My journey with Tai Chi and Arica began in 1985, when Gil Milner offered classes here in Spokane, WA. I have been teaching Tai Chi since 1992 and we are now a team of seven apprentices teaching classes twice a week. Also for the past 3 years I have taught Tai Chi to women who are recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. I have attended most summer and winter trainings either in the US or Europe with only a few exceptions and I am relatively current with the Arica work. I have taught most of the Arica group trainings and am certified to teach Psychocalistenics.

Last May I left a career of 21 years as a German professor at Gonzaga University. I taught language, culture and literature classes and served as the director of the German program for the last 12 years.

I am now in the process of creating the next phase of my life. The new found time and energy allows me to serve on the Board of Directors and to do my share of taking responsibility for the future of our school. I have experience in directing a program, making administrative and organizational decisions while keeping the interests of students at the center of my efforts. It is important to me to listen and to find solutions that are workable and as simple as is possible. I am interested in deepening and strengthening the quality of our teaching and to find new and creative ways to share our treasure with the public. Since I spent equal time at trainings in Europe and the US I feel equally at home in both places and communities. I consider it an honor to be asked to serve on the board and will give it my best effort.

Now I teach twice a week at the New York school, and am continuing my studies of Push Hands and Sword. I had hoped that by teaching, I could give back a little of what I have gotten from this remarkable organization. However, in truth, I get much more from my students and my fellow teachers than I could ever give back.

So I’m going to try again to give back. I am a lawyer by training and by profession. I am currently employed as the General Counsel of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a not-for-profit corporation, and therefore, I am involved daily in the business of running a not-for-profit. Over the last 30 years, I have served on the board of several not–for-profit organizations and have served as the president of a few: the ACLU of Ohio for five years, and the co-op in which I live in Brooklyn for eight years. For the last six years, I have also been on the board of our local teaching center, the NY-School of T’ai Chi Chuan. In addition, I consult, on a pro bono basis, with other not-for-profits on matter of governance and management. I feel with my experience and professional perspective, I could be of service to TCF, to its larger goals, and to its members.

My formal education includes a B.A. in Psychology from Bates College (1971), and D. C. degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic (1984).

Professionally, I am a Doctor of Chiropractic. I have practiced as Lewis Bay Chiropractic in Hyannis, MA since 1985 with my husband, partner and friend, Mark Walcutt. I have my work as a chiropractor and will continue to practice on a part time basis as I have for 26 years. I totally enjoy caring for my patients and treating multi-generations of families.

Personally, Mark and I have been married for 33 years. I have also been blessed with 4 children, aged 19 to 27. The oldest 3 have graduated from college and are employed in varied professions. The youngest is presently in college. Having no children “at home”, I am able to assume a new roles. My life interests include natural healing, gardening, sewing and ocean sailing.

As I seek to serve on the Tai Chi Foundation Board of Directors, I bring with me skills developed from the facets of my life…over the years, with support of my team and the challenges that are presented, I have promoted and taught many series of Tai Chi classes. I have directed a busy health care practice, balancing the needs of patients, employees, myself and government laws overseeing the health care system. I have volunteered in the Cape Cod Community in many functions, often serving in the role of director. I am a good listener, organizer, goal-setter and action step-taker. I am honored to be considered as a Tai Chi Foundation Board Director.

This year I plan to look for premises to teach in Milton Keynes and join the growing number of new locations offering Tai Chi to their local communities. I would like to help these new schools communicate with the TCF board about how they can benefit from the wealth of experience within the school, through advice and support.

For work, I am an architect and have a small sustainability consultancy company in Milton Keynes, advising social housing providers, developers and government organisations on sustainable design and construction. My work involves coming up with strategies, solving problems, presentations and workshops, team working, and managing external consultants from design stage through to completion on site.

I find that Tai Chi helps me be a better consultant, keeps me calm under pressure and articulate myself clearly during meetings and when presenting workshops. I hope my skills as a sustainability consultant can help serve the TCF in return, and feel I am at a good point in my Tai Chi studies, professional and personal life to make a positive contribution.

I am currently working on a project to establish a form of theatre based on the Elements as part of my 8th Level work to make the transfer from the Excellence of Calligraphy to the Excellence of Theatre. I have been an Arican since 1974 and a Tibetan Buddhist since 1979. I serve as Executive Director of Evanston Festival Theatre, Inc. a not-for-profit corp. and Artistic Director of Piccolo Theatre. I am well experienced in board development, fiscal management, grant writing (totaling $5 million dollars), program development, facilities planning and construction and governmental relations.

I also serve as President of the 65 members of the Main Street Business Association in Evanston. As an artist I have received an Emmy Award and the Mayor’s Award for Artist of the Year in 2008. I established the Evanston Arts Depot which is the home for the Human Process, the Arica/Tai Chi sponsor in Chicago, and the Piccolo Theatre. Hobbies include an interest in Bon practice and in Taoist meditation.

Professionally, I have a background in engineering project management and have worked for the banking, health and charity sectors over the past 15 years. I am still looking for the thing I really want to do.

I am committed to my personal development, and by extension to the development of those around me, to our society and to our planet. I frequently struggle with how best to focus this commitment in thought and action. As I get older, I feel more drawn to noticing and being rather than doing.

I am interested in being a member of the Board because I was asked and found myself comfortable agreeing. I hadn’t given the idea any previous thought. I don’t generally commit myself to things if I’m not prepared to be wholehearted and enthusiastic so, other attributes aside, this is the minimum I will be offering. I enjoy working with people who are passionate about what they are doing, and although I’d call myself fairly diplomatic, I’m more concerned with honesty than agreement.

I spend much of my working life facilitating, collaborating, practicing being innovative and aspiring to success in a team environment. I understand how to manage projects, I’m comfortable with the common computer applications and I have experience in professional coaching….these skills may be of value in this role.

In 1981 I began my studies of T’ai Chi at the School of T’ai Chi here in NYC, attending classes taught by Margaret Olmsted, John Shackford, Peggy Watson, among the rest of the NYC team. In 1984 I joined the apprentice program, taking my first apprenticeship at the NY Winter Training. I was very fortunate as a beginner, to have the opportunity to teach with Peter Angelo, Bob Etherington, Lee Felton, Matsu, Alice Sherer and many others. I found a lot of inspiration and growth in getting to know the instructors in the school!

Soon after my apprentice-teaching began I started helping out with the behind-the-scenes work in NY, first in helping with the bookkeeping, eventually becoming part of the administrative team. Later this grew to assisting with the summer and winter trainings for a number of years. When the New York house incorporated as a legal entity distinct from the training division (later this work folded into the TCF), I started serving on the NYSTCC Board of Directors.

In 2007 I joined the faculty at Manhattanville College (in Westchester NY) as an adjunct instructor of T’ai Chi, teaching beginners classes to the students there, and I have been teaching there steadily since then. I feel very fortunate in being able to bring T’ai Chi to a younger generation of students!