TAYFORTH FIRST 2007 MEETING : PROGRESS REPORT
8 of us met for a most convivial first meeting at Seven King's Bar/Restaurant in Dunfermline. It was a beautiful, sunny day and our table which comfortably accommodated all 8 of us was tucked into the shelter provided by a large bay window overlooking Pittencrief Park. Thanks to Linda Dalgarno for organising this. There was sufficient privacy to conduct Tayforth business in a very relaxed, social environment. So as we tucked into some excellent food and drink, here are some of the issues that were raised:
1 We toasted the loss of the wonderful Pat Terry and wished her well. She will be sadly missed.
2 The therapy exchange day (Saturday 24 March). Once again, this will be an opportunity to give and received a COMPLETE treatment (not just a taster). If you can bring along a couch or reflexology chair (or both!) please let me know so that we don't end up with a surplus! Last year, members were able to enjoy hot stone therapy; parafin hand wax; reiki; reflexology; tuina (chinese massage); indian head massage; aromatherapy. This year we hope to add angel and crystal therapy.
3 We came to the conclusion the workshops being planned for this year could well run from 10am to 3pm. One of the workshop providers, also at the lunch, concurred this would make for a much more meaningful and worthwhile experience for participants. If so, the charge for workshops/seminars will be £10 for CThA members and £15 for non-CThA members. This will allow for the extra cost towards hall hire, and also to pay our workshop providers a small fee for their efforts. Keep tuned to the Tayforth Forum webpage for information as things progress. The workshops currently being discussed are a Colour workshop an Angel workshop and a Crystal workshop.
4 We discussed our forthcoming CThA membership renewals and the difficulties of providing CPD details online. I agreed to contact John Dent or Geoge Barwood about providing an idiot's guide on the Forum.
5 We discussed regulation - the pros and cons. It was felt that as long as regulation was "voluntary" and not "statutory", the cowboys in the business would still "flourish". However, one of the benefits of the move towards regulation (whether forseen or not!) was the futility, now, of joining lots of different individual therapy organisations which has, so far, been the trend for many CAM multi-practitioners - a rather expensive exercise. We await the core curriculum for aromatherapy and moves towards the regulation of this therapy with great interest after the recent confused situation over the AC and its role in the proceedings.
6 We discussed the "dip" in business for many of us in Tayforth in recent months and possible reasons why. Is the CAM market in Scotland now being flooded, with many newly qualified therapists offering cheaper treatments? Are we going to end up with different levels of therapist, depending on the qualifications on offer? Who is to judge what is good, better, best and how? Do we want several different layers/tiers to the same therapy? Will regulation provide the answers to some of these questions?
Time for dessert!
See you in March.
Mariette Lobo
Tayforth Coordinator
