Title: “Chat with your Librarian”
Date: May 5
Time: 12:30pm ET
Instructor/speaker: Region Librarian

Description: Chat with the Eastern Region librarian to learn how your library works.  Come and ask your questions about how to use the library, what we have, ideas for using the library!! Check out the InterRegion Library website Inter-region Inventory of Library Materials and come with your questions and ideas for using this great resource.

Location: Online

Host: Eastern and Southeast Region

Contact: feldyeastern@gmail.com

Cost: no charge

Zoom Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3353593277?pwd=YVFmNUNXQlJTTGNiUWpEdXZrM3p2QT09

Meeting ID: 335 359 3277
Passcode: 602006
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,3353593277#,,,,*602006# US (New York)

Title:  Mind-Body Movement Improvement: Investigating and refining functional movement with FeldenkraisⓇ Awareness Through MovementⓇ lessons - A free public information day in Kelowna celebrating Dr. Feldenkrais’ birthday

Date: May 11, 2024, 11am - 5pm PT

Instructor/speaker: Various Feldenkrais practitioners

Description: A group of Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioners^CM, led by local practitioners Sandra Bradshaw, Erica Baker, Will Cullen, Valary Chadwick, and Tanya Wishlove, are excited to announce that they are building a unique opportunity for the community of Kelowna to discover the benefits of the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education at a community event! Event is endorsed by the FGNA, offering free movement experiences, exploration and information to the public in honor of Moshe's birthday and the brilliant body of work he synthesized and created. If you know anybody in the area, please encourage them to come! (note: CORR is providing some funding to help them!)

Location: The Yoga House, Kelowna BC

What:

Awareness Through Movement® Lessons: Engage in gentle movement explorations led by local practitioners

Discussions on Principles of the Technique: Hear presentations from Feldenkrais® practitioners delving into the basics of the Awareness Through Movement® method, and some of the overlaps with other areas of study and modalities of movement exploration.

Live Functional Integration® Demonstration: Witness the power of one-on-one Feldenkrais® sessions with live demonstrations throughout the day

Host: main contact: Will Cullen, Erica Baker

Contact: willcullen.ma@gmail.com, erica.j.baker@outlook.com

Cost: FREE

Registration link: www.feldenkraishubokanagan.wordpress.com

Title:  A Path to Steadiness: Finding Stability in Challenging Times

Date:  Saturday, May 18, 2024; 9:30AM to 5:00 PM

Instructor/speaker: Feldenkrais® Trainer Dr. Jeff Haller, supported by greater Seattle area practitioners

Description:  The dominant culture tells us that pushing through when times are hard or facing physical adversity, and forcing optimism when stress is acute or chronic is the way to manage the inevitable challenges life hands us. But there's an easier, gentler way, without any forcing. Feldenkrais® trainer Dr. Jeff Haller will introduce a slow and peaceful mind-body practice to help participants release tension, enhance mobility, quiet thoughts, and connect with their body. 

Location:  Greenwood Masonic Lodge, north Seattle, WA

What:  introduction, ATM® lesson, discussion, FI® demonstration, and FI®s for participants

Host:  Yuka Iwamoto and Gail Thompson

Contact:  awareness.through.life2019@gmail.com

Cost: $65 for single entry/$99 for two entries

Registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-path-to-steadiness-finding-stability-in-challenging-times-tickets-659699497957

As many of you know, Erik LaSeur, Fariya Doc, and Nancy Haller will be leaving the FGNA Board shortly, after nine years of truly dedicated service.  

Our FGNA Board needs to fill not only their seats on the Board, but two other open seats. We also have some additional much needed volunteer positions. Without a constellation of volunteers, individuals on the Board and committees are spread very thin. Your help and expertise is needed.  The FGNA Board needs your support!

The FGNA Board and the Nominating Committee needs your support for the following positions! We are seeking volunteers for: 

The FGNA Board of Directors:

FGNA Board of Directors #6, immediately - Q3 2026

FGNA Board of Director #4, Q3 2024 – Q 2027

FGNA Board of Director #2, Q3 2025 – Q 2028

FGNA Board of Director #3, Q3 2025 – Q 2028

FGNA Board of Director #5, Q3 2025 – Q 2028

FGNA Nominating Committee The Nominating Committee generally meets for an hour twice a month February-October.)

Nominating Committee seat #3, immediately – 12/31/2025

Nominating Committee seat #2 January 1, 2025 – 12/31/2026 which begins January 2025. The Nominating Committee generally meets for an hour twice a month February-October.

PLEASE don’t let these seats dwindle! This makes it harder for those continuing to serve, as well as for new initiations and projects to begin, which affects us all. 

You are welcome to immediately apply by going online to the application. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfRGHZi1XjvEqR0rVHmD8VSENKFV-5l3pL5L9AB3w5Rc4ZsIQ/viewform

Please notify the Nominating Committee as well (see below)

As a Director you will work with other Directors to ensure the stewardship for the continued legacy of The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education. Directors at-large will meet regularly once a month for two hours, typically the last Monday of each month, with other Board members and chair a portfolio of one or more volunteer member committees. 

If you wish to attend part of a Monday FGNA Board meeting, please contact Fariya Doc, by emailing her fgnasecretary1@gmail.com.

The FGNA Board works to ensure the inclusion of diverse perspectives and seeks to foster a dynamic culture of learning, competence and professionalism amongst its member community, advancing public awareness and access to The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education. 

Show your commitment to the values of FGNA and help to shape its future. Become part of our leadership team that steers our presence with membership and the public, our affiliation with other Guilds, and our legislative voice in government relations. FGNA Members who are Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioners^CM or Certified Feldenkrais Awareness Through Movement Teachers^CM are eligible to serve as Directors. 

The FGNA Nominating Committee

Misha Forrester fgnanominating1@gmail.com

Cathy Wright fgnanominating2@gmail.com

Jane Johnson fgnanominating3@gmail.com

Katarina Halm fgnanominating4@gmail.com

What We Learned The FGNA Board of Directors approved a policy for Pilot Project ATM® Teacher Training Programs in 2000. The intent was to test the idea of providing training for people who only want to teach ATM® lessons (and not Functional Integration® lessons), so that we can learn about how, and how well, that can work. NATAB wanted to explore how to have high quality ATM®-specific training program options that result in more people teaching ATM® classes, and thus expand the reach of this remarkable work. 

The San Diego and New England ATM® Teacher Training Programs began in 2021, and were completed in 2023. NATAB’s report on the outcome of the Pilot Projects is now available here: NATAB Report on Pilot Project ATM® Teacher Training Programs. The report includes in depth information about the innovative aspects and outcomes of the training programs, as well as in-depth feedback from the educational staff and trainees. 

Our website has helpful information about Feldenkrais® professional training programs, including:

🟣links to training programs that are currently open for enrollment or in process. 

🟣what participants will learn in a Feldenkrais® training program

🟣what Feldenkrais® Practitioners know and are able to do...

🟣and more!

FGNA welcomes Maxine Sidenfaden as the new President beginning her term during the August 2024 board meeting. The board unanimously appointed Maxine to the position in our recent meeting. For nine years, Nancy Haller has been volunteering as our President. Her term ends in the third quarter of 2024. The movement forward has already begun with both Nancy and Maxine working together to create a smooth transition for the Guild. 

Maxine completed Feldenkrais Method® training in May 1999 and has maintained an active multidisciplinary somatic practice since. She has volunteered at the CORR level being both treasurer and regional representative, next serving on the FGNA board  later the FEFNA board. For many years she has been the chair of the policy committee. The policy committee has been diligently updating the policy manual and brought many of the very out of date policies into the future for our organization. She and her committee spent hundreds of hours shepherding the new CORR financial policy into completion. 

FEFNA is grateful for her commitment to the foundation and her work on the many programs that FEFNA supports. Her commitment to the work she performs allows all of the Feldenkrais® Guild to reap the benefits of all she produces.

As an opening to her other world, Maxine had an extensive career in the culinary arts, and traveled extensively. In the recent past,  she took on the director position of a large geothermal spa facility in order to update it’s operations, remodel the facilities and improve the guest experience. In addition her teams successfully increased revenues and improved the employee work environment. She is currently focused on her private practice.

She is dedicated to the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education moving forward into the future and being an active participant in the work required for FGNA to continue being a financially stable and vibrant organization. Join the Board in congratulating Maxine Sidenfaden as the upcoming FGNA President.

FGNA members are able to borrow resources from any region’s library in the FGNA .  

Link to learn how to use the InterRegion Library System https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S5CihXuqukmoud1fvNlcApMhBCzD-LUYaz0_JiMz3qM/edit?usp=sharing 

Using the IFF Sprial Logo is a privilege of FGNA membership. 

The use of the IFF logo is for current FGNA Members only. Other practitioners who are not Members do not have permission to use this logo.

FEFNA is looking for people who would like to join our board. We have many exciting ideas and are welcoming others who bring ideas and energy to expand and help grow FEFNA into a more exciting foundation promoting the Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education. Our meetings are once a month on Thursday morning for 2 hours with a bit of extra time you will spend on your special projects.

Many organizations have Foundations to provide a 501c3 tax-deductible donor a place to support their favorite method of work and assist in furthering a method to wider audiences. FEFNA is the foundation working with the Feldenkrais® Guild of North America.

We have established programs and are exploring several new ideas and projects in the coming future. Become a part of this movement forward and join our board!

If you are interested, please contact fefnasec@gmail.com and we will be in touch to invite you to join a meeting and learn more about the valuable work we are doing.

The Conference Committee is so fortunate this year to have received an abundance of proposals on “Breath”. 

The committee is in the process of making final decisions on presentations. Thanks to everyone who provided a proposal, you will be contacted very soon. 

Registration will open in late May - watch your in boxes.  

September 6, September 27, October 18

FGNA has been protecting your right to practice for over thirty years. This is only possible with the dedicated work of volunteers. To find out how you can participate, contact Government Relations Administrator Andrea Wiener: andrea.wiener@feldenkraisguild.com

If you have questions about FGNA’s Ethics program, or the process set forth in the Grievance Protocol, please contact the Ethics Committee Chair: ethics@feldenkraisguild.com