Dear members and subscribers.
Warm Solstice and Christmas greetings to you all.We hope this finds you well and looking forward to a break over this season.
As many of you will know,in the absence of anyone from within the membership of the organisation coming forward to take up the position of Chair in March 2021, the EEAIwas placed on very shaky ground legally and constitutionally.Accordingly the governance group established a listening process with the membership to decide how to move forward.
• While this process was going on (details below)the organisation has relied heavily on the goodwill and interest of many members who have kept the work of membership requests, social media and newsletters in train. We are deeply grateful to everyone who participated in this joint effort to keep the best of the EEAI alive and who were available to the wider public while we have been in transition. Particular thanksto those who are stepping back from some of their roles at this point. Rob Lewis who acted as Chair until March 2021. Joanne Hanrahan who liased with new and existing members during this period, Helena Gleeson who was a member of the social media team and Catherine Rountree who worked as part of the Governance group until 1st November 2021. Thank you to each of you for your hours of work which is much appreciated.
The listening process itself involved 3 listening sessions over the summer of 2021 via Zoom and a weekend gathering in August of 2021 in Ferbane Co Offaly. All members were invited to take part in this process and 18 members engaged actively in the listening while 9 gathered over 3 days in Offaly. The following are the outcomes of that process.
1) To form a network which reflects the diverse group of practitioners within this group, remove the existing two -tiered membership system and give equal value to all practitioners. Let go the existing structure of EEAI which bears onerous legal and revenue expectations and does not meet our existing needs. Suspend membership fees for now.
2) Gather the community of practitioners together annually which becomes the meeting place for all existing and new members. This was requested repeatedly throughout the listening process. This gathering will provide a space where members can meet, learn from each other, discuss how we work, network, receive input and ideas as to how we can together find a healing path with the earth. It is hoped that over time these gatherings will enable the membership to support, encourage,resourceand shape a community and structure which meets arising needs. 3 members have kindly come forward to organise the gathering in 2022 which we hope will take place over the summer. They are Margaret Brady, Jennie Quinn and Anna Fiona Keogh. Please give them all the support they need to do this work on our behalf and watch this space for updates!
3) A new website has been created which reflects this emerging network and members have voted to find a new name. The website is now:
www.ecotherapynetwork.ie and the new name is Ecotherapy Network Ireland.
4) Regional groups who wish to gather regularly will be encouraged /coordinated by existing active members who are committed to self-organising.
5) A disclaimer is placed on the website and all practitioners are requested to sign a declaration of conduct that they will abide by.Members will receive correspondence regarding this in January 2022.
The network can be contacted at info@ecotherapynetwork.ie
In order to provide consistency and continuation the existing governance group of Ruairi Osborne and Therese O’ Driscoll will continue to nurture the work of the gathering. Others who have also agreed to act as nurturers until the next gathering are as follows;
Social Media AilbheHines and Sarah Hourigan
Newsletter Conn Barry and Corey Rothwell
Webmaster Aidan Ring
Membership Matthew Henson
We very much look forward to being part of this network going into 2022 and invite all interested parties to join and be a part of this exciting emergent group.
Sincerely
TOD and RO.