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Archive Number 3828

Date: Thu, 17 Jun 2004 11:45:13 EDT
From: Meg Gilman
Subject: HSA Preconference 2004 Presenter Changes


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***HSA Preconference 2004 Presenter Changes***

"Who are you?" said the Caterpillar. . . .
"I--I hardly know, Sir, just at present," Alice replied rather shyly,
"at least I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I
must have changed several times since then."
--Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

This year's HSA Preconference has been full of surprises and lessons in
patience, adaptability and opening to the flow. We are Alice and it has been quite
a journey.

Both of our announced HSA Preconference presenters have reluctantly had to
cancel for personal or family health issues. While our program has changed, it
still promises to be a fulfilling preconference. Our new presenters are skilled
and experienced storytellers with incredible backgounds and a wealth of
experience, and we hope you all are willing to make this transition with us.


Nancy Duncan is unable to present at the HSA Preconference on July 7, and has
requested that Cynthia Changaris serve as her replacement for the "Power
Stories: The Roots of Healing" workshop. Last summer, Cynthia worked closely with
Nancy Duncan as her associate in the presenting of the "Finding Your Power
Story" workshop at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Cynthia will present the
same workshop as described in the HSA newsletter and the NSN brochure and will
be assisted by Gail Rosen.


Power Stories: The Roots of Healing - developed by Nancy Duncan, presented by
Cynthia Changaris

Cynthia's workshop will address the power of personal story as a form of
communicating and healing, beginning with basic tools for finding material from
our own lives and for developing and shaping personal story, and exploring the
relationship between humor and trauma. Participants will then have an
opportunity to work with partners to develop a personal story. Through experiencing the
process, participants will discover ways to use personal story in many
healing environments.

Throughout it all, Cynthia encourages us to "be prepared to laugh as much as
you might think you'd cry in this sensitive yet rollicking adventure with
story."

(An article by Nancy Duncan about the "Power Stories" workshop developed by
Nancy is in the spring issue of the HSA newsletter.)


Cynthia Changaris of Louisville, KY has a BS in Nursing and MS in Family
Health/Nurse Practitionership. She co-produces (with Mary Hamilton) an ongoing
"story-coaching retreat" called "WOW or Work on Your Work". Since 1985, she has
raised 3 sons, worked intensively with children with learning disabilities,
taught preschool music, developed a story business partnership with Mary Hamilton
called "Scheherazade's Legacy'" and focused on her career as a professional
storyteller.

Cynthia was a first recipient of the Indiana Storytelling Arts Frank Basille
Fellowship, to support the development of new works, and presented on
"Storytelling, Health and Nursing" and she presented a commissioned work, supported by
the Indiana Historical Society and Storytelling Arts of Indiana on "Alice
Hamilton: A Pioneer in Industrial Medicine and Health".


Gay Ducey will be presenting "Risks and Roses: Stories about Social Change".
Alexander MacKenzie is not able to attend the preconference, and Gay has
graciously offered to present a thought-provoking, stimulating and timely
workshop.

Risks and Roses: Stories about Social Change - Gay Ducey

From the street theater of the 60s to monologues of Korean American, Margaret
Cho, stories continue to march in the grand parade for social change. It is
important work, for community health depends upon it.

During this day of exploration and celebration of storytelling in service to
social issues, we will step into the line ourselves. Using the tools of
storytellers and gadflies of every epoch, humor, empathy and transformation, we will
explore adaptable, effective ways to develop stories of social justice and
issues.

Along the parade route we will pause to share our own stories of class
distinctions, cultural divides, privilege and want. Our personal stories help us to
see the progression from understanding to action. Other story genres are
fruitful as well. We will explore the relevance of historical stories of struggle
in today's restless, forgetful world. Traditional stories are replete with
lessons of fairness and an open heart, and we will identify the strengths of these
ancient stories as witnesses to contemporary
issues.

Stereotypes about social justice tales are legion. We will puncture several,
including the assumption that each story must be served up with a side dish of
guilt. And we will not overlook the pitfalls that can send even a righteous
tale tumbling down.

Our work will be personal, collegial and collective. Plenty of opportunities
to tell and to listen. Participants should bring the following: a generous
spirit and tools for fracturing categories, especially one's own.

Remember, as Emma Goldman said: "If I can't dance, it's not my revolution."



Gay Ducey has been a featured storyteller at the National Storytelling
Festival as well as a guest storyteller on Mr. Rogers Neighborhood! Gay's
storytelling repertoire is eclectic, reflecting today's diverse society, and includes
traditional tales from world folklore as well as historical, personal and family
material.

She is the former Chairperson of the National Association for the
Preservation and Perpetuation of Storytelling and the 2001 recipient of the Oracle Award
for Distinguished National Service in Storytelling. She was also commissioned
by the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of American History to develop and
present a story on women in the American labor movement. That piece, along with
others, forms her one-woman show "Union Maid: Stories from America's Women at
Work". She is currently writing a book, with co-author Milbre Burch, on
traditional tales of mothers and motherhood.

Gay grew up in New Orleans and lives in Berkeley California. She enjoys
telling stories from a wide range of cultures and traditions, as well as personal
and family stories from her Southern heritage. She is particularly interested
in stories that promote tolerance.


Cynthia and Gay will be joining Gail Rosen in the Tues evening concert on
July 6 from 7-9 pm.

NSN is no longer accepting preregistrations, but on-site registrations are
welcome!

If you have questions about these program changes, please contact Meg Gilman
at meggart@aol.com, or 603-433-8578.

We hope you will find these workshops enticing and will join us at the HSA
Preconference in Bellingham. We look forward to seeing you there!

best,
Meg

Meg Gilman, HSA Executive Committee member
HSA website:
http://www.healingstory.org
meggart@aol.com
272 Newcastle Ave
Portsmouth, NH 03801
603-433-8578

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