Gail's Welcome:

It has only been a year since the Healing Arts SIG was approved by NSN as the first Special Interest Group. In this short year we have: published our first journal issue, Diving in the Moon, published four newsletters, put up an informative, interactive website, www.healingstory.org, planned a preconference for the NSN July conference, defined guidelines for using storytelling as a healing art, and held two well-attended general meetings.

And more is coming! We now have an eighth board member - Andre Heuer. He has helped us to develop an email distribution list. See Andre's introduction and invitation to join the discussion on the Listserv. Andre is also beginning a Community Network Project to further communication between our members and between our members and the board. There's more on that in this newsletter as well.

We are developing more outreach materials to increase our membership and our contacts with people outside of the storytelling community who are interested in the power of story to transform, inspire and heal.

We are expanding the website. We are hoping by late summer or early fall, and the Treasure Chest will be up. See the article for a description of what promises to be a fantastic resource.

The next journal issue will be out this summer and there is a possibility that another issue will be added this year.

We ask you all to add your voices to this exciting conversation. Put your comments on the Forum page of the website. Submit Reports from the Field about your use of storytelling in healing venues, for publication in the newsletter or journal. Contribute to building our bibliography of resources.

As we continue to grow and expand, we are becoming aware of how much more there is to do. But for this to happen, we will need more help. Contact any board member with your ideas for future projects, or to volunteer to assist with current ones.

Plan now, if you can, to join us at the NSN conference in Rhode Island this July. And keep in mind that SIG members will receive a discount for Erica Helm Meade's exciting preconference workshop.

As I am slowly getting to know more of you and to know more about the work you do, I am moved by the breadth of your collective experience, the generosity of time and energy and spirit that you bring to this work, and your determination to improve your skills and increase your knowledge. The connections and community that we are growing are and will continue to be nourishing to us all, and through us to the people we serve.

        Gail Rosen, Founder

Newsletter Contents:

Page 1. Gail’s Welcome - Founder Message
Page 2. Board Member Contact & Welcome Dr. Heuer
Page 3. Treasure Chest in the Works - by C. West, and Community Network Project - by Dr. Heuer
Page 4. Using Personal Story Within Healthcare - Heuer
Page 5. New Listserv: Listserv@Maelstrom.StJohns.edu
Page 6. A Walk in the Woods - Fran Stallings; Welcome Contributions; Members LIve
Page 7. Volunteer Needed; Article: Healing Story - by Rafe Martin