2008 Board Nominations
The nominees for the 2008-2011 Board of Directors are shown on this page. Each nominees is either a 'Practitioner' or 'Professional' member of the organization.
Members of the Board serve for a three year term, renewable once.
Ours is a 'Working Board', not an 'honorary' one. Realize that the elected directors will also be the future Chair as well as officers of the NQA.
Ballots will be sent out in early May, 2008. Please take time to make an informed decision. There will also be a By Laws Ballot; information will be included in the Members’ Only section.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact any of the candidates personally, the National Office or Michael McComiskey, (718) 857 - 6598, the Nominations Committee Chair.
See the Proposed Bylaw changes for 2008
NOTE: If you don't have the login informaion please contact us.
KARL ARDO
 BIO: I began practicing Qigong in 1974. I experienced immediate results and pursued certification to become a teacher of Qigong as well as a Healing Practitioner. I started teaching in 1994 and in 2003 this became my full time job. The benefits I received have been many. I am 60 years old and am in great health. I can’t imagine what my life would be without Qigong. The greatest reward is teaching Qigong to others. Over the years I have taught thousands of students and everyone leaves with much more than what they expected. I am a Certified Five Element Teacher of Qigong - NQA Certified Qigong Clinical Practitioner & Level III Advanced Instructor-Certified Zero Balancer.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: I believe in the power and benefits of Qigong. Now is the opportunity to bring Qigong awareness to the entire world. I think that the National Qigong Association is the appropriate vehicle to present this valuable tool; but I also see that the NQA clearly needs to strengthen its base in the areas of marketing, advertising and developing tools to support the work within every committee, which can be archived and retrieved for future use at any point in time. From my personal experience on the events committee both in 1999 and for the current year, I have found that significant tools created by myself and my wife to produce the 1999 conference had not been passed on and incorporated into the infrastructure of this committee for use in producing future conferences. With a variety of these tools in place, less time could be spent repeating details year after year with more time and energy being used to market and advertise our annual conference, one of the most depended on revenue streams within the NQA. In my role as a Board Member, I would focus primarily on bringing Qigong to the world by developing marketing strategies and educational requirements to see that Qigong is represented accurately and honestly, while addressing a significant area of need within the NQA infrastructure.
CHRISTINA J. BAREA
 BIO: My name is Christina J. Barea. I have a Masters in Medical Qigong (MMQ) from the International Institute of Medical Qigong and am a Certified Advanced Qigong Instructor by the NQA (Level III). I have been practicing Yang style Tai Chi Chuan since 1997 and am currently learning other styles of martial arts. I have a full-time healing practice where I am dedicated to empowering people with the tools and information necessary for sustainable good health and longevity. I have been to China twice (Long Hu Shan & Qing Cheng Shan) to study Daoism and look forward to returning again this fall.
My background is quite colorful. I was born in Puerto Rico and have lived in the Caribbean, Europe, New York City and Miami. As a result I am fluent in English, Spanish and Italian. California is my current home where I reside with my 5 year-old son. My previous-life (don’t we all have one!) is in “corporate America” in the Textile Industry, which gave me, great professional skills, which I believe, will benefit me as a member of the Board. But most importantly, I believe that each person is a manifestation of the Divine and is already a perfect being; the challenges we face in this lifetime can be lifted with awareness. I look forward to hearing from you and knowing more about what your goals and dreams are with Qigong.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: It is my true honor and delight to be nominated for the Board of Directors of the National Qigong Association. As Qigong in all forms continues to gain credibility and popularity here in the USA it is increasingly important to ensure that the public be able to rely on an organization capable of understanding and managing this beautiful art. The power and benefit of all types of Qigong (martial, medical or spiritual) is undeniable and as more people turn to the East for it’s wisdom regarding health and longevity, the opportunity for misuse and abuse of information will increase as well. My purpose is to support the evolution of Qigong by working with the NQA Board and members to establish clear definitions, guidelines and other methods of monitoring the quality of Qigong practitioners, setting the standard for certification, as well as protecting the rights of it’s practitioners to practice and teach freely. My vision is that the NQA would continue to grow and strengthen professionally while continuing to be a source for providing non-biased information to the public about Qigong and ensuring equality and fairness to all.
JOANNE MATSON
 BIO: My past experience can help me contribute to whatever opportunities and challenges the NQA Board will face. Working for non-profit corporations, I have done fund raising, produced flyers and brochures, coordinated volunteers, and restructured finances. My past titles have included Educational Coordinator and Board Member for AUM Esoteric Study Center in Baltimore MD, Development Coordinator for Ruscombe Community Health Center in Baltimore MD, and Mid Atlantic State Coordinator for the American Holistic Nurses Association. I currently teach Qigong and Tai Chi in the Sacramento CA area.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: As a board member, I would look forward to offering the NQA valuable insights to help the NQA grow. The value of Qigong is evident in the number of students who experience immediate results from a Qigong exercise, bring their friends to classes, and continue to practice even when not attending classes. When a product has stickiness like this, history has shown that the product markets itself mainly through word of mouth, and the NQA now simply needs to be linked with Qigong in the mass consciousness. With its broad base of different Qigong styles, the NQA can ride to the top of the proverbial Qigong wave! The NQA should be THE source of information for anyone wanting to know more about Qigong.
NICHOLAS DORE
 BIO: Nicholas M. Dore is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and completed his medical education and clinical internships in Traditional Chinese Medical (TCM) schools in both Colorado and Florida. His advanced studies also earned him National Board Certification in both Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. He has been awarded the Master of Acupuncture title from the Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture Institute in Beijing, China. Additionally, he holds certification from the AOBTA specializing in Tui Na. Dr. Dore also holds a Doctorate of Sacred Philosophy and has served as a lay advisor to the Commission on Religious Counseling and Healing, which is under the omophor of the Syro-Russian Orthodox Catholic Church.
A Desert Storm Veteran, Dr. Dore served the Atlantic fleet as a propulsion engineer and Combat Search and Rescue Swimmer. After training with the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Teams he received an honorable discharge from the Naval Special Warfare Center in 1991.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: It would be an honor to serve on the NQA board of directors. I believe that it would be a terrific opportunity for me to give back to the Qigong community, develop relationships with other Qigong professionals and keep my hand on the pulse of Qigong at large in the United States and abroad.
I have been classically trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and am licensed as a doctor in Arkansas. I am also certified by the AOBTA specializing in Tui Na. I am confident that I possess the skills and character that the NQA seeks to fill a board position.
I offer my services to the organization in whatever capacity may be needed at this time and for the duration of my potential tenure.
MICHAEL HOPKINS MCCOMISKEY
 BIO: Michael has served on the Board for three years and is the chair of the Nominations Committee and a member of the Events Committee. He is currently active in helping organize a local area conference aimed at drawing in both NQA members and representatives of mainline organizations (unions, corporations, colleges, etc.). He is affiliated with the Center for Complementary Medicine of New York Methodist Hospital, where he teaches 'Qigong for Health and Wellness', as well as offering workshops around the country. He is a frequent presenter at the National Conference. As a high school teacher, he served on his union's Executive Council for more than 20 years and is convinced of the potential of using such organizations to bring the gift of Qigong to mainstream Americans who would not - on their own - seek it out. In his teaching he combines current science, traditional practices, and spirituality.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: Having had the privilege of serving on the Board for the past 3 years, I am now seeking a second term. Personally, I am delighted with the level of professionalism and the direction the Board has taken in these three years. It is both outward looking and forward-looking -- seeking to grow the NQA into the recognized "go-to" organization for both teachers and information about Qigong. As part of that, my own personal vision is to see the NQA actively expand its presence and influence beyond the traditional 'interested' community and into the mainstream of American society via already-formed
organizations such as unions, and professional and fraternal organizations like the VFW, the Girl/Boy Scouts, religious organizations, AARP, etc., as well as schools, universities, and the corporate and governmental sectors. As a Board member I want to continue to play a very active role in facilitating that process. The NQA has a real contribution to make to the health and welfare of America. And now is our time!
MARK R. REINHART
 Bio: Mark R. Reinhart NMT, MMQ has been an active student/teacher/practitioner of the arts since age five. He has been involved in the Eastern arts (martial, healing, and philosophical) for over thirty-five years. His private practice, The Reinhart Studio, offers healing modalities including Medical Qigong, Neuromuscular Therapy and Chinese herbs, along with class and private instruction in Qigong and Taiji. A performer since age 12, Mark maintains an active performance schedule in addition to private music students. Mark is also creator and chief instructor of the Qigong/Taiji program at the hospital-affiliated Hazleton Health & Wellness Center. A published author, ‘Tune Up… You’re on in Ten Minutes’; Mark is also a certified instructor of Tai Chi for Arthritis® and Tai Chi for Diabetes®, programs created by Dr. Paul Lam.
Statement of Intent: As a musician, I understand the importance of cultivation and having a strong foundation in the basics. As a teacher I have seen the heart breaking effects of a student who has followed through with the improper instructions of an unqualified teacher. My focus has always been to ensure that a student receives the highest quality education. As society begins awakening to the energetic dimensions of health and well being in its searches for a path to balance, the importance of proper education in our arts becomes paramount. Chances are everyone who reads these words has experienced the healing effects of Qigong. Therefore, I believe that we, as members of the NQA, have an obligation to give back and share with a society so in need of healing, the gifts our arts have given us. I envision the NQA becoming the primary vehicle through which seekers can experience the rich diversity of our arts. But with notoriety comes responsibility. The highest educational, moral, and ethical standards must be maintained not only by the NQA, but also by all we certify and endorse. To do otherwise would dishonor the thousands of years of tradition placed in our hands.
ANNIE ROBERTS
 BIO: I have had a private practice in Qigong Healing since 1995 and have been a professional member of the NQA since 1998. I am also currently teaching at the Center Place in Boulder, Colorado and am a liaison for the NQA certification committee. I studied in China on the first NQA sponsored trip in 1999. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and am also a Doctor of Optometry. I have been married for 27 years with one daughter studying in London (donations accepted, pounds preferred), and another daughter about to graduate from high school.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: I have been a professional member of the NQA for many years but until this year have never considered running for the board. The NQA is at a cross roads in it's existence where we are moving to that next level of expansion and service. This organization has a unique contribution to make to a population that is increasingly ready to receive what the NQA can offer. I will bring to the board my experience, support, and willingness to facilitate the growth and influence of this exceptional organization.
JAMPA MACKENZIE STEWART
 BIO: Jampa Mackenzie Stewart describes himself as a Tai Chi/Qigong teacher, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist, a certified Medical Qigong Therapy instructor and practitioner, and Director of Healing Tao Institute in Austin, Texas.
I began practicing Tai Chi and Qigong in 1972, after it was described to me as a moving meditation based on the I Ching. I also practiced Zen, but found that it hurt my legs to sit in the zazen position for so long. Tai Chi was a good solution; I could meditate while moving, and learn a martial art as well! Along with Tai Chi, I studied Qigong, and gradually noticed that I was becoming stronger and more flexible than I had ever been in my life, including my teenage years.
I come from a medical background—my father, grandfather, sister, two cousins and an uncle are all medical doctors. So I grew up with some interest in being a healer. By the mid 1980s I was studying with Mantak Chia and Ken Cohen, learning Daoist Healing methods, Qigong and meditation. These healing methods had powerful effects on me as well as those who I treated. At the time I was doing non-contact energetic healing. I was amazed that I could actually heal people without touching them; I could never have imagined this possible. In order to learn more, I went to Southwest Acupuncture College in Santa Fe, and began to teach Qigong Healing as I became further advanced in school. So now I have a clinical healing practice where I can treat my patients with acupuncture, herbs, Qigong exercise prescriptions, non-contact Qi healing, and Asian bodywork (tui-na and Chi Nei Tsang). I also teach Qigong and Tai Chi classes and workshops on a weekly basis. I’ve been teaching regularly since 1982.
STATEMENT OF INTENT: I am running for re-election to the Board because in my view the NQA plays a vital and special role in this world. We are the only truly egalitarian Qigong group in the U.S., a place where beginners and masters can meet on an equal footing as fellow human beings, a forum where teachers and students of different styles from all over the country can gather, exchange, and sample what each has to offer in their own unique way. It is so important that we continue to do what we have done well, to improve in areas where there is room for growth, and to find new and broader ways to benefit and heal our world through Qigong. I’ve served the NQA in a variety of ways over the past 10 years: as Standards committee co-chairman, Publications chair, Ad-Hoc member of the Executive committee, Board member for three years, and now, as Vice-President. I care about the NQA, its past, its present, and its future. As a long time practitioner, teacher, Qigong healer with connections to the larger classical Chinese medical field and its professional organizations, I’ve enjoyed being able to help the NQA with both my experience and perspective. I look forward to continuing to serve in helping popularize and deepen the experience of Qigong in America. |
