We came to the conference searching for treasure and it seems there is a treasure chest buried in our collective back yard, filled with wonderful things: enthusiasm, dedication, information, inspiration, and the desire to be of service.

We held our first Healing Arts SIG meeting at the NSN conference in Kingsport, Tennessee. There were between 300 and 400 people in attendance. More than 50 of them came to the meeting and more stopped me later to say they hadn't been able to come but wanted to be involved. I think of all the people who weren't at the conference, who have contacted me about their delight in finding out about the SIG, and of all the folks who haven't even heard yet. There is a tremendous groundswell of excitement that we are coming together to support the work that is so important to us all.

The main focus of the meeting, after the details of business had been covered, was that we all had a chance to hear everyone speak about their connection to healing stories, the work they do and the work they hope to do.

I listened to moving and inspiring reports of the many ways people are using stories. Many of those reports are in this newsletter and they are wonderful. As we spoke, one after another, I also became aware of two chords of feeling that were being addressed, some directly and some in an undertone. First, there was a feeling of fear or anxiety, of concern that we need to tread carefully here because we don't want to be accused of practicing medicine without a license, or pretending to some kind of "magic." Second, there was a feeling of passionate concern to "do this right," to gain the knowledge, experience and wisdom to offer stories in the right way to the right people at the right time, so that the stories can support, strengthen and serve the health and wholeness that are in us all.

Clearly there is commonality of purpose here. We need the caution and we need the enthusiasm. We all know that good intention is necessary but not always sufficient. We have come together to learn from each other and to find additional resources to further the conscious practice of the ancient art of storytelling. So we now move forward.

We have decided to engage the services of Mark Bassett to design our web site. Mark did a great job helping with the journal design. Allison Cox will be handling the upkeep of the site. If you have ideas about what you would like to see there, contact Allison.

We now have a seventh board member. Diane Rooks will act as Resource Coordinator. She is working to create an indexed database for the bibliography and additional resources that can be accessed on our web site. See Article: Welcome Diane Rooks!

Diane Wyzga is working to organize our members' database, which will also be on the web site. This will enable us to more easily find out who may be doing story work in specific kinds of settings, so that we can communicate with each other and share our work. Diane will also produce our newsletter. Contact her if you have information you wish to share in that forum.

We are looking into possibilities for pre-conference programs and general sessions to propose for next year's conference. Suggestions are welcome.

Our first journal issue was received at the conference with great enthusiasm. It is available free with SIG membership, or for $8.

We welcome each of you to join us as we work to delve into the "treasure" in our storytelling work, share it between ourselves and with others

Gail Rosen, Founder

The Healing Arts SIG received an anonymous grant of $1000.00 to support the start-up costs of the Journal. This generous donation enabled us to publish the inspiring and practical articles, in addition to an expanded bibliography resource section, and to print 500 copies, some of which will be used in outreach efforts. We are grateful to our donor and wish you to know that such a generous gift honors our mission.

If you are one of the lucky pilgrims making a trek to this year's storytelling festival at Jonesborough in October, plan to attend the 2nd General Meeting of the Healing Arts SIG. The date, time and place TBA. The meetings are conducted "town hall" style to enable us to meet, greet and share ideas with each other. And, the July 2001 General Meeting will be held at the NSN Conference in Providence, Rhode Island. Hope to see you there!

Gail Rosen, Founder: Spoke a warm and enthusiastic welcome before setting out the evening's agenda, including a process whereby everyone would have an opportunity to share the microphone to say a few words about who they are, the work they do, interest in the HASIG, and any HASIG projects of particular interest.

Reiterated that HASIG dues are $18 per year and will be prorated this year from August 1, 2000 to each member's current NSN dues renewal date. Anyone who was interested in joining the HASIG was invited to do so during the meeting. In the alternative, interested members could sign up during the Conference or at a later date by contacting the NSN office at 1-800-525-4514.

As a way of introduction, Gail informed the attendees of the genesis of the HASIG: at the July 1999 Conference Gail thought it would be a good idea if "someone" would form a SIG about healing stories & she realized that someone was she. She took the opportunity to gather 50 signatures from other interested tellers at the San Diego Conference, set a purpose, wrote bylaws, found volunteers to staff a board, and the rest is history.

Gail's interest in HASIG is in bereavement work with stories. Wants to provide network and forum to exchange information and learn/develop skills useful in this context. Initial impetus is that HASIG acts as clearinghouse for us to connect and contact because so many individually are doing phenomenal healing art work with stories - HASIG will be a way to bring us, our talents, our resources together. "What is really exciting to me is what feels like a real groundswell of excitement. This is so timely. You might recall one of the native tellers speaking in the video Milbre Burch showed us today saying that stories are told in the wintertime. I think a reason for that is winter is a time when we are most in danger. And so, if stories protect us, act like a shield, that is the most appropriate time to tell them. And, it seems to me, that if we are drawn to telling stories to people who are in danger through life events and trials, it may always be winter in some sense and timely to tell stories."

Laura Simms, Vice Chair. Acknowledged Gail's hard work and ongoing effort to bring the HASIG to life. Stated that all of her story work has a healing aspect. Is particularly interested in study groups (in formation on the web site) and developing an emergency task force of tellers able to go to places of crisis and tell stories.

Allison Cox, Publications Editor. Has used story as mental health therapist, social worker, health educator and health promotion specialist. Her interest in this area evolved into book she is writing to promote healthy communities. Excited to learn of what is happening in the community and learning to know others doing related work.

Diane Wyzga, Secretary. Acknowledged long- distance hard work and effort of board and Gail's vision which brought us to this moment. Clinical and legal background to juvenile hall teenagers at risk and domestic violence.

Cristy West, Outreach Coordinator. Anxious to connect with people in other fields who are working with story & not be insular to the storytelling community. Background as arts therapist with belief in great potential for storytelling in a healing setting but only til now being talked about in a realistic way. Many people can become storytellers who have not thought of themselves as tellers and interested in helping those people come forward, to mentor, assist others find mentors, share knowledge, etc.

Gail Rosen. Initial objective: To explore and promote the use of storytelling and healing. Intentionally broad to encompass physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, environmental, social, etc. healing. In short, all welcome under the healing arts umbrella.

Referred to British storytelling group with similar interests. Incorporated their goals into HASIG. Of particular note: Usefulness of stories to both listener and teller, physical, emotional, psychological & spiritual health.

Considering affiliate membership with outlying professions interested and in discussion with NSN board.

Members who join the Healing Arts SIG are asked to complete a data base form and return it to Diane Wyzga. The form asks members to provide mailing address and contact information as well as areas of interest for storytelling. If you do not wish to have the information on the data base form appear on the Healing Arts SIG website, call Diane Wyzga at 1-949-361-3035 or E-mail her at dwdragn@attglobal.net