Chapters

• Rights & Responsibilities
• British Columbia
• Alberta
• Saskatchewan
• Manitoba
• Ontario
• Quebec

CHAPTER CALENDAR

CHAPTER MANUAL

IMPORTANT UPDATE

With effect from January 1st 2008, RAC membership fees include membership of the member's local Chapter. Members' names will be forwarded to the closest Chapter and mebers will be contacted directly to officially sign up for the Chapter at which time payment will be made to the Chapter, by RAC, to cover the fee.

Members living in areas without a local Chapter are encouraged to try to form new ones. Only five members are needed and RAC will provide all the help you may need. If getting together for meetings is difficult because of location or distance then do not forget that you can use one of the many internet services such as Skype to enable you to connect with your colleagues on a regular basis. Helping to form a new Chapter also gives credits towards the Continuing Education Program.

The Reflexology Association of Canada (RAC) bylaws define the relationship between the Association and Chapters. The bylaws instruct Chapters or local Associations on their obligations and duties.

Chapters are defined as five or more RAC members who gather to promote reflexology. They may do this by offering workshops or seminars, participating in local health fairs, doing charity work, providing opportunities for networking and by supporting the endeavours, requirements and regulations of RAC. Chapters can be provincial or a district or city within the province.

Chapters all have copies of the bylaws, have an opportunity to post events in the newsletter and a write up of their chapter as well as contact information on the website. Paperwork support and information is available to chapters through RAC. RAC sends newly certified members an invitation to join chapters. RAC members can belong to any chapter. Chapters were started because in a country as large as Canada it is difficult for distant members to participate at the national level, even though the RAC AGMs are alternated in east and west locations. Chapters provide an opportunity for members to participate at the community level and promote reflexology within their jurisdiction. Some of this is done through health trade shows and these shows afford the opportunity of fund raising, as each chapter is self sufficient in funding.

Chapters provide camaraderie amongst reflexologists and support the business development of fledgling reflexologists. Each chapter is unique and meetings vary. They may include exchange sessions or host guest speakers who inform the membership of other modalities or techniques that will enhance their practice or be question and answer sessions. Chapters provide opportunities for leadership and involvement as a director or in other capacities. Chapters can be a resource to groups looking for public speakers.

The mission of the Reflexology Association of Canada Chapters is to advance the understanding and knowledge of Reflexology both for its members and for society as a whole. Chapters will accomplish this by focusing on education, publicity and activism in local health events and forums. Chapters provide a supportive environment for mentorship and camaraderie amongst practitioners.

Irene Melnyk started the first chapter in Winnipeg by encouraging reflexologists to meet in each others homes, discuss cases and do each others feet. The BC Chapter was started by Ollie Bailey, another woman with a passion for reflexology. The first meeting was June 1992 in the basement of her home. The membership grew to the point they started moving the meetings around the province, and that tradition has continued.

Chapters continue to expand and flourish. Many chapters are getting started as members see the value in working alongside fellow reflexologists to promote the art of reflexology to its potential. Chapters can be “Fruitful in Unity”, so we invite you to please join with us.

:: Calgary Chapter

The Calgary Chapter currently has 40 members and is growing rapidly.

The Board of Directors is comprised of:
Chairperson - Susan Rusch
Secretary - Kim Little
Co-Secretary - Lisa Kunze
Treasurer - Marcella Mista
Directors - Sue Clark, Dawn Seguin, Carol Williams, Christiane Parchet, Guylaine Denis

Mission Statement:
"The Calgary Alberta Chapter of the Reflexology Association of Canada will promote professionalism, recognition and visibility for reflexology by sharing skills, developing knowledge, training and networking within Alberta."

For more information please contact Susan Rusch at 403.201.2042 or susan.rusch@reflexolog.org

The Saskatchewan chapter currently has 28 members. The Board of Directors is comprised of:

Chairperson, Shirley LaChapelle-Stubbe
  lach@accescomm.ca
Treasurer, VACANT
Vice-President, Estelle Hay
  howlettg@imagewireless.ca
Secretary, Grace Howlett
annabelle@accesscomm.ca
Membership Secretary & Newsletter Editor, Leanne Ecklund
  reck@sasktel.net

The Chapter Objectives:

Our main objective is to spread the knowledge and understanding of reflexology to society as well as to the medical field, so it would be recognized and accepted as a beneficial component to the general health and well-being of all (at least on the level that massage therapy is recognized).

To provide an environment of support and friendship to new as well as practising practitioners.

To offer opportunities for continued learning.

Many invitations to present Reflexology to Health Fairs, private clubs and groups.

Truly a Chapter on the move!

Please feel free to e-mail us at: RAC_MBChapter@hotmail.com

• Niagara
• Ottawa
• Peterborough/Kawarthas
• Toronto
• London
• Grey Bruce
• Windsor/Essex

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:: Niagara Chapter

The Niagara Chapter meets approximately 5 times per year. The chapter keeps its members up to date with news from RAC Head Office and is devoted to helping in any way it can. The chapter contacts members by e-mail in order to have easier communication with members. If you are a RAC member from the Niagara region or surrounding areas and would like to receive RAC information please forward your e-mail address to the Niagara Chapter chairperson with "Niagara Chapter e-mail address" in the subject line. Please include your full name so the correct information can be added to the e-mailing list.

Contact: Cindy Nilsen, Niagara RAC Chapter Chairperson
Phone: 905.227.1118 or
Email: cnilsen@sympatico.ca

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:: Ottawa Chapter

Curently the Chapter Chair is Petra Zangerl-Van Veen yangsns@rogers.com and she is also the contact person.

:: Peterborough/Kawarthas

The Peterborough Chapter is undergoing a restructuring. For information please contact Claudia Smith at 705.741-0065 or csreflex@i-zoom.net



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The Toronto Chapter

Our Toronto Chapter is now 4 years old and we have grown tremendously. There are 83 members who come from as far as Barrie, Brampton, Oshawa and Burlington along with those who live in the GTA and downtown Toronto. Some members live too far to attend meetings but we keep them informed through meeting minutes and messages by e-mail. Our chapter provides a place where each member belongs and feels they can contribute to the growth and development of the chapter.

We meet four times a year for chapter meetings and have a speaker at each meeting. Recently we have built an Education Committee and, with the input of all the members, they have created a wonderful agenda of speakers for the year. Our members have learned about EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Indian Head Massage, The Bach Flower Remedies, Healing Touch- an energy- based modality comprising a number of different energy techniques and more recently Thierry Pautrot came and spoke about “Posturology” to our group. Some of you may have heard him at the Montreal Conference last year. For our last meeting of the year, we will be bringing in a representative from the Lackner McLennan Insurance Company to explain the ins and outs of insurance.

For the first time this year, we are putting together workshops for our members. The Education Committee’s newsletter, ‘Soles and Toes,’ keeps us up to date on what workshops and courses are coming up .Our April workshop was “Designing a Website” given by Paul Rochford of Techspertise. In June, we are offering a workshop on “Myofascial Release and Reflexology” given by RAC member, Marion McCall. Other workshops planned include a review of anatomy for reflexologists, heated stones for reflexologists, certification for first aid and aromatherapy for reflexologists.



On September 19th this year, the Toronto Chapter is working in partnership with the Kawartha Chapter to bring Chris Stormer to the Toronto area for a daylong workshop on “Listening to the Feet.” We’re lucky to have her as she stops touring as of 2010.

Our biggest fundraiser and group effort has been the Whole Life Expo in November each year. This health show is quite popular and we offer 10-30 minute treatments at a dollar a minute. Our members volunteer for shifts over the two and a half day show and the event is fantastic publicity for reflexology and the chapter. Last year we had a double booth and kept every chair busy. We were able to raise $ 3200.00. We also have booths at the CBC Health Fair and at various local events for schools, wellness fairs and health days for the elderly. Some of our members are complementary therapists for local hospices in and around Toronto and provide reflexology for hospice clients who live in the community. Other fundraising events that have been very popular with our members are the Therapeutic Book & CD Sale & Exchange and our 50/50 participation draw at meetings.

Last year, we had a logo t-shirt designed for our chapter and were able to offer it to members at cost. There were several styles and we wear it at all RAC-Toronto functions.

We also offer our members a referral list on our own website See our website at www.reflexologytoronto.com

All of our events, workshops and meetings are listed on the website as well as our “Find a Reflexologist ” referral list for all parts of the city and GTA.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact our Chairperson, Carolyn Dunn, at Email: cdunn01@hotmail.com



Chairperson: Carolyn Dunn cdunn01@hotmail.com

Treasurer: Anna Savic s8savic@rogers.com

Secretary: Kathi Elliott m.k.elliott-kare@sympatico.ca

Our Mission: Establish awarness of the RAC London & Area Chapter as a tool to inform and educate the public of the profesionalism of reflexology therapists and the benefits of reflexology in their health management regimen.

Our Vision: To promote the benefits of reflexology by educating the public and providing a growing resource centre in London and area for advancing reflexology in the realm of complimentary health options.

Contact: Jane Thompson - Chair RAC Montreal Chapter
Phone: 514-637-5016
E-mail janethompson@sympatico.ca

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