Fresh Spring Greetings
Warm, wet and wild Spring greetings to all of our members and subscribers in the eeai community! We hope that, so far, you have been joining us in welcoming the end of the Wintry cold snap and the advent of some real Spring weather. Although shifting weather patterns and a changing climate have made this weather rather erratic, the general trend, as it has been for millennia, are increasing temperatures, the onset of Summer and the empire of life and colour that Summer supports. The buds on the trees are packed and ready to blossom. Our advice to get a full appreciation for this seasonal transition? Pick a place where the changes are clear over time and try to visit it at least once per week. If you have a garden, then simply put a chair outside and watch nature awaken. A local park is also a great option. It is a momentous time for the natural world for many reasons, good and bad, and so now is a time that warrants reflection and appreciation. The more time we, human beings, spend in natural settings, the deeper our connection with it will become and the stronger will become our resolve to defend our natural heritage against the dangers that threaten it.
Changes in the eeai
In keeping with the seasonal change, this is also a momentous time for the eeai as it moves into a new phase of development. There has been a significant reshuffling of personnel on the interim committee and, while this is a natural and necessary part of life, it is still sad to see people go. And so it is with heavy hearts but fond affection and respect that we bid farewell to the eeai’s co-founders, David Staunton and Ger Byrne, two people of excellence within the eeai. This will be covered more in a farewell message from Rob Lewis, our new Chairman, but here’s a summary; David was, in fact, the driving force behind the eeai’s formation in the first place and is one of the longest serving and most experienced practitioners of Wild Therapy in Ireland. He has been serving as the Chair of the eeai Interim Committee since its inception as well as Communications Coordinator, Ethics Coordinator and Client/Service Users Coordinator. Ger Byrne has been the Creative Coordinator for the same period and has been invaluable in establishing and managing the eeai’s online presence. Our thanks are extended to them for leaving us such a glorious legacy and we, here at the eeai, will miss them but will also do our best to carry the torch forward (so to speak).
While this is sad news, we must also welcome the fact that a change in personnel gives us a chance to welcome new ideas, new people and new energy into the fold. We are, therefore, delighted that our very own Rob Lewis will be stepping into the role of Interim Committee Chairperson and Communications Officer. Rob is also supplying the eeai Bio for this season’s newsletter. Aidan Ring will step into the position of Creative Coordinator.
Changes in Membership Eligibility
In other news, we are delighted to announce that, from now on, we will be accepting applications for membership from practitioners accredited with the Irish Association of Creative Therapists (IACAT). As such, we are very excited to extend a warm (and damp) welcome this Spring to IACAT accredited members!
In terms of our own continuing commitment to Research & Development here at the eeai, we are delighted to continue our themed series, ‘Gifts from the Natural World’, which aims to highlight some of the potential health benefits that specific aspects of nature have for human beings. The second piece, by our Newsletter Coordinator Aidan, explores humanity’s relationship with trees, why we need them and what we can learn from them.
We hope you enjoy the Spring Newsletter, and the associated season, as we look forward to nurturing the eeai through this new phase of its development. As with the shifting patterns of weather and growth provoked by Springtime, we find inspiration in the world of possibilities that are unveiled by newness and change. These are interesting, yet exciting times. We enthusiastically anticipate working with and for many of our new eeai members and subscribers in the future while not forgetting the ones that have been so influential in getting us to this point. Thank you to all of you!
The Team.
eeai | Interim Committee