Hello Colleagues,

“A magic dwells in each beginning”
~ Hermann Hesse

Even though I did not go away on vacation this summer (why leave paradise if you already live there?), I still love the energy that is present as folks return from their vacations and a new school year begins with supplies of notebooks, pencils, and pens stocking the shelves at local stores. For me, there is a magical quality to the energetic flow of September ... excitement for a new school year, a collective marching towards the autumnal equinox, and a return to the beautiful days of autumn. SB CAMFT also finds itself back in full swing as we begin anew with monthly meetings, newsletters, and planning for the last quarter of the year.

The remainder of the year is filled with several different opportunities to meet and connect at chapter events – here are some highlights. More detailed information on these events will be provided in future editions of the newsletter.

• Our monthly luncheons resume on Wednesday, September 16 with Dr. Avedis Panajian speaking on The Relationship of Trauma, Loss, and Negativity. See page 1 of this month’s newsletter for more information on Dr. Panajian’s presentation and please sign up by Friday, September 11.

• On Saturday, October 10 the Creating Community Pathways Initiative will be hosting its second town hall meeting. A June 6 event was postponed due to rain. The gathering on October 10 will be the program originally planned for June. Please see above for more information.

• John Cervantes, MD will be our luncheon speaker on October 21. His topic will be on the interface of Spirituality and Neurobiology.

• On Friday, October 23, SB CAMFT, SB LCSW and SB Psychological Association will be co-sponsoring a mixer for its members from 5:30- 7:30 at Family Therapy Institute’s new home at 111 East Arrelaga. The cost will be $20 for clinical members, $10 for interns and students for appetizers, wine, cold drinks, and plenty of opportunity to network with new colleagues. Special thanks go to Deb Manchester for opening FTI’s space for the mixer. More information on how to sign up will be in the October newsletter and later this month via etree message. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, create new relationships, and meet up with old friends!

• Judith Brown will be our November 18 luncheon speaker. Her presentation will be based on her many years of working with couples and will provide particular interventions that she has found effective.

• If you need to fulfill your Law & Ethics Course requirements, on Saturday, December 5 SB CAMFT, in collaboration with State CAMFT, will host a 6 hour Law & Ethics Training Course in Santa Barbara. This course will be offered at NO CHARGE (except a low fee for materials) to the first 55 members of SB CAMFT/State CAMFT who sign up and pay their 2010 dues by December 1, 2009. More information can be found on page 1 of this newsletter.

• We wind up the year with our annual holiday luncheon on December 16 – Judith Brown will be this year’s recipient for the SB CAMFT Annual Award for Service. Congratulations Judith and thank you for all the contributions you have made to our field.

On behalf of the board, welcome back and we look forward to seeing you at one or all of the above events.

Thanks for your support and participation,
Kathleen Barry, MFT, President