Teaching Members of the AT Affiliated Societies (AMMAS) My experiences as Chair, by Belinda May

My experiences as Chair

By Belinda May

At the next AGM I will be finishing my term as Chair, and I thought I would write a few notes about my experiences. I took on the role with excitement and trepidation as I hadn’t worked in business before, but I had a desire and interest in helping to professionalise our society and get the Alexander Technique more prominent in the public’s minds. What I did have was my experiences in life, many and varied from being a driving instructor to graphic designer, from mother to cook; and as an AT teacher both in private practice and at the Bristol School. I have had to learn skills which have been really useful in my own AT business. I have learned about the importance of strategy, policies and training, finance and many of the other aspects of running a membership society. I am continually amazed at how much is going on ‘behind the scenes’ to support the members and the future of the Technique. The breadth of work is wide, ranging from training to marketing, government requirements and communicating with AT Affiliated Societies. At times during my time on Council and as Chair I have I found it tough, a real challenge, but there have always been people to support me. I have, however also found it a rewarding time and life changing. I have had to use my AT skills on many occasions such as when chairing meetings, especially the AGM, and I found I can do it. My confidence has grown and with it my ability to make choices in life that I would not perhaps have previously made. My business as an AT teacher has benefited through the knowledge and new skills I have learned. I have met many more teachers and wonderful people and really enjoyed working as a team with the office and Council. If you feel joining Council may be something you would be interested in, could do or wish just to ask some questions, please contact me or Ilia via the office email. We are particularly looking for members who can offer skills in finance/accounting or media. It would be lovely to hear from you.

Editor’s note: We would like to express our apologies to Belinda and readers for the appearance of this article on p3 (“From the Chair”) in the January print edition of STATnews and in an early version of the online edition - an error on our part. The correct version is now on p3 of this (online) edition and a loose-leaf insert included with the print edition.

Mouritz

www.mouritz.org

Irene Tasker – Her Life and Work with the Alexander Technique

by Regina Stratil

Irene Tasker (1887–1977) was a pioneer teacher of the Alexander Technique, and a trusted assistant to F. M. Alexander for many years.

This is the fi rst biography of Irene Tasker and is based upon the research and study of primary sources. The book casts new light on the history of the Alexander Technique.

Hardback. 480 pages. €40.00

F. Matthias Alexander Letters

edited by Missy Vineyard and Jean M. O. Fischer

These two volumes contain almost all known existing letters by F. M. Alexander. They collect, in complete and unabridged form, all the letters which have been made available to the editors, in total 685 letters.

Volume I contains letters for the period 1916–1942, and notes for these letters. Volume II contains letters for the period 1943–1955, and notes for these letters.

Hardbacks. 2 volumes. 300 + 374 pages. €70.00

www.mouritz.org/shop

Courses & CPD

WEEK LONG COURSES and postgraduate training are now available for Alexander teachers at the Alexander Technique Centre in Galway, Ireland. These can help teachers gain more confidence and knowledge. Includes a hands-on lesson every day. Partners are also welcome. We can help to arrange visas and or accommodation if necessary. For more information please visit www.alexander.ie or contact Richard Brennan at info@alexander.ie or call +353 91555800

THE ALEXANDER WORKSHOPS on Alonnisos this year will not go ahead due to the uncertainty regarding travel in these times. But please feel free to contact me, Penny O’Connor, if you would like to be kept informed of future dates and join my Alonnisos mailing list: pennyoconnor1@gmail.com. Website: www.alexanderingreece.com

For Sale/Rent

LIFE ON TWO Legs. Thoughts on our precarious bipedalism by Christine (Kri) Ackers. Puslished by MoshPit Publishing, October 2020. Paperback. 192 pages. Available from amazon. co.uk.

AS PART OF a larger redesign and software update, the Mouritz shop is now on https://mouritz.org/shop/. The Mouritz Bibliography is temporarily unavailable as this is also being redesigned and moved. The Mouritz Library including the Key Concepts collection is still available on www. mouritz.co.uk. Please note that there are international delays to deliveries due to Covid-19 restrictions.

LONG-TERM READERS of STATnews will recall Marshcouch regular ads for portable teaching tables made by Nigel Marshall. Nigel retired but Tables are still available, see: https://www. marshcouch.com.

DART-ONLINE DROP-IN class every Friday at 11.00-12.00 CET. The class has been running since May 2020. All information available from rjsimmons@dart-online.org (www. dart-online.org).

THE ALEXANDER JOURNAL

Call for Papers.

The editors of The Alexander Journal (published by STAT) and AmSAT Journal (published by AmSAT) have joined forces in a bid to enhance the quality and international reach of scholarly writing on the Alexander Technique. They have formed an International Review Board and have had regular meetings over the past year to develop peer-review standards and to form a peer-review board of experts in their fields.

The Alexander Journal calls for articles and essays that focus on the Alexander Technique, encompassing a broad range of topics including, but not limited to, Alexander Technique practice, history, quantitative science, qualitative science and professional community. For example how the Alexander Technique relates to: performing arts pedagogy, acting and performance, singing, public speaking and corporate training, research and history of the Alexander Technique, ethics, diversity and social justice, and private studio practice.

We hope that both the peer-review opportunity and the collaboration of STAT and AmSAT will stimulate a wider community of writers and the sense of an international readership.

Articles submitted that authors do not intend for peer-review are still welcome. Such articles submitted to STAT will be considered for STATnews and if submitted to AmSAT will be considered for AmSAT Journal. Book reviews, reports, and other non-original contributions are excluded from the peer-review process.

We encourage both new and experienced authors to submit articles. If you have ideas for an article, please seek our encouragement and support by contacting us directly. Articles are processed in the order they are received, so early submissions are encouraged. Submission does not guarantee publication. Publication timelines can vary, with The Alexander Journal published in print every 12-18 months. Articles may also be considered for concomitant publication in AmSAT Journal and STATnews.

The Alexander Journal prides itself on encouraging and supporting new and accomplished scholars alike. Authors will neither be paid nor have to pay for publication.

Submissions and inquiries should be sent to the review board: Jamie McDowell (email: jamie@fellside.f9.co.uk)

Joe Alberti

Genoa Davidson (email: genoadavidson@gmail.com)

Paul Marsh