July 2003: I searched the internet archives to find this page. It wasn't an easy task, as the original webmaster for this page had suffered a big HD crash about two years ago, and the server had deleted it. Many thanks to Susan for the energy and time she put into creating this page originally. We are still searching for the two ARC Opposition FAQs that were on the website. If anyone has them on their HD, please forward them to me.

Here is the original statement:

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To the members of ARC:

On June 19th, 2000,  ARC Board Member Mynou Demey stated: "We welcome all advice, all suggestion. If you want to criticize fine...but then offer a counter solution, otherwise, keep it to yourself."

We do have a solution, and a number of suggestions.

The solution is easily implemented: ARC needs to drop its attempts to establish an aromatherapy exam/registry.

We suggest that ARC start treating its own issues - education, professional standards and aromatherapy - seriously. You have not educated yourselves about the field of professional assessment testing. You have not conformed with professional standards in the field of testing. You have not done the basic research required for this undertaking. You have not considered the repercussions that your scheme is likely to have on the field of aromatherapy.You have not educated your potential clients - us prospective examinees - about what you are doing, why you are doing it or the hazards it entails.

We suggest that ARC pay serious attention to what many of us have been trying to tell you since January: You are clearly way over your heads with this undertaking, so please drop it before you do the field of aromatherapy serious harm.

If ARC finds itself unable to desist in its attempt to establish this exam/registry:

We suggest that ARC start all over again - and that you start by asking the professionals you propose to assess what we want, how we want it carried out, and whether we want ARC to do it.

We suggest that ARC start being straightforward about what it's doing instead of hiding behind announcements and statements that are evasive, misleading, contradictory and often garbled to the point of being nearly incomprehensible.

We suggest that ARC stop avoiding open, two-way communication with the professionals it proposes to assess.

We suggest that ARC learn some humility and respect for the diversity within the field of aromatherapy.

We suggest that each member of ARC take an honest look at the limits of your own abilities and expertise, and ask yourselves what grounds you have for setting yourselves up to assess others.

Signed,

Gail G. Adrian
Ed Anderson
Donna Bass
Thomas Begley Jr.
Nancy Boles
Suzanne Catty
Christa-Maria
Waldron Cluett
Patricia Coil
M. Cook
Glennis Dean
Paul H. Dean
Linda Dee
Marcia Elston
Rhavda Cooper Emison
Gillian Evans
Jen Ezzell
Melanie Goldberg
Donna Groom
Sherry Harvey
Cindy Huf
Susan Jenkins
Donna Kenyon
Kendra Kirkham
Mindy Kittay
Barbara Lucks
Anya McCoy
Stacey Miller (2003)
Lori Mitchell
Rosa Morelli
Jim Naeseth
Paul Nicholson
David Oller
Butch Owen
Kimberly Pabelick
Margarita Perez
Maria Perez
Dianna Pierce
Sherill Pociecha
Nancy Rayburn
Deborah Redfern
Susan Renkel
Johanna Schmidt
Karen Sellars (ex-ARC member)
Lisa Sergienko
Darla Seward-Halpern
Kelemeria Slesinger
Ken Snow
Perri Storch
Catherine Symonds
Rosanne Tartaro
Martha Terwilliger
John Van Rees
Paula Warren
Michele Williams
Elaine Wilson
Henry John Zack
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We encourage other concerned members of the aromatics community to add your names to this petition. To add your name, please email: hopo@uni.wroc.pl
(Anya's note: the historical aspect of this webpage from the year 2000 and the original signers will be maintained. We will collect names of those wishing to join the opposition, but will note when they signed.)

If anyone would like to view the war that raged on alt.aromatherapy during this period, go to http://tinyurl.com/h4x2
click on "View thread" and you can scroll through 10 sequential posts per page.

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