The Vanguard 07/01/2016

News for the handwriting professional and serious student

July - September, 2016

Inside This Issue

n Heaven is where‌ n Margaret Truman and the

Counterstroke n Until we meet again - Dorothy

Haynie Beale n Book Review: Psychologie

Pisma n Margins: what they tell us about

feeling inadequate n Newly Certified Member! n Committee Reports n Chapter Reports n Breaking News n Orlando Shooter, Omar Mateen n Special Supplement - Writing in

Wood: Handwriting & Puzzle Pieces

Between the Lines As you can see, this is an extra-large issue with all kinds of great information included. In addition to the newsletter, there are three attachments: A fascinating 19-page supplement by Sarah Holmes Tucker on the little-known but extraordinarily talented puzzlemakers (including Sarah’s grandmother) who express themselves in wood; information about the AAHA 2016 Conference, and a copy of the recently published AHAF white paper, which the AHAF board requests you distribute as far and wide as you possibly can. This important material may well help save cursive writing in the 21st century. Please do your part so that graphology, too, can survive.

On another important note, some weeks ago I sent a notice to all members, as required by our bylaws, of the July 16th Annual Meeting, where a proposed bylaws change will be discussed. The proposed change is to temporarily remove term limits on some members of the executive board. Our rationale is that there are so many important projects currently being carried out that we believe it would be detrimental to our organization to make major changes to the leadership at this time.

If, on the other hand, you are eager to take on the job of president or vice-president, we would be happy to receive your nomination. This issue will be voted on by the members who are in attendance at the Annual Meeting, which is scheduled to be held online via Zoom on July 16th at 10:00 AM Pacific time. Please show your support of AHAF and make arrangements to be there.

There is no cost but an hour of your time, and your attendance and your vote are important to us.

On a personal note, I’m pleased to announce that my new book, OUTSIDE THE LINES, will be released on August 9th. This is the 5th in the forensic handwriting mysteries featuring handwriting expert Claudia Rose and her love interest LAPD homicide detective Joel Jovanic. As I’ve switched to a different publisher, the first four books have new covers, which I love because they are more representative of psychological suspene, which the series is. Please visit www.claudiaroseseries.com and check them out. I also have an author Facebook page if you feel like giving it a “Like.”

The past four years that I’ve served as AHAF president have passed very quickly, but a tremendous amount has been accomplished by this board and I am proud of and profoundly grateful for all their hard work and support. You can see what they’ve been up to lately by reading the Chapter and Committee reports in this issue. And remember, none of them get paid. Virtually everything they do on your behalf is out of the generosity of their hearts.

Finally, with the US election coming up in the Fall, here’s wishing you a peaceful summer.

Heaven is where The Police are British, The chefs are Italian, The mechanics are German, The lovers are French and It’s all organized by the Swiss.

Hell is where The police are German, The chefs are British, The mechanics are French, The lovers are Swiss and It’s all organized by the Italians.

The Vanguard is the sole property of Sheila

Lowe. A quarterly publication, it is A benefit of AHAF membership or by subscription for $25 electronic. Advertisements related to handwriting analysis will be considered. The Vanguard logo on the cover of this issue was created by Lena Rivkin. John Hookey is our copy editor. Send articles, questions, comments and other contributions to: sheila@sheilalowe.com Web site: www.sheilalowe.com Phone: 805/658-0109 Fax 805/658-1013

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July - September, 2016

hide, or possibly a perverse nature of some type.

I had my own feelings about its meaning, but I thought it would be instructive to ask a number of the experts to see what they had to say. The first person I heard back from was Pat Siegel who said, “I see it as a type of paraph, a partial underlining Marc J. Seifer of her name, making it more significant.”

Having been a handwriting analyst for I too considered the aesthetic aspect of over 40 years I have looked at literally tens the graphic, as a pleasant counterbalance to of thousands of signatures. For instance, I the upper loops on the two T’s tying her subscribe to an auction house that offers first to her last name. But I felt that there over a thousand signatures a month for should be more. that in general it is not a wise decision to sale. Most of them are the classics such as Sheila Lowe wrote, “I don’t normally base an analysis on one graphic. And of the presidents of the United States, famous analyze a signature alone, but with the course every graphologist I wrote to underindividuals like Tom Edison, Margaret stood this, but for simplicity’s sake, I Thatcher, Edmund Hillary, in music famous wanted to reduce my question to this one composers, the Beatles, etc., Hollywood singular graphic. Roger Rubin, however stars, sports figures and so on. So in the wanted to make sure that he was indeed not course of one year, that’s easily tens of going to analyze the handwriting based on thousands of signatures that I peruse, and a single letter. And so his analysis is more multiply that by ten or twenty years, and global. He wrote: that’s just from the auction house.

“This is a person who makes a strong Recently, for a modest sum I obtained personal imprint on others (large initial letMargaret Truman’s signature. One reason I ter). It also shows a purposeful use of her chose it was because of a spectacular good intelligence. She has learned to recounterstroke which she had on the “g” in strain, withhold and maintain a reserve that the center of her first name. Counterstrokes inhibits her high energy and vitality, probaare rare and this one was incredibly promibly due to a position in the public eye nent. Not only is it a backwards “g,” but (strong left-leaning slant and strong movethe vertical into the lower zone was also ment to the right). This ambivalence is also converted into a marked curve. If the in the large counter-formation loop in the verticals symbolize one’s backbone, certain lower zone. It shows problems in integrating the sexual and other elemental urges lower zone stroke with the need to perform smoothly in evturning away from eryday life. There may be some suppressed what is standard, to gay fantasies or leanings, as well. She has me it infers sexual practiced compartmentalizing and avoiding abuse.” any obvious intrusions of which there were I knew when I likely to be many into her above the asked the question baseline life.”

Iris Hatfield commented, “It is difficult to aspects of Margaret’s backbone take just one letter out of appear to be deficient. Countercontext but my random strokes reflect people that go thoughts are: She seems to against the grain. In general, it is a have a lot of energy and negative sign that is potentially imagination in all zones linked to someone who is untruthbut especially the lower ful, someone with something to

Margaret Truman & the Counterstroke

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zone. However, she does not follow through to the mid zone with this “g”.

I had an analyst who I respected tell me many years ago that you can tell when a dramatic or painful situation happened by calculating how old the person is and figuring the time of the event by looking at where the upstroke comes back and crosses the down stroke. Margaret seems to spend a lot of energy in the past, but brings it forward with the other tie-strokes but not with the ‘g.’ With the hook on the end she does not seem willing to let go of these emotions.”

These struck me as very astute comments. I had considered that something must have occurred in the past to produce this counterstroke, and Iris put this in a succinct way that made sense to me. Iris’s insight was what I was hoping for. Combined with Roger’s, the picture that emerged bumps the analysis to a new level and underscores what graphology is really all about.

As graphologists, we have a tool that gives us unique insights, at times, into the very soul of the writer. As I see it, there were two levels to an analysis. The first is the surface level whereby you put down the numerous obvious points based on the graphics that you see. In Margaret Truman’s case, she has large capitals with the M larger than the T, she has a left slant, an abundance of loops, the counterstroke on the lower zone and an abundance of garlands. This gets us to the hard part, or the second level where, if you’re lucky, you have an Aha! moment.

My intuition, based on what I know about graphology, leads me to believe that something happened to Margaret early on to generate a contrary nature and this idea was reflected in what the other experts had to say.

One of graphology’s forefathers, Max Pulver, would project a handwriting onto the wall so that it was extremely large and he would look at it for days on end allowing even his unconscious to play a role in

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the analysis. One key to analyzing anyone’s handwriting, is to be humble because we are dealing with the very complexity of life with all its hidden aspects and contradictions. What makes a good graphologist is the ability to get to this second level and make it personal to the writer. I like Pulver’s approach. To really analyze a writing and get below the surface, one needs patience and the time to wait it out until some deeper truth emerges.

In this case, in order to have a greater understanding of this graphic, I decided not only to ask the experts, but also to learn about Margaret Truman’s life.

Margaret was an only child and the apple of her father’s eye. Coming from a somewhat wealthy family, she was spoiled, given everything she wanted growing up.

She became a gifted singer and later, a writer. According to David McCullough, in his book, Truman (Simon & Schuster, 1993), Margaret was almost kidnapped when she was five years old by a strange man who came to the school to pick her up.

Fortunately nothing happened, but one wonders given the prominence of this counterstroke, whether or not she was molested at an early age. There is, of course, no way to tell whether or not something like this occurred. This was at the time of the Lindbergh kidnapping so it clearly was a dramatic moment even if it was reduced to having a strange man almost pick her up.

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Margaret’s maternal grandfather committed suicide in his 40’s, but this event was never talked about. If we look at Harry Truman’s signature, what stands out is the lowercase style capital T which at the same time is very prominent as it shoots out in long fashion into the stratosphere. Here we see a contradiction in Harry’s personality: proud of who he is, ambitious, but at the same time someone who identified with the common man. His handwriting leans to the right, Margaret’s leans to the left. This suggests a conflicted relationship to her adoring father and corresponds to the ambivalence that Roger above, and Ruth Holmes below, mention.

Symbolically, it would be interesting to psychoanalyze her choice of topics for her books, starting with Murder in the White House, which was turned into the movie Murder at 1600 starring Wesley Snipes where the president is shot, but survives.

In a phone conversation, Ruth Holmes stated that this backwards “g” may indeed be associated with “some confusion concerning Margaret’s sexual identity.” She likened the graphic to “a salmon swimming against the current upstream, counter to the norm. It is a sign of the unconventional, reflecting contrariness, a sense of rebellion, and a difficulty of identification with the parents.” The rest of the signature, Ruth suggested, was much more conventional.

Concerning Margaret’s sex life, she was married for many years and gave birth to four sons.

While I was working on the report, Sheila Lowe sent me two more samples of Margaret’s handwriting. As you can see in the top one, the backwards “g” is converted into a more traditional lower zone “g” which swings way to the left via a sharp

July - September, 2016

Until We Meet Again

From time to time we share our thoughts about friends who have left us.

When I heard from longtime AHAF member Dorothy Haynie Beale that she was divesting herself of her handwriting library and preparing to bring her life to a close I thought it would be so much better for us to hear from her while we still have the opportunity. She kindly responded to my invitation this way: “One of my most rewarding learning experiences has been being a life-member of AHAF; and being actively involved in our local chapter, hosting two conventions in Sacramento, meeting special speakers from across the country, sharing in research projects, and enjoying the AHAF Journal (Vanguard). I’ve had a valuable learning experience, and a nice side benefit has been cruising and giving lectures on board ships. It’s been a wonderful life experience and I’m so thankful for it. And now after three challenges with cancer, I’ve been given 6 months to live. So I say, “Thanks for the memories” until we meet again.”

Dorothy

angle as opposed to a curved q-like counterstroke. In other words, if I had only seen this “g” in the note to Vance Morgan, I would not have thought of this graphic as being a traditional counterstroke because this kind of “g” can be seen much more frequently. I would instead have portrayed it as a strong left-tending movement, not burdened by all of the negative aspects of the “counterstroke.” So what’s interesting here is the graphological link between a “g” that drives down and to the left, as compared to a wimpy downstroke curving back to create an analogous graphic.

The other sample Sheila provided did indeed express the more classic counterstroke. I then went online and found several other signatures where the g is made with a counterstroke for the lower loop.

As I felt, and as Pat Siegel suggested, there is a certain aesthetic balance to this understroke which goes to the left as compared to the two T-bars which loop very prominently to the left but end up to the right. Here we see that these graphic symbols, much like symbols in dreams, have multi-dimensional meanings, in Margaret’s case, associated with the past containing both negative and positive (lyrical) meanings.

Another interesting feature of Margaret’s signature is that it has a double T in that the word Margaret ends with a “t” and the word Truman begins with a T and Margaret has rhythmically integrated those two graphics in a spectacularly pleasing manner.

The double T is spontaneous, elaborated, and has positive connotations associated with her ambitious and imaginative nature.

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Being the daughter of a president who himself has a prominent T in his name when he signs it, we also noticed the large M starting out the first name. The lyrical aspects of the writing, along with the left slant softens the negative aspect and reflects the ambivalence discussed above and her interest in music, art and the creative process.

Margaret wanted to establish her own identity separate from her father. And she did so by becoming a best-selling author writing about murder in the White House which one way or another is certainly contrary to the symbol of her father/president. An only child, the graphic pattern suggests that Harry, with his extreme right slant, may have been overly ardent, and perhaps even smothering towards his precious daughter, and she rebelled.

As with most individuals, Margaret’s personality is comprised of contradictions, pulled by both the past and the future, haunted by some hidden libidinal event, yet at the same time, creative, productive and successful as a career women, as a mother and as a world figure.

I'd like to thank Pat Siegel, Sheila Lowe, Roger Rubin, Iris Hatfield and Ruth Holmes for contributing to this article. What fascinates me most about our field is its endless complexity. Graphology is a unique window into the human soul. As we can see from these masters, it is a real challenge to get beyond a surface analysis, but when that aha! moment happens, we begin to glimpse the true potential and majesty of this very privileged profession.

Marc J. Seifer, PhD, is the author of The Definitive Book of Handwriting Analysis.

Contact Marc here: mseifer@verizon.net

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Book Review PSYCHOLOGY OF HANDWRITING – Humanistic approach to discovering personality on the basis of handwriting (Grada Publishing)

By Helelena Bakov< Reviewed by Daniela R@s Òiffelov<. Ph.D. Grada Publishing is one of the largest Czech publishing houses in professional literature. It aims to bring experts forward to increase public knowledge and information in many disciplines.

The renowned Czechoslovakian graphologist Helena Baková brings a new perspective to graphology and the psychological interpretation of handwriting. Her new book represents a more comprehensive concept of graphology as humanistic psychology of handwriting that goes beyond the simplistic interpretations of personality and offers a holistic view of man and his handwriting. It is the culmination of the author’s many years of study and practical experience in the interpretation of handwriting, but also in psychotherapy and self-development.

The result is an original method of working with handwriting, the so called 'Grafoarte' approach that uses paintings and colors to help to uncover deeper levels of the writer’s personality.

A unique and previously unpublished contribution is the way the psychology of handwriting and the interpretation of handwriting is linked with the psychotherapeutic approach and the theory of personality as developed by Carl.R. Rogers.

Graphology is thus becoming not only an instrument of personality diagnostics, but allows the writer to use the handwriting as a source of self-knowledge, an opportunity for a new self-experience and a more intensive work on himself. It shows also that the work of a graphologist is not just a simple method of interpreting the signs, but it is a result of a lively interaction between the graphologist and the handwriting/the writer. Graphology can thus be seen as an art of entering into a relationship with the expression of the handwriting through which the uniqueness of the personality can speak out.

The book is divided into four parts. In the first part, the author presents the basis of graphology and its methods. She introduces the different approaches to interpreting handwriting and defines the psychology of handwriting as an approach that goes beyond the traditional conception of psychodiagnostical graphology. It results in a portrait of a personality rather than an assessment. Furthermore, the author closely examines the

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holistic understanding of handwriting and the holistic signs of expressive graphology.

She illustrates the methodology of graphological work on specific examples of the handwritings of Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana.

In conclusion, Bakov< points out the important role of our subjective reality which inevitably affects our perception and experience of the handwriting, and develops techniques, how to get closer to the ‘pure’ expression of the handwriting.

Each topic is supported by numerous examples from handwritings and their interpretation, as well as short illustrative examples and exercises where the reader can verify his or her sensibility towards the expression of the handwriting.

The second part of the book presents the author’s original method of creative work with the handwriting. It shows that the handwriting is not just a dead product, but it can be used as a gateway to one’s own feelings and emotions. The method of painting the handwriting not only allows one to grasp the handwriting deeper, but primarily through self-experience to understand each other even more. Graphoarte approach is thus useful in psychotherapy (Graphoarte therapy) and opens up new possibilities for deepening graphological work and its benefit to the client.

Graphoarte therapy is based on the principles of the person-centered approach by Carl Rogers. In the individual sessions the client is offered an opportunity to paint his/her handwriting or the handwriting of a person who is in some way important to him/her. The handwriting becomes thus an inspiring material for the client’s self-understanding. The handwriting is not graphologically analyzed. The group sessions are focused on self-understanding, too. The painting of handwritings allows the group to search for common themes and focus on personal links in the lives of the individuals. A systematic work may then result in the creation of an individual “picture gallery of emotions, experience and relationships,” etc.

The third part is an original contribution to psychological theories. It deals with the psychology of Carl Rogers and his person-centered approach (PCA) in connection with graphology. It illustrates the humanistic graphology as “understanding” and person-centered. The author points to the fundamental attitudes of acceptance, empathy and authenticity,

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Book Review Continued from page 6 which are very important when working with the handwriting, and she also describes their manifestation in writing.

Similarly, in the context of the handwriting she explores the concept of Rogers’ personality and his description of the seven stages of the process of personality change. In conclusion, the author offers an original personality typology, which is based on the expressive fixation styles, and thus enables a closer understanding of the writer’s self-concept and his way of experiencing, and helps to look at the world with his eyes.

In the fourth part, the author offers graphological portraits of the composers Antonin Dvorak and Bedrich Smetana whose handwritings were presented in the first part of the book. Those more deeply interested obtain a further insights into how graphologist proceeds from the first meeting with the handwriting to the final psychological interpretation of the writer’s personality.

Psychology of Handwriting is written in a very readable and intelligible language. It contains many examples of handwritings, vivid illustrations and practical exercises. It is an interesting reading for anyone interested in psychology, graphology or personality, who can use it as a textbook of graphology or a guide for their own self-development.

For professional graphologists, psychologists, and psychotherapists it may be an inspiring refreshment which broadens the view on the possibilities of working with handwriting. Finally, the book is a major asset for those who seek a holistic and humanistic approach to person, and who seek a deeper understanding of his experiencing and creativity.

[Ed. note: although this book is not yet translated to English, it is valuable to know what is available in other parts of the world. We applaud Ms. Bakov< for producing this impressive work.]

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Margins: what they tell us about feeling inadequate b y Y a a k o v Ro s e n th a l Today, many people feel they’re just not good enough. They don’t measure up to others. They feel inferior. They feel like a failure. In some cases, they feel violated.

Usually, the feelings are caused by our environment. They could be imprinted from home, school, work, friends, rivals, or simply the circumstances surrounding our souls’ mission on earth.

The feeling of not being “good enough” comes in four specific expressions: • I’m not good enough compared to others; everyone else performs better than I. • I believe that I do better than most, but I’m worried I won’t be able to maintain this level in the future.

• I think I might be successful, but I don’t really know, so I’d better avoid anything that may expose my shortcomings.

• I’ve been violated in the past, and I’m struggling to find healthy boundaries.

Like many other aspects of our personalities, these feelings show up in a person’s handwriting—not just in the text, but in the margins, the places left blank around the text.

Let’s look at five unique samples and interpret them.

Alice: Large Left Margin: Others Are Better, So I Am Afraid to Start

Alice is 16 years old. Her writing shows a large left margin. She is trapped by the notion that she is just not good enough compared to others. It’s hard for her to try new things. She believes others think she is not good enough. She may even lie in order to appear “better” than she really is. Her feelings of never being

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good enough make her very sensitive about her shortcomings.

Her lack of self-confidence and self-respect has tainted her outlook on life and inhibited her success.

and margins appear to be completely haphazard and disorderly.

Both girls were abused, and their space violated. Both are struggling to regain control of their lives. One chose rigidity and the other chose rebellion. Neither feels good enough in their current state.

The Problem with “Good Enough”

For Alice, Joe, Eli, Mushka and Dana, the feeling of not being good enough is based on the false notion that people can and should be “good enough.” The word “enough” is synonymous with words like “ample” or “adequate,” words of comparison and measuring.

People compare things, ensuring they have ample food, sufficient light, Joe: Large Right Margin: I Need My Success, So I’m Afraid of Results enough stimulation etc. People are not things. One’s thoughts, speech, and acJoe has a different problem than Alice. He is 16 years old. tions are unique. We all have different experiences, outlooks, He has a large right margin. He is a very successful person, a strengths, weaknesses, challenges, and approaches to life. good student, has friends, and is respected by his peers and When a person believes they are “not good enough,” they adults. He is well-adjusted. However, Joe is worried about are in actuality comparing themselves to an imaginary expecwhether he’ll continue being successful and doubts whether tation. he can duplicate his past successes. This makes him cautious In truth, we are only ourselves in every moment. So in evand resistant to new people, places and ideas. His fear of failery moment, we are the best we can be right now. As our moure makes it hard for him to act spontaneously. He rarely volment progress through our day, we continue being the best we unteers because he fears he may not do it well. could be in that moment. Even during events that are not posiEli is 15 years old and has large margins all around. He is tive, we are still the best we can be. It is natural and healthy to intelligent and very capable. Eli feels he is sort of good enough but isn’t really sure. He thinks he is satisfied with his life but he is uncertain and he doesn’t want to do anything to undo present feelings. Eli doesn’t take chances. He is cautious, trying not to venture out of his comfort zone. His goal is not to cause himself undue pressure, notoriety, or responsibility.

Mushka (see page 9) responded by trying her utmost to patch up the breaches in her life and create a tight order to block out the chaos in her life.

Every movement appears to be orderly, neatly planned and in place. She craves control and normalcy above all.

Eli: Large Margins on All Sides: I Just Plain Don’t Know, So I Lie Low In contrast, Dana (also page 9) appears to inhabit a universe of complete strive to be better. While being the best we can be in the mospontaneity and chaos. To Dana, everything is out of her conment, simultaneously we need to be working towards self-imtrol, so there is no use trying to control anything. Her writing provement, all with G-d’s Help. This is the healthy approach.

Continued on page 9

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Congratulations to Newly Certified Member Sally Mosko!

Several decades ago Sally came across a used copy of a book on handwriting analysis and from that point on she was smitten. Eager to learn more, she sought out classes in the Chicago area and was introduced to the American Association of Handwriting Analysts (AAHA). Little did she appreciate at the time the pool of talent she was exposed to—Betty Link, Betty Semler-Delmar, Rose Matousek, Fran Albright and Shirley Urbane, to name a few. Graphology has been her hobby ever since, but #1 on her bucket list when she moved to Wisconsin three years ago was to test her knowledge through the certification process. AHAF’s twice weekly online Zoom sessions afforded her the perfect opportunity to review and prepare, thanks to Linda Green and her support team.

As Sally transitions to retirement she is looking forward to devoting time to personal and compatibility analysis. As past Marketing Director of a counseling center in Illinois, she saw how useful graphology could be to the therapists as an additional tool to enhance understanding of their clients. This is an area she would like to explore.

Sally continues to write and edit marketing materials for the counseling center from home. She is a certified cursive coach and has conducted a monthly graphology study group in the northern Chicago suburbs for the last five years. Valerie Weil once said that certification is just the beginning of the learning process; how right she was!

Smosko7751@aol.com Margins, continued from page 8 I’m me.

The best me I can be.

No bigger No smaller I’m just me.

G-d made me right To feel this might All day and all night I’m proud to be me.

The past is my teacher.

Learn those lessons.

Bring that new knowledge into my present.

In the present, I’m always the best I can be; In the future I will also be the best I can be.

Let’s celebrate this truth together!

Mushka: Very Neat and Very Messy - Writing and Margins

Yaakov Rosenthal is an author, certified handwriting analyst, life coach, and holistic healer, as well as a trained physiognomist (face reader). He uses these skills during his consultations in high schools and summer camps, where he coaches hundreds of teenagers annually.

Yaakov’s book, Unlock The Secret World of Teenagers, may be purchased from www.understandyourteenager.com or Amazon. yyrosenthal@gmail.com Dana: complete chaos July - September, 2016

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Vice-President - Linda Larson, CG We have welcomed several new members to AHAF so far this year: Marcella Barriero (CA), Kathi McKnight (CO), Edward Bales (FL), Barbara Leonard (MD), Denis Verret (Canada) and Diana Clayton (Canada) returned after an absence.

We are also very proud of the white paper that was initiated by Linda Green and contributed to by Jane Yank, Gayna Scott, Theresa Ortega and Sheila Lowe. This is a fabulous resource that each of our members can offer to those who may not be aware of the importance of cursive, to parents, educators, counselors, business people and the media (blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, radio, TV, magazines, to name a few. Please let us know who you have shared this very important, well-documented paper with, and keep sharing it (ask your local library if you may leave copies in their information areas.

AHAF’s next big project is our 50-year Anniversary Conference, slated to take place in Tucson, AZ, in October, 2017. The theme of the conference will be Write The Next Chapter, and we are planning to have quite a celebration with topnotch analysts, and considering some challenging participatory interactions: such as should a female who has a triangulated LZ be defined as a “house tyrant?” Or, how do we define gender in writing? How do specific drugs impact writing? What is the impact of the ductus? Are their actually 16 types of writing pressure?

We will have a photo history of our founding father, Charlie Cole, and founding mothers, Lucia Callis, Dorothy Hodos, Win Goodale, Geri Stuparich, Marye Whitfield and Eldene Whiting).

We hope that many of our past presidents will attend.

The magical Tricia Clapp and her Tucson co-conspirators will be working with Sheila and me (because they have superior organizational conference skills and know how to throw a heck of a party), to make this an unforgettable event. So keep October 2017 in mind.

Treasurer - Tim Otto As of June 20, 2016 Our Wells Fargo Bank balance is $8,366.44.

The American Fund Investment balance is $54,335.41.

Certification & Education - Linda Green, CG Congratulations to Sally Mosko, CG, who just passed the challenging AHAF Certification Examination. This represents years of study and successful application of graphology knowledge. Three members are currently working on the Certification Exam, with others going through the application process.

We continue to meet for the first Tuesday of the Month Study Group Sessions from 6-7 p.m. PDT. Our next session is scheduled for July 5th. These are a benefit of AHAF membership, so please

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come join us! Let Linda Green know if you would like to be added to the invitation list.

Research - Jane Yank, Ph.D. Several research ideas have been discussed that sound promising. I look forward to sharing positive results in the future.

Library - Linda Green, CG Bouquets go to Kim Iannetta and Dorothy Haynie Beale, who have made sizable book donations to the AHAF Library. We thank them so much for their contributions and willingness to share what they have with their fellow graphologists, who will study and enjoy the materials for years to come. Click here to view our book list .

A searchable list of available monographs can be found on the AHAF website. Contact Linda Green, AHAF Librarian, to request a copy of a monograph that interests you.

Social Media/Communications - Theresa Ortega Our National Handwriting Day efforts in January have continued to attract followers during 2nd quarter, and our Campaign for Cursive contest this quarter has generated some of our best engagement and interest. We are looking good on all of our social media channels! Here’s what’s happening: AHAF Facebook: went from 427 to 445 LIKES (+18 Likes) Engagement: 5/3/16, 630 views, Handwriting, Keyboarding or Both, That is the Question (new research in Australia) 5/15/16, 268 views: 3 Ways that Handwriting With a Pen Positively Affects Your Brain 4/2/16, 264 views: post about Heidi Harralson’s invitation to speak in Urbino, Italy about handwriting in the digital age.

AHAF Twitter: went from 90 to 97 followers Top Tweet: Judge Grants Limited Access to Jail Writings of a Convicted Murderer. (59 views) C4C FB: went from 641 to 691 LIKES (+50 Likes) Engagement: 4/20/16, 4869 views, Cursive Might Return to Louisiana article 4/27/16, 1448 views: Cursive Writing Requirement Passes Louisiana Senate article 4/2/16, 716 views: our post about Heidi Harralson’s invitation to speak in Urbino, Italy about handwriting in the digital age C4C Twitter - went from 100 followers to 130 followers Top Tweet: Announcement of 1st place winners in C4C contest with link to handwritten entries C4C Instagram: We have 46 followers Have you Liked and Followed us yet? If not, support AHAF, do it now.

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Campaign for Cursive - Gayna Scott Here are 3 things you need to know about C4C: 1. Super job on the Cursive is Cool™ contest! Thanks to our wonderful sponsors and volunteers, we were able to bring loads of smiles and pride to many kids. The number of teachers and parents behind the competition gave us more hope that kids are enthused about writing and really like to learn cursive. We were able to give out 54 awards this year. We’ve got the first place and creative winners posted to our website and Facebook page. Check it out.

2. More states are lining up with legislation to get cursive back in the classroom. The latest bill to pass was in Louisiana. If you are interested in helping with your state or a corner of the country, please let us know. We need a few more to keep letting the elected officials know they have an entire group working with them.

3. The Postal History Museum in Tucson, AZ has recently released an educational lesson plan for kids on Writing the Declaration of Independence. It’s a mini downloadable course about cursive and the writing of the Declaration of Independence with 11

real stamps from the past. The four pages were designed for 4th Grade students and available free online. The Museum will send you a package of the stamps for kids to paste into the answer. We worked months with them on this project and are delighted with the finished product. We’d love to hear your thoughts. This is a great summer project for the kids and grandkids.

There were many, many entertaining comments from the C4C winners. Here are just a couple: Olivia Willow Leichter, 5th Grade Girl who tied for first place: “Sometimes I pretend it’s my own secret language, and that whenever I write in cursive my mind and pencil are filled with magic!”

Liam Cassidy, 4th Grade Boy: “I like cursive because I had messy print. . . I finally felt dignity in what was being written on my papers.”

Below are a few of the winners whose parents gave permission for us to share their pictures.

Amsterdam, one of our many generous sponsors, sent boxes of C4C pens to distribute.

2nd Grade Girl, Ava

3rd Grade Girl, Sophia

1st Grade Girl, Riley

Outstanding Teacher, Dee Dee Chang 6th Grade Boy, Nikolas July - September, 2016

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4th Grade Boy, Liam with teacher Tim Barrier 11

chapter or study group, please contact me. We can use your help!

On another note, the AHAF organization has been growing, in large part due to our ability to keep connected. These days, we meet online using Zoom.us for many of our meetings, and even for our conferences. This service is now being used by several of our local chapters for online meetings, as well as our Board of Directors. Were you aware that, as a perk of membership, our Zoom account is available to you? If you are an AHAF Professional level (certified) member, you are welcome to use the Zoom service for your own meetings, classes, etc., at no charge.

Everyone who attends our meetings automatically has the FREE service account. Free accounts allow you to hold meetings one-on-one with no time restrictions, or three to eight people can meet From winner Jason Kleehamer for up to 40 minutes. As a benefit of AHAF Profes- we love it!

Yet another of our sponsors, sional level membership, simply schedule your meeting with our Domtar, has developed a won- account with us and use AHAF’s “Pro” plan to host meetings or derful “Paper Pal” project to events that can accommodate up to 200 people and without time rebrink sneior citizens and students together. Watch here. strictions.

You can learn how to create a meeting, share your screen, and Chapter Coordinator - Val Weil, CG how to reserve a date and time using AHAF’s account, plus much Besides everything that’s been reported by more at our AHAF Zoom website http://ahafzoom.weebly.com the chapter presidents, I’m happy to report Check the online calendar for dates and times to make sure the one that there has been interest expressed in form- you want is available. You can schedule a date and time yourself ing new groups in Malaysia, and in New through the “Contact” on the AHAF Zoom website, or email the York. If you are local to any of our chapters AHAF secretary directly. If you still have questions about Zoom or or study groups, or you would like to form a this perk, just ask! We are happy to help. Come Zoom with us!

Seated L to R: Barbara Donato, Jan Tebo, Roger Rubin, Betty Almeida, Jan Warren Back 12 L to R: Donna Whipple, Jenny Whipple, Louise Melucci,The Sheryl Alexander, Cynthia Crosson, BonnieJuly Lee Nugent, Eileen Vanguard - September, 2016 Page, Sarah Tucker, Rita Meunier, Marie Looby, Louise, Graziella Pettinati

NorCal: At our last meeting we focused on research by document examiners that have direct value for handwriting analysts. There is much interest in the qualities of the stroke in handwriting. In the first issue of International Journal of Forensic Document Examiners, there appeared “Some observations on the morphology of the ballpoint pen.” Extremely well illustrated, it teaches us what traits of the writing stroke cannot possibly be traits in the writer since they are caused by the very structure and mechanical effects of the pen itself.

Much earlier Ordway Hilton published a journal article showing how simply using a different pen could dramatically change the physical traits of one’s handwriting. He concluded how we cannot infer who wrote something based on mechanical effects of the kind of pen used, and we must not infer from the same data character traits in the writer. These technical aspects of handwriting are critical for protecting us from making ill-founded conclusions about a writer. The next meeting is set for July 11th for a discussion of some of the First Ladies (Marcel Matley & Linda Larson).

Rocky Mountain: We have adjourned for the summer and won’t meet again until September. Same location, starting at 10 instead of 9:30. We’ll be working out the schedule during the summer. Meanwhile, visit our new website (Sally Grammar).

Tucson: Because many members are frequently traveling during the summer months, we will suspend AHAF Tucson Chapter meetings until Thursday, September 8, 2016 when we will begin a Fall series of meetings and offer an introductory class in handwriting analysis.

Stay cool during these hot summer months! (Heidi Harralson) SoCal: On July 24th we will meet at the EP Foster Library’s Topping Room in Ventura to discuss handwritings of US First Ladies through history. We’ve compiled samples of most FL’s, but unless

July - September, 2016

otherwise requested, will stick to the best known ones (Sheila Lowe).

Internet: Our membership has grown to 42. They join us from all around the world via Zoom teleconferencing. From the comfort of your home, office or by telephone wherever you are, you can participate. Membership gives you access to archived talks and the ability to download talks you may have missed.

Visit our chapter website for more information and the speaker schedule. We are also on facebook.

Upcoming Zoom meetings: Saturday, July 23rd, 11AM Pacific. This is a week later than usual so we can all attend the AHAF Membership Meeting on Saturday, July 16th. Noorah Kareem will speak on Doodles and Drawings.

August Meyer will present Gang Graffiti and Symbols on Thursday, August 18th at 6PM Pacific. Linda Green will speak on Intuition displayed in Handwriting on Thursday, September 15th at 6PM Pacific.

We are always looking for input, feedback, and new ideas! If you would like to be a speaker, please let us know as we are booking 2017 now. If you have heard an interesting talk or there is a subject you’d like to learn more about please contact our Secretary, Val Weil Another membership perk is being able to participate in 5 new special interest groups: Business with Graphology, Graphology Book Club, Mentoring, Research and Sample Discussion Group. Please check them out and sign up for the ones that interest you. We hope to see you online at our next meeting (Raeann Berge).

South Carolina: The crusade for cursive continues. On June 15, Vice President Earl Dean presented a mini-program he called “Cursive is Cool” to the Community Emergency ReThe Vanguard

sponse Team (CERT) in Columbia. Attendees enjoyed the session and shared some emergency preparedness strategies with him.

Nice community outreach, Earl!

We are on summer break now.

Our next chapter meeting will be on Saturday, September 17th in Columbia. We welcome new members who wish to explore handwriting analysis with us (Honey Robinson).

North Bay: We met on June 25th with an excellent presentation by Linda Larson, Can We Determine Honesty/Dishonesty in Handwriting? If you missed this presentation and would like to view the recording, contact Linda Green.

Our VP of Programs, Joan Kramer will present on Repression on July 30th. She is also working on future meetings with special guest presenters to be announced. All are welcome to join us. Now that we are online, we are totally accessible via Zoom (Linda Green).

Pennsylvania: On May 7th the PA Chapter had another spirited, informative meeting. Among the many topics we discussed were the following: • Actress Mary-Louise Parker’s memoir Dear Mr. You, about handwritten love letters addressed to unnamed men in her life.

• Blog from The Huffington Post about Carol Bryant’s request to her mother to stop sending stuff for presents on special occasions and send instead handwritten memories from her past. She noted that heirlooms don’t have to be china or crystal. Written memories are more precious than all the stuff in our closets and attics. Her mother did send handwritten items. Her mother is now gone and Carol treasures these handwritten gems of nostalgia.

• Discussed and passed around two of Sheila Lowe’s Forensic Handwriting mystery novels, Dead Write and Written in Blood.

• This Chinese proverb to have our members finish: “Never write a letter when…..” Answer: “…you are angry.”

• Adam Driver’s statement to his ex-girlfriend Hanna in the HBO series Girls: “My brother was right. You are so rude, Hanna, he wrote a handwritten letter. That’s how much he meant it.”

• Several pangrams, which are often used by analysts for short samples, as they have all 26 letters of the alphabet in them.

• Block printed Handwriting of Donald Trump and the problems of analyzing printing.

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• Handwriting of my minister, Dr. Phillip Krey • The concepts of Mindfulness, Emotional Intelligence, Pres-

ence, and Charisma. We also discussed whether each of these can be found in handwriting.

Next meeting is Saturday September 17th at the Indian Valley Public Library, Telford, PA. from 10 am to 4 pm.

(Allan Grim, author of Strokes: Inside the Fascinating, Mysterious World of Handwriting Analysis (Pen Name Martin Povser.

Now in Revised Edition and available also as an ebook)) North Suburban Illinois Study Group: We are taking a break for the summer months but will resume meeting on September 22nd. Meetings are held the 4th Thursday of every month from 1–3 pm in the upper level conference room of Sunset Foods Grocery Store. Sunset Foods is located at the corner of Aptakisic Road and Route 83 in Long Grove, IL. This spring our group analyzed the writing samples of our mothers and fathers. In September, we will discuss the handwriting of Queen Elizabeth. New members are always welcome. If you are interested in attending, please contact Sally Mosko (Sally Mosko)

and it was a lively discussion and presentation. NESHA (New England Society for Handwriting Analysis) offers 4 all-day workshops a year and many opportunities for informal networking for those in the New England region rd

th

April 23 was the 400 anniversary of William Shakespeare’s

death. He was a genius, leaving an output of astonishing range and depth to posterity. It has secured him a pre-eminent position as poet and dramatist in English literature and even beyond. Neither during his lifetime nor for some 200 years later did any doubt arise concerning his authorship of the works published under his name. In 2008 a book by the well known writer Bill Bryson was published in the series Eminent Lives. In it Bryson establishes with wit and verve that only one man is accountable for the output published under Shakespeare’s name: Shakespeare himself. The book makes for fascinating reading and may even turn those around the surprising number of people who have tried so often to disprove that position because of their determination to disbelieve. I just hope All’s Well That Ends Well!

Congratulations to AHAF member Jo Coppola, who was

selected by Women of Distinction Magazine as a Distinguished Professional in her field.

Heidi Harralson was in Urbino in April and spent an

Theresa Ortega has accepted an invitation to represent AHAF at SOMEGRAF, the Mexican Society for Scientific Graphology in October. The first graphologist from America to speak at this prestigious event, she will discuss how the Campaign for Cursive came about and the benefits of cursive writing. We can’t wait to hear how it all goes!

Also from Theresa, our resident Spanish translator: INGPEC is offering a Scientific Graphology course. Included in the testimonial section are statements from folks at Barcelona University who have gone through their Masters program. The course seems to use Evelyn Arce’s “Sistema Neuroescritural,” or “neurological writing system.” Evelyn indicates that her system has made it easier to determine 5 points of information, especially in job placement, executive search, leadership potential, problem, etc. th On June 18 Roger Rubin presented a 5-hour workshop entitled Understanding Compatibility Using Handwriting Analysis to the NESHA group. Roger presented many samples of couples he has consulted to

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afternoon discussing handwriting remediation to graphologists there, eagerly telling them about the work going on by the Campaign for Cursive. She was happy to advertise these successes to encourage Italians to follow suit since they have their own cursive handwriting campaign. By sheer coincidence, the Italian minister of education happened to be in Urbino yesterday which gave the graphologists the opportunity to discuss with her the importance of cursive handwriting. It sounds as though they have made a positive impression, so, things are looking positive on the international front.

Sheila Lowe was interviewed for an article in Real Simple

magazine, the June edition. She also interviewed on the Dr. Bunny Vreeland internet radio show. The discussion involved Sheila’s books, handwriting in general, and the presidential candidates in particular. The 17-minute interview can be heard here

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July - September, 2016

Lena Rivkin presented a PowerPoint on handwritings of

entrepreneurs and a presentation on The Art of Doodling to CEO’s in Boston, MA. What she found most fun was observing executives doodle for the first time, which became a rich source of discussion. Lena’s reward was experiencing their positive reaction towards graphology by the end of her presentation.

Dave DeWitt analyzed handwriting on Grad Night at the

Nonnewaug High School, located in Woodbury, Connecticut.

Besides the students, the faculty and the parents got involved and had their writing analyzed too. Dave says “it’s a Win-Win situation for all.”

From Holland, Dick Schermer announces that the graphology

organization there has been recognized by the Kenniscentrum national institute. “Our Platform Handschriftontwikkeling has presented “handwriting” as tradition on this list recently,” he says, adding that there will be a conference and a reporting of International Handwriting Day activities, which will be held on January 23rd. Dick would like to hear from anyone who is aware of similar recognition in other countries: Kenniscentrum (Dutch Center of Intangible Cultural Heritage):

Grad Night with Dave Dewitt It was not long before the handwriting sample on this page came to light. It was written when Mateen applied for a job in law enforcement.

Some handwriting analysts said that the handwriting failed to provide enough indicators to predict the potential for his violent behavior. Yet, there are important red flags that should not be overlooked. The first is the “rivers” made by the pattern of word spacing as the writing proceeds down the page.

While rivers are not in themselves a red flag for danger, in a handwriting with the high degree of variability that we see in this one, they are significant.

The second red flag is the frequent changes in size and slant, which suggest low impulse control. Assuming there is no vision problem, rivers indicate an inner emotional split and can be a sign of psychological and social isolation. There are serious gaps in the thought process, which could also signal brain pathology.

It is not always possible for the graphologist to determine if or how someone is going to act out, but certainly, the potential for violence can be determined. As in this case, the signs may not be glaring and obvious, but small signs should not be ignored. As Roger Rubin says, “Handwriting is not The Truth, but it tells the truth.”

Pay attention to what the writing is telling you.

Orlando Shooter - Omar Mateen

The June 12th massacre in Orlando, Florida at Pulse, a gay nightclub, was carried out by a 29-year-old American man who was killed by police after a three-hour standoff. Over the more than two hours he had control of the nightclub, witnesses said that Mateen roamed through the club, aiming his weapon at victims, pacing between the three bathrooms and sporadically opening fire.

July - September, 2016

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News for the Successful Handwriting Professional & Serious Student A division of Sheila Lowe & Associates & the official publication of AHAF 170 Dahlia Way, Ventura CA 93004; www.sheilalowe.com

Special note!

For online subscribers, attached to this issue of The Vanguard is a special supplemental article by Sarah Holmes Tucker, the new AHAF white paper on the importance of cursive handwriting, and information about the AAHA July conference.

If you are receiving this newsletter via postal mail and would like to access these documents, contact sheila@sheilalowe.com for a link.