AWB Newsletter 9-2007
Acupuncturists Without Borders
E-Newsletter
September, 2007
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| Why the Veteran's Project Fits into AWB's Mission and Goals |
Practicing skills at an AWB Training
An Important Message from Mary Chaney, AWB Board Chair
AWB
was created as a result of an amazing grass roots process after
Hurricane Katrina. Practitioners from all over the country responded to
Diana Fried's call to take acupuncture to help the people in New
Orleans. Many generously offered their skills, hearts, and resources to
help in the healing of the local communities. Those that came lived in
chaotic and often primitive conditions and responded with creativity
and flexibility to the ever changing environment. It was an amazing
collaborative effort and a very effective model for treating in these
conditions was developed.
At the time, we accepted most everyone
who wanted to come and help. Most acupuncturists are more familiar
with working alone in private practices than with working together in
teams in crisis situations. Some who came to help weren't prepared for
what they encountered and needed skills they didn't have. So we
designed trainings to introduce folks to the program we are going to
implement wherever we go. The training is about creating a strong core
network of acupuncturists capable of working with people in times of
disaster and trauma.
IF you are going to run an operation in
the field, you need to be able to do community organizing. This
involves among other things:
· Knowing how to scrounge for funds and locations,
· Knowing how to deal with the local bureaucracies,
· Being able to connect with the people in the community,
· Being comfortable talking about the program with the media and local officials,
· Knowing how to be an effective team leader or group member,
· Knowing how to work with group dynamics.
This is the essence of grass roots service work.
Click here to read the rest of Mary's letter.
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Get Inolved with AWB!
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We Need Your Help Now!
We
are doing a fundraising campaign to support our Veterans Project and
our organization. We need help from those who want to see AWB grow and
flourish. If you would like to send 10 of our direct mail letters to
your family, friends and/or clients, please email marychaney@gwi.net
and she will send you a packet with 10 letters, reply forms and
envelopes - all you need to do is add a little personal note and mail
the letters. We really appreciate your help with this effort.
Spread
the word about AWB by adding a link to AWB on your website. If you
have trouble adding a link, please feel free to contact us at
info@acuwithoutborders.org.
Check out the donor page on the AWB website and support the companies that have so generously supported AWB's work.
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Veterans Program Updates
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The
Veterans Program is moving along and is looking full of promise. The
Albuquerque pilot clinic continues to draw a small and committed crowd
week after week, individuals around the country are paricipating in
conference calls and planning activities to get their own local
community clinics up and running, and AWB is actively fundraising to
keep the momentum of this important project supported with funds. Here
are a few updates from AWB crew.
Treatment at the Albuquerque Veterans Clinic
- We
are ready to work with individuals interested in opening Veterans
clinics in their local communities. Materials and support are
available. Email veterans@acuwithoutborders.org to find out how you
can get your clinic started!
- Acupuncturists
around the country are holding Community Acupuncture Events during the
week of Veterans Day in November to help raise critial funding for the
program. Promote your practice, educate your community about the power
of acupuncture and support AWB by holding an event in your area. AWB
will provide you with flyers, instructions, press releases and more!
Email info@acuwithoutborders.org to get your community acupuncture
packet.
- Check out these recent news stories about Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Harlem "Acupuncturists Remember Katrina" Event a Huge Success!
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 On
August 19th, Dr. Robert Woodbine and an assembled team of AWB
supporters raised over $1200.00 for AWB during Harlem Day. For those
whom were there, it was a day full of activity along 135th Street in
spite of the overcast and rainy day.
The group raised a total
of $1,271.25 to support the efforts of Acupuncturists Without Borders
to implement its Phase III Plan to return to New Orleans to continue
their work! 240 people signed up on their registration sheets during
the seven hours the event was taking place. The group provided
community acupuncture treatments to over 200 individuals while raising
donations for AWB.
AWB would like to thank Dr. Robert Woodbine
and the core group that helped to organize this event -- Julia Bennett,
Aswad Foster, Nkaassaa Render, Douglas Mannigault, Stephen Campbell,
Dumisani Kambi-Shamba, and Bishara Wilson. Thank You for your support!
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Other News In AWB
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- We are happy to welcome our new part-time staff member Gretchen Lorenson to
the AWB team. Gretchen is a student at Southwest Acupuncture College
in Albuquerque with a variety of non-profit experience and a strong
commitment to providing community healthcare. Gretchen has already
been instrumental in the implementation of the Veterans Program and we
are so happy to have her on board! We are working on raising funds so
we can keep Gretchen on staff doing essential work for AWB.
- We
would like to thank the graduating students of Southwest Acupuncture
College in Santa Fe for their generous donation to AWB and their
enthusiastic support. We were honored to be recognized at their
graduation ceremony on August 12, 2007 in Santa Fe.
· October 13-14, 2007: Chicago IL (registration is
open)
· November 17-18, 2007: Portland, ME (registration is open)
· January 26-27, 2008: Miami, FL
· April 19-20, 2008: Phoenix, AZ
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Diana Fried, Executive Director
and the Acupuncturists Without Borders Team
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