February 2006 Business

1) Defining who this group is for (dropping the term “almost-better”):
The group had been in agreement for several months that we should drop the “almost-better” description. We have now finalized a new description. It is:
• New Landscape is for anyone (male or female) who is healing for DID/MPD or another dissociative disorder and would like to share experiences, thoughts, and feelings with peers.
• New Landscape participants are in the process of re-claiming self and life. They may still have a dissociative system, but they have a framework for understanding it. They may still have abreactions and crises, but they are able to cope with them outside the group. (New Landscape does not provide crisis support.)

2) New Members Pamphlet:
We finalized the wording of the New Members pamphlet. It has sections for:
• Who is New Landscape For?
• What Participants Get Out of Meetings.
• FAQ.
• Some Topics Discussed at Past Meetings.
• Meeting Format.
We will send one copy to everyone on the New Landscape mailing list. (Those on the snail-mail list will get a folded pamphlet. Those on the e-mail list will get 2 pages which should be printed back to back, then folded in 3.) If the e-mail people would like to receive a hard copy by snail-mail, they may contact us at newlandscape1@yahoo.com. Bulk copies may also be requested (there will be a nominal charge to cover postage and printing for bulk orders). Lynn W. of Many Voices has agreed to include the pamphlet in one of the Many Voices mailings.