than I have in my entire Reiki career. What I have found is that most people I have met have not heard of Reiki and if they have, don’t know what it is. Many Reiki practitioners I speak to have never heard of the Vermont Reiki Association. With this in mind we have created the position of VRA Reiki Outreach Coordinator. The primary focus of this position will be to get the word out about the VRA to all areas of Vermont. I am happy to announce that our first Outreach Coordinator will be Nicolle Poirier.

Nicolle recently moved to Burlington from Concord, Massachusetts where she was employed as a software developer. She is an animal rescuer and volunteers at animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitation facilities. She was certified in Reiki one and two in 2003 and plans on seeking Reiki Master certification this summer. She wants to train as an energy healer/animal intuitive.

        What’s next?

        Our first Annual meeting is shaping up to be an interesting one.

It is

scheduled for Saturday, September 24th from 10 am to 2pm at the Montpelier Public Library. VRA member David Hale’ has booked a beautiful room at the Library for us with kitchen facilities. Nicolle Poirier has lined up Reiki Master and animal intuitive, April Frost to speak on the topic of giving Reiki to animals. The meeting will include a casual potluck where our Reiki practitioners will have a chance to get to know one another. We will also have a brief business meeting to discuss some of the nuts and bolts of our organization and have an open member forum to receive feedback, comments and suggestions from our membership.

        There is a Breast Cancer Conference on Friday, Oct. 21st at the Sheraton Hotel in Burlington. Donna Thomas has contacted the organizers to see if we can give Reiki sessions at the event. We have not received any word yet on this.

        Currently Trudi Denison (representing central-eastern Vermont) is our only Regional member coordinator outside of Burlington. Our goal is to have VRA membership coordinators in other parts of the state and VRA sponsored Reiki clinics taking place in those areas. This is a long term goal so our hope is attract potential coordinators to our organization.

        People are beginning to find us through our web site, www.vermontreikiassociation.org . I was contacted by Mellisa York from the Bennington Banner (about the size of Burlington Free Press) who was writing an article with the title, “Swinging Seniors Touched by Reiki.”

She tried to contact me the day of her deadline and I wasn’t able to return her phone call until the next day so the VRA did not receive a mention. It is a very positive article and you can check it out at www.benningtonbanner.com .  Click on archives and look for the May 25th Reiki story. If you can’t find it I would be glad to email it to you.

        Reenie Sargent is putting together a list of VRA members who would like to do Reiki exchanges. Contact Reenie if you are interested. 802-244-5250 or sargentsdux@aol.com

        Marcia Rings is ready to proceed with her Reiki Research. If you would like to participate in this study or would like more information you can contact Marcia directly at marcia.ring@uvm.edu or 802-578-0393.

        I want to express my gratitude to all of you for being part of this organization. I know that without the VRA I would not have been able to participate in any of our Reiki clinics. Whether it was doing Reiki at Camp Knock Knock, the Stowe Weekend of Hope, Respite House, Saint Michael’s College (Fall, 2004), or the University of Vermont (Fall 2003), attending our VRA planning meetings or brainstorming about our statewide Reiki website, we could not have done any of it alone. Because of you we have provided healing energy to many people. We have also supported each other by providing opportunities to practice Reiki and giving those of you with a Reiki business a statewide web practitioner directory. For our members who joined last year in June we are designating July 1st as your renewal date. You will be receiving a renewal letter and a membership card. I sincerely hope you will renew your membership at whatever level is appropriate for you. We have “rolling memberships” so other members will receive their letter approximately 2 to 4 weeks before their yearly membership is up. If you have any questions or comments, you can contact me or any of our other volunteer coordinators through our web email address. info@vermontreikiassociation.org

        Thankyou, Chris Hanna, VRA president.

Donna Thomas - Membership coordinator

Gerri Cobb - Treasurer

Sunflower Sutherland - Web site coordinator Jean Potter - Respite House coordinator Nicolle Poirier - Outreach coordinator Trudi Denison - Regional member coordinator (East - Central Vermont)