3.1    Approach

PHANA is being launched as an entirely voluntary association.  Members join because they see benefit in doing so, not because they are required to do so.  The principal practical focus of the initial version of PHANA is the creation and maintenance of a public Register of Pathwork Helpers, that – as already noted – was the task that survey respondents most wanted PHANA to undertake.  The Register publicizes fully accredited practitioners, helping to promote their practices.  The Register parallels similar registers maintained in a wide variety of professional fields.

For practical reasons, the initial version of PHANA has to be very simple and low-cost.  The initial version will be developed further later in response to the needs and wishes of the membership and of the wider Pathwork community.  Following this approach, membership in the initial version of PHANA be limited to US/Canadian Pathwork Helpers and Apprentice Helpers.

 In choosing this minimalist and step-by-step approach to setting up PHANA, we were considerably influenced by a combination of several factors, including:

1. The success of the initial launch depends upon Helpers, Apprentices, and Counselors accepting Council’s invitation to join.  For maximum acceptance, the invitation and the proposed concept of PHANA need to be as simple as possible.

2. The need for PHANA to be financially self-sufficient.  Coupled with the small number of potential PHANA members (see Section 4.1 below), this factor favors minimizing costs and setting up a minimum size organization.  

3. The difficulty of making estimates in advance of invitations being issued and the receipt of membership fees.  This favors moving in small steps.

4. As a small and nascent organization starting on a very small budget, PHANA needs to phase its work.  For example, practical reasons force it to concentrate initially on inviting Helpers, Apprentices, and Counselors to join, and to develop and fill additional membership categories in later phases.  Similar reasons push to a later phase any substantial work relating to training programs.  

Once invitations have been issued and membership fees have been received, we will be able to see the financial picture more clearly, and will be able to plan with greater certainty.

Section 3.2 below details launch preparations made to date.

 

3.2    Launch Preparations Already Completed

 

Much preparatory work has been done since the creation of PHANA Council in June 1999.  The following are the latest launch preparations to have been completed:

• Submission of the October 30/01 version of the PHANA Launch Proposal  to the Foundation Board.

• Incorporation of revisions into a December 11/01 version of the PHANA Launch Proposal.  77 printed copies of this Proposal  were mailed on December 11 with a cover letter to Helpers, Regional Board members in US/Canadian Pathwork Regions and Chapters, and the Foundation Board.  A combination of email and the Web was used to extend consultation to a further 49 US and Canadian Helpers.

• Updating of PHANA Council files of Helper and Apprentice Helper contact information needed for issuing invitations to join PHANA.

• Incorporation of December 2001 consultation comments into the present PHANA Launch document.

• Sending the proposed launch invitation list for review by the Foundation Board.

• Council and Foundation agreement of the documents and procedure to be used in the launch.

3.3     Launch Documents

 

The launch involves the following principal documents:

1. The invitation package that is to be sent by regular mail to US/Canadian Pathwork Helpers and Apprentice Helpers.  Appendix 1 shows the components of this package:

• Letter of Invitation

• “PHANA Launch – in Brief.”   This is enclosed within the same envelope as a separate sheet.  This arrangement enables the Letter of Invitation to be shorter and more focused.

• Application Form.

2. “PHANA Launch.”  This is the present master launch document which also exists in MS Word/RTF and print versions.  It is referred to in the “PHANA Launch – in Brief” text.  This arrangement enables PHANA members and potential members to access comprehensive information on the association and its launch.  As noted in the PHANA Launch – In Brief text, people without access to the web can request printed information.

3. Register information Request.  It is necessary to collect most Register information separately from the Application Form in order to keep the Application Form and procedure adequately simple.  For example, the design of the Register includes space for registrants to write and submit up to 80 words to be included in their Register entry.  It is advisable to obtain this registrant-supplied information separately – so that people can more easily complete their Application Forms and send them in.

 

3.4    Launch Procedure

The initial launch includes the following steps:

• The Invitation Package itemized in Section 3.3. above is sent out by regular mail to US/Canadian Pathwork Helpers and Apprentice Helpers.

Each person wishing to join PHANA is invited to do so in one of two categories:  (a) Pathwork Helper, (b) Apprentice Pathwork Helper.  Applicants complete the Application Form and return it to the Foundation Office.  As can be seen in the form, applicants are asked to review a set of membership/registration criteria, and to indicate any criteria which they do not meet/accept.  The criteria are based on the views expressed by respondents to the 1999-2000 survey of US/Canadian Pathwork Helpers and Counselors.  Applicants not meeting/accepting all the criteria can still apply.  These applications are considered by Council on a case-by-case basis.

• Member applications and checks are received by the Foundation Office.  The Foundation Office files checks included with applications and relays application forms to the Coordinator.

• The Coordinator acknowledges the application and consults with PHANA Council.  Following this consultation, he contacts successful applicants, letting them know of the success or their application, and asks them for additional information needed for insertion in the Register (Register Information Request).  He creates entries in the Register of Pathwork Helpers and the Members Directory, and informs members so that they can verify that their entries are correct.  In the (rare) case of unsuccessful applications, the Coordinator contacts the unsuccessful applicant giving Council’s reasons, and arranges for the applicant's check to be returned.

 

3.5     Potential Post-Launch Steps

Following the launch, PHANA Council and the Foundation will review the situation and decide on next steps.

Potential further steps include:

• The creation of a Register of Pathwork Training Programs, including both Helper Training Programs and Pathwork Transformation Programs.  This register would complement the Register of Pathwork Helpers by listing the training programs that are pre-approved to qualify Pathwork Helpers.  An initial prototype of the Register of Pathwork Training Programs is up on the PHANA web site.  Please click here to see this prototype.

• The creation of additional membership categories and the issuing of additional invitations associated with these categories.  Four potential additional categories are: (a) Pathwork Counselors, (b) Trainee Helpers, (c) Trainee Counselors, and (d) Overseas Helpers.

• The provision of member services - e.g. web and email services identified by survey respondents and noted in Section 2 above.

• The formation of a Helpers Council.  This would likely entail a nomination process – and an election if there are more nominations than positions to be filled.

• The development of procedures to assist people not associated with existing Regions to qualify for PHANA membership and entry in the Register.  This development will be done in consultation with the Foundation Board and the Pathwork Regions.

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• Home Page

PHANA Launch Document Links:

•   Detailed Contents Page

•  1. Overview

•  2. Why Set Up PHANA?

•  3. The Initial Launch

•  4. Financial Estimates

•  5. Register of Pathwork Helpers

•  6. Members Directory

Appendix 1 - Draft Invitation Package:

•  1.1: Letter of Invitation

•  1.2: PHANA Launch - In Brief

•  1.3: Application Form

Appendix 2 - Register Information Request

 

Latest Revision: March 1/02