Our final meeting of the year was held on Saturday, November 7, 1998 at the United Parish Church of Auburndale with approximately 60 members and guests present.
This was the annual meeting of the Association at which election of the Board of Directors and officers takes place. Paula Brown, Jim Dougan and Fred Pearson are retiring from the Board and have been appointed to the Honorary Board of Directors in recognition of their many years of service to the Association. The election of Board members then took place and the following were elected unanimously: Betty Anderson, Fred Bowers, Ali Buckley, Elaine Burns, Linda Dobkin, Anne Harpin, Barbara Johnson, Jack Memishian, Pat Prell, Joel Samuels and Doreen Smith. Welcome to new members Linda Dobkin and Jack Memishian. The following officers were also elected by unanimous vote: Elaine Burns, President; Betty Anderson, Vice President; Doreen Smith, Treasurer; Fred Bowers, Secretary.
Our speaker, Dr. Agatha Colbert, was then introduced. She is a physiatrist specializing in acupuncture and is associated with the Tufts University School of Medicine. Her slide presentation was entitled "The Body Electric: Acupuncture and Magnet Therapy for Chronic Pain." Qi (pronounced "chee") is the life force which moves freely throughout the body via conduits known as meridians. Health is considered to be a balance of Qi and disease an imbalance (excess, deficiency or a stagnant flow). Acupuncture is believed to balance the system and allow the body to heal itself by inserting needles into acupuncture points along the meridians. In 1993, there were about 10,000 practitioners of acupuncture in the United States. Magnetic therapy involves the application of magnets to acupuncture points or to any part of the body, with the advantage that one can treat oneself. There were many questions, both during and after Dr. Colbert’s presentation.
Refreshments and socializing completed the afternoon. Many thanks to Dr. Colbert and to all who helped out at the meeting, in particular Steve Anderson and Jack Memishian as well as Anne and Vinnie Harpin.
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