Minutes June 2000

Present at all sessions: Maraiel Ruth (Chair), Roddy Duchesne (Secretary), Jan Rigsby.
Present June 26 to 10 am June 27, plus in-person review of draft minutes: Jeff Fishel.
Absent: Donna Evans-Strauss, Gene Humphrey, Irene Koenig, Catherine Nelson, Cynthia Schwartzberg.

“Region” is used in this document in place of the word “Affiliate” in these minutes because “region” is understood more readily by most people. For brevity, “Helper, etc.” is used in place of “Helpers, Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors.” All dates are in the year 2000, unless specifically marked otherwise.

Maraiel indicated her wish to pass the position of Administrator to another member of the Council, while remaining a member of the Council. Roddy indicated that he would be willing to accept this position, subject to Foundation approval of the Council’s projected program of activities, its projected budget, and to Foundation agreement to his taking the position. He expressed his intention to assist the Council to move into a more proactive phase of work, and suggested that the title of the position be changed from “administrator “ to “coordinator.“

Council discussed its mode of operation, including the need for it to become financially self-supporting. The latter need implies reducing Council expenses to a level that can be covered by PHANA membership fees. In order to reduce its expenses to this level while remaining as inclusive as possible, Council decided to adopt a two-tier membership structure. Council will attempt to limit its central membership category (“voting members”) to 6 people, who will hopefully include representatives of the main North American regions. The voting members will be eligible for reimbursement for travel and accommodation relating to annual Council meetings.

In the interests of accommodating the views of a wider circle of people interested in the work of the Council, the Council will have a second category of members (“corresponding members”). Corresponding members will be included in Council e-mail communications. Jan volunteered to be a corresponding member.

We will contact each of the absent Council members listed above to arrive at a 2000/2001 Council membership agreed by all concerned.

Draft minutes will be sent to all current Council members, who will be asked to provide their comments within two weeks.

Maraiel: Call absent PHANA members by July 6.
Roddy: Send draft minutes following Maraiel’s completion of contacts with absent PHANA members.

MISSION & MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT

Council reviewed previous suggestions concerning the PHANA mission and membership, chiefly Susan Thesenga’s suggestions made in 1999, and the letter sent out with the Helpers’ questionnaire. Council felt that it needs to develop a more definitive statement, for which it will seek the Foundation Board’s approval. This statement will include PHANA Council’s relationship with the Pathwork Foundation and any other relevant Foundation committees (e.g. the Ad Hoc Regional Committee). The statement will also specify the minimum and maximum sizes of the Council’s membership, and the main factors influencing the choice of members (e.g. the desirability of including representatives of the main US/Canadian regions).

Council noted that part of PHANA’s mission relates to all Pathwork Regions, Chapters, and Informal Groups in North America, specifically the creation and maintenance of a Register of Pathwork Helpers, Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors in North America. Otherwise, PHANA’s mission is extra-regional, specifically its responsibilities for the resolution of issues and for handling queries. Where Helpers, etc. are within an existing Pathwork region, they should seek resolution within their respective regions. PHANA’s responsibilities with respect to issues and queries are limited to those coming from Helpers, etc. outside established regions. A potential exception relates to Helpers, etc. who wish to work independently of the region within which they are located. Such Helpers, etc. may bring issues and queries to PHANA Council, who will attempt to assist in resolution.

Membership in PHANA is open to Pathwork Helpers defined in the section below entitled “Helpers’ Criteria.” PHANA membership is also open to Pathwork Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors who are current and in good standing in relation to the requirements of their respective regions.

Council also discussed whether Lecture Study Teachers could be members of PHANA. It noted that, where Regions offer training that qualifies these Teachers, these training programs are not currently sufficiently substantial to merit inclusion (at this time) of these Lecture Study Teachers in the Register of Pathwork Helpers, Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors.

Jeff suggested that PHANA develop a proposal to create arrangements for the training and supervision of people facilitating and leading entry-level Pathwork lecture study groups. The concept is directed towards assisting the growth of the Pathwork in areas outside existing regions. However, it is possible that the concept could also be applied within existing regions, for example areas that are so remote that they lie beyond easy reach by a region’s Helpers etc. Council discussed Jeff’s suggestion and considered that it had considerable merit and should be included in future PHANA Council plans, after Council work on the Helpers, etc. Register is sufficiently advanced.

ACTION: Jeff. Circulate to Council an outline proposal to create arrangements for the training and supervision of people facilitating and leading entry-level Pathwork lecture study Groups. Timescale: November 30.

Council also discussed the extent of its responsibilities outside the US. The consensus was that its immediate responsibilities are limited to the US and Canada. In a worldwide context, PHANA can pioneer arrangements for the US and Canada that other areas of the world (e.g. Latin America and Europe) can tailor for use in their areas. Mexico is a special case. Mexican Helpers might choose at some point to associate with PHANA, or might choose to associate with a Latin American Helpers’ Association. PHANA Council will consider applications by Helpers, etc located outside the US and Canada to be corresponding members. Inevitably, there will be practical limits to Council’s ability to accept these applications. For example, Council business communications and documents will be in only the English language. Also, Council cannot allow overseas queries to drain too much effort away from its essential and priority US/Canada projects.

Council noted the following criteria, based on responses to the Helpers’ questionnaire.

If exceptions to the above are sought by individual Helpers, these Helpers should bring these exceptions to the attention of their governing region, or to the PHANA Council where either the Helper has no governing region, or feels unable to achieve sufficient rapport/agreement with his/her region.

QUESTIONNAIRE RESULTS

The Council reviewed the 46 responses received to the 85 questionnaires that were distributed: a response rate of 54%. The principal conclusion was that there is support for a voluntary Register of Helpers, Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors. It was noted that most respondents would be willing to pay a fee that is graduated according to their income. The minimum fee indicated was $25 and the maximum was $200.

However, there is also a need to try to determine why 39 (46%) of questionnaire recipients did not respond, and if these people hold particular views that need to be reflected in the Council’s program of action. Council will attempt to contact at least a sample of the non-respondents to make this determination.

The basic concept and rationale of the PHANA register are similar to those of registers maintained by professional organizations in a very wide range of fields, e.g. psychology, medicine, marital and family therapy. A basic requirement of professions in many fields is to maintain a register of accredited professionals who are currently practicing and are in good standing. Registers of this type enhance and support the credibility of the profession as a whole as well as of the individuals whose names and other information appear in the register.

Inclusion in the PHANA register will be entirely voluntary. Helpers, etc. will choose to have themselves included on the register because they see benefit in doing so. Individual Helpers, etc. can elect not to be included in the register without any penalty other than that they will forego the benefits of being included in the register. Council noted the following main benefits:

The register will contain information for all Pathwork Helpers who (a) meet the criteria listed above in the section entitled “Helpers’ Criteria,” and (b) have a currently paid up PHANA membership subscription.

In addition, the register will contain information for all Pathwork Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors, who (a) are current and in good standing in relation to the requirements of their region, and (b) have a currently paid up PHANA membership subscription.

Council discussed stages in the development and implementation of the registry. It was decided that a letter will be sent to potential registrants not later than mid-August, proposing details of the register. Following a feedback period, a further letter will be sent inviting registration and asking for payment of fees. The subscription year will be standard for all registrants. Provided that initial arrangements can be made in time, the initial registration year will run from January to December, 2001.

Actions and their timing are spelled out in the section below entitled “Action Plan to February 15, 2001.”

Revenue

The following revenue budget was estimated for the period June 2000 to June 2001.

PHANA needs money to cover administration, directory keyboarding, maintenance, printing, distribution, copying costs, telephone/fax, and travel costs for one meeting within the year.

The following expense budget was proposed for the period June 2000 to June 2001:

The following membership fees were proposed, with the option of individual Helpers, etc. giving more or less than the fee suggested for their individual income level.

VERMONT

Council reviewed questions submitted by Sahra Aschenbach. Roddy Duchesne was delegated to communicate with both Sahra Aschenbach and Judith Garten to work out ways that address Vermont and Foundation interests in a positive and satisfactory manner.

ACTION: Roddy. Time Period: Initial call within 1 week. Proposal for resolution by August 31.

Jeff provided an update on the situation in Chicago. Chicago lies outside existing regions and has experienced some difficulties. Jeff will explore if PHANA can be of any assistance.

ACTION: Jeff. Time Period: Initial contact by July 31. Email report to Council September 30.

At this point in its work (11 am June 27), Council met with the Foundation Board. Separate minutes were recorded for this joint Council/Board meeting by Christine Castle, who acted as the Board’s secretary. Because of its specific relevance, one point made in this joint meeting is recorded in the next section (“PTP & HTP trainings & curricula”).

The Foundation Board stated that they will be asking Sagewalker to provide details of her Helpership training program to the Council of PHANA. With respect to Helpership and PTP trainings, two particular concerns were expressed in this joint Foundation Board/PHANA Council meeting. One of these concerns was the desirability of having more than one Helper being involved in all PTP & HTP training programs. The other concern was to take into account the impact of any precedents that might be set in the wider national and international contexts. For example, if Helpership training responsibilities are delegated carte blanche to individual Helpers in North America, Helpers in other areas of the world (e.g. Latin America, Europe) will expect similar delegation in their areas.

Council continued its work following the joint Foundation Board/Council meeting. The text from this point on relates solely to Council work.

Council reviewed curricula that had been gathered to date. Jan will create a report in the next 3 months based on information obtained from the main regions and any additional information she can obtain. This will be a comparative report on PTP and HTP programs in the US and Canada.

The following is a summary of the main action plan items identified by Council in this meeting.

Action		Persons Chiefly Responsible	Completion Dates
1	Contact Sahra Aschenbach re Vermont questions.	Roddy	June 23
2	Oral Foundation approval in principle for program, budget, transfer of chair.	Maraiel/Foundation President, cc. Roddy	June 30
3	Contact/consult with absent Council members.	Maraiel	July 6
4	Send out draft minutes of Council meeting. Comments requested to be returned within two weeks.	Roddy	July 7
5	Written Foundation authorization to proceed, with Foundation guidance, objections, caveats, suggestions, revisions.	Foundation President/Roddy, cc Maraiel	July 14
6	Complete transfer of documents/info to new coordinator.	Maraiel/Roddy	July 15
7	Complete 1st draft of PHANA mission/membership statement.	Maraiel, Jan	July 15
8	Foundation communication with Sagewalker re nascent Toronto Helpership training program.	Foundation	At discretion of Foundation
9	Submit brief Pathwords International article re PHANA.	Jan, Maraiel, Roddy	July 31
10	Circulate (a) Questionnaire results, (b) Initial Proposal for the Register, (c) Mission/membership statement to Council & Foundation President, (d) final minutes incorporating revisions.	Roddy, Maraiel	July 31
11	Initial contact with Chicago to see if PHANA can provide assistance	Jeff	By July 31
12	Finalize 2000/2001 Council voting membership, taking into account results of consultation with absent members, and contacts with the main US/Canada regions otherwise unrepresented.	Maraiel, Roddy	August 15
13	Proposal to Council re issues raised by Vermont	Roddy	August 31
14	Informal email (progress) report to Council on consultations with sample non-respondent Helpers.	Jeff	September 8
15	Circulate Initial Proposal for the Register (incorporating Council/Foundation revisions) to all known US/Canadian Helpers, Apprentices, Trainees, and Counselors. Feedback invited by October 13.	Roddy	September 15
16	Email informal report to PHANA Council re Chicago situation.	Jeff	By Sept. 30
17	Comparative report to Council on PTP & HTP curricula.	Jan	October 20
18	Circular inviting Helpers, etc. to join PHANA and submit bio info for the Register. This circular incorporates feedback received on the Initial Proposal circulated on September 15.	Roddy	October 30
19	Circulate to Council an outline proposal to create arrangements for the training and supervision of people facilitating and leading entry-level Pathwork lecture study Groups.	Jeff	November 30
20	Wider circulation of report on PTP & HTP curricula, incorporating revisions, comments by Council members, in particular members of regions whose programs are covered in the report	Jan	November 30
21	Initial deadline for Register bio information.	Roddy	December 1
22	Complete keyboarding of initial Register information.	Maraiel, Roddy	December 31
23	Complete web posting of Register.	Roddy	January 31
24	Complete circulation of locally printable version of Register to those who can/wish to receive this. Mode to be determined. The file might be emailed as a printable MS Word or Adobe Acrobat Email attachment.	Roddy	January 31
25	Complete mailing of printed version of Register to PHANA members wishing to receive this.	Roddy	February 15

LONGER TERM WORK ITEMS

Priorities were not assigned with respect to the above items. However, Council felt that (unless strong contrary views are expressed by the Foundation and the community) the code of ethics merits a lower priority than the other three items.

Membership income:
Helper subscriptions equivalent to 30 Helpers @ $100	$3000
Apprentice, Trainee, Counselor subscriptions equivalent to 50 @ $25	$1250

Unspent funds from 1999/2000 budget year	$4210

Total income for 2000/2001 year	$8460

Working Coordinator, including registry creation and maintenance.	$5000
Travel: one Council meeting for the year, estimated as follows: Room & board for 5 @ $180 = $900 Air travel, cabs/shuttles for 5 @ $300 = $1500 The above assumes that the meeting takes place on the home territory of 1 Council member who therefore does not travel or need room. A figure of $40 board is included for this member.	$2440
Incidentals, including telephone, copying, web site fees, directory mailing	$1000

Total expenses for 2000/2001 year	$8440

Income Level	Suggested Fee
Less than $20,000	$25
Over $20,000, and less than $30,000	$50
Over $30,000 and less than $45,000	$75
Over $45,000 and less than $60,000	$100
Over $60,000 and less than $75,000	$150
Over $75,000	$200