Shiatsu Society

Internal Communications

"Interactivity"

Interactivity is a new area and has been created to ensure that the Society continuously builds on and improves its relationship with its members as it grows.  It covers the areas of Regional Forums, trialling Regional Representation, Graduate Representation and any other area that you feel needs looking at.

There will be overlap between External and Internal Communications (as well as with the Newsletters) so both areas will share a common Communications Sub-committee.  If you have any ideas or suggestions about how the Society and its members can interact in a more productive and creative manner and want to help to brainstorm some solutions then please contact the office and become a member of the Communications Sub-committee.

What is Interactivity?

The aim of the Shiatsu Society is to "promote and support the needs of the membership of the Society, and to inform the public in the use and understanding of Shiatsu" (taken from the Memorandum of Association). Periodically, it is a good idea to refresh our approach, and so at the November Board meeting we decided to unite the work of the Society under the heading of 'Interactivity'.

What is meant by the term?

To recognise that we are all working together. We are practitioners and trainee practitioners, and we have to set up the Society to further the wonderful therapy that we practice. We know we need this group format to represent us. The Society is our organisation, and a Board has been elected to focus on the directives outlined at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) - we are all equally able to initiate ideas.

Therefore we can say, that in the past we have, on all members behalf, arranged the following:-

• corporate advertising
• an affordable insurance package
• training / CPD opportunities
• co-ordination and promotion of the mentoring scheme
• leaflets about Shiatsu, working with GPs and with the NHS
• representation of our members
  
• exhibition packs and stands
• a new route to MRSS
• schools visits
  
  

As members we feel that we would like more support with:

• networking
• training and continuing professional development (CPD)
• ways to attract new clients
• opportunities to develop our practice management
• inidividual marketing
• setting up a thriving business
• studying new ways to work with what clients bring to our practice e.g. MS, addiction, structural imbalances, emotional struggles etc.
  

Do you agree? Is this the right idea?

We are going to visit you in your region, along with your colleagues and discover what we can do together.

We will be visiting schools and existing support groups and would like to reach out to other parts of the country in ways that work for you.

Visit the Regional Meetings page for details of when we are coming to your area!

Some specific examples of ways that we can support ourselves are:

• sharing a Shiatsu feast as a way of celebrating the Shiatsu community
• launching a really useful local workshop series that stimulates our Shiatsu taste-buds
• running a Shiatsu Open Day to attract new clients and publicise Shiatsu in our local area
• offering a press pack to download from the computer

When we visit we will bring news of what our fellow members are doing in their regions and how we, as a Society, are continuing to address the needs that have been expressed. We could bring with us one-some of the following:-

• merchandise - tshirts, leaflets, exhibition packs etc.
• a tutor - for practical sessions in which you want to practice a technique or learn something useful for neck pain e.g. a mentor for sharing your personal experiences of your Shiatsu with someone who understands
• a supervisor - to go over your practice management, or issues arising with clients

or we could focus on:

• workshops - maybe a follow up to something you had a taste of at Congress
• money matters - insurance, accounts, client pay scales
• time management
• chi gung .... the possible list is endless!

You and your local group can identify what you would like and we can match your enthusiasm with any extra skills / facilities that might be necessary.

We will act on your behalf when we know what you want. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like a visit from us, ideas for forums, workshops etc.