Credentials 

Specifically Light Related

Teacher of “Inner Light Consciousness” since 1976.
Ordained Minister of the Fellowship of the Inner Light in June 1998
Co-founded Spirit Haven, a vacation/retreat center outside of Asheville, NC 1999-2003
Current Secretary of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua’i since 11/2005
One in the women's founding group of  “Western North Carolina Woman” a monthly magazine in 2002. I wrote the first inspirational column until we moved to Kauai in 2003.

In 1998 I self published a book entitled To Call Every Woman a Sister, a collection of information and stories for women.

I wrote a weekly column for the local newspaper, “The Garden Island” entitled “In Your Corner” for teens and family from 4/2006-3/2008

I wrote a mediation manual for middle and high school students Sept. 2006

Article “Is Life Fair” was published in the inaugural magazine issue  of “The Pacific Journal” Fall 2008. I will continue to write the family articles

I've written over 370 "Little Cuppas", some of which are on this website. My goal is to be published in newspaper columns as a daily "Cuppa Light"          

Some of the jobs I've held.

Currently co-founder and present owner of Kaua’i Mediation Works

Community and court mediator since 1998.

Hale ‘Opio Teen Court Manager from Mar. 2005-Feb. 28, 2008 

Assistant Social Worker at Asheville Health Care Center 1993-1995

Full time mother for Paul, Christina and Mary since April 25, 1977

Youth Ed. Dir./Fellowship of the Inner Light/Teacher of Self Awareness Course 1982-1984

Teacher of Learning Disabled/Emotionally Disturbed adolescents at River’s Bend Farm School, a residential center  in Stanley, VA 1979-81

Teacher of learning disabled middle school children at
Chesapeake Learning Disabilities Center, Chesapeake, VA 1976-1977

Flight Attendant Pan American World Airways 1971-1974

I worked around my children’s lives as a substitute teacher of all grades; Youth Ed. Director for Unity, and Fellowship of the Inner Light Churches, Stained Glass craftsman, children’s entertainer

Education

1970 Graduated from the State University College of N.Y. At Cortland, B.A. in education. Dean’s list, last two years. Certified to teach Nursery -9th grade English

1975 Graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA.
Masters in Education with specialization in Learning Disabilities. Maintained a 4.0 average.
Certified to teach Special Education for children with learning disabilities

Dec. 1981 Completed 15 graduate study hours in Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA. Maintained a 4.0  average, specializing in children with emotional disturbance.

1986-7 Audited one  year at the Montessori Institute of Tidewater

1994  “Life , Death and Transition” workshop at the Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Center

Mediation/facilitation Training:

Over 100 hours of mediation/facilitation training, including  specialized topics as victim offender, Impasse, transformative, for people with special needs, divorce, temporary restraining orders, etc.

Elected secretary of the board of The Asheville Mediation Centerin Jan. 2003, and served in that position through July 2003 when I moved to Kaua’i.

Volunteer mediator for the KEO Mediation Program since Feb. 2004

Co-founded Kaua’i Mediation Works, a professional mediation company May 2005

Volunteer work on Kaua’i

Garden Island Arts Council board member

Secretary of the Interfaith Roundtable of Kaua’i

Board member of Na Kahu o Hikinaakala

Member of Friends of Kamalani 

Member of Mea Ho'o Mana'o, a group encouraging the Aloha Spirit to thrive on Kauai.

• Oldest child
• Pan American Stewardess- we're all the same on the outside.
  
• 2 failed marriages and one good one. I observed the law of Karma in the second, and have experienced the strength and joy of being loved, and how it enhances another in my current marriage of over 25 years. 
• Helping my mother care for my father in the last 3 weeks of his life, and helping him transition with dignity and love.
• Studying with Rev. Paul Solomon, a southern Baptist, who became a trance psychic, and taught that others can access higher realms.
• My land and gardens. The balancing power of  earth, air, sun and water.
• My special education classes that challenged me to keep trying different ways of teaching until we were satisfied with the outcome.
• Working in a nursing home, and seeing all the different ways people interacted under crisis.
• My multiply handicapped daughter who demonstrated a beautiful spirit in a limited body. She then taught me how deep the grief can be for a deceased child, and how one finally heals.
  
• My son who taught me to never give up on a person, and that the world's distractions pull hard
  
• Being in a Playback improvisational Theater group and learning the power of a person's story and how to listen.
  
• Becoming a mediator and learning how to find the jewels and common ground in a conflict,  reframe negative comments, and cut to the chase of an issue.
  
• Studying Non-violent communication
• Helping to create "Unity in Diversity" experiences in Asheville, NC, and then moving to Kaua'i where they live it.
• Colors and sound, and how certain ones strengthen me, and certain ones weaken me.
• Forgiveness, as the giver and receiver.
• The incredible value of integrity.
• Living with alcohol abusers in a family, and learning how to be O.K.
  
• The joy and strength from friends...of all ages
• Observing that many teens who break the law when given some appropriate classes, support and tools can turn their lives around and become wonderful resources for their peers.
• The truly amazing Grace of God.
• Grandmotherhood