A Letter from Bevin Clare, AHG Board Chair
Dear Members and AHG Community,
In January 2022 I will transition from the Chair of the Board (formerly known as the President) of the AHG to the role of a member of the Board of Directors (formerly known as Governing Council) and Denise Cusack will assume the role of Chair of the Board of the AHG.
I have been serving on the Board of the AHG for nearly 20 years, and during that time I had the opportunity to be an integral part of an organization which has grown immensely while firmly rooted in the spirit in which it was founded. Visions and plans were dreamt up over the years, and with the energy of countless volunteers and staff, they were nurtured and grew and became the many components of what the AHG is today. I couldn’t be more in awe of what the AHG is today, and the honor of being part of such an organization since my youth is one of the greatest gifts I could imagine.
In creating a plan for succession to a new chair, it was decided to create a gentle transition. In the late summer of 2020, upon my request, the board together decided that, if re-elected, I would begin my term for the first year as chair of the board and complete the second year as a board member to offer continuity and stability during the transition. At the same time, Denise Cusack, with a vote of confidence from the board, transitioned to the role of Assistant Chair of the board and has been actively engaged in all board and leadership activities. It is an ideal transition of leadership in a time of great fast-paced change, and we are confident it will be beneficial for the organization and community.
Denise brings a tremendous amount to the table in her role. She wears so many hats as an herbalist, mother, gardener, and active member of a number of non-profits, most notably as the executive director of Herbalists Without Borders. Denise brings a deep knowledge of the AHG and of the community to her work and will champion a values and vision based future for the AHG. I couldn’t be more delighted with the possibilities in our future with Denise as the chair.
While I’ll be leaving my current position as chair in January, I won’t be going far. I’ll be serving on the board for the coming year to complete my term, and intend to stay active and engaged as long as I can be used to support our work. Beyond that, I treasure this community and the people of our organization tremendously and can’t wait to come play at the symposium and see your faces in whatever role I’m in.
With love and partnership,
Bevin
