News for the handwriting professional and serious student
July - September, 2012
Inside This Issue n Changing of the Guard n Random Thoughts n Bringing Graphology into the Future n A Language of Letters n What Started it? n Joe Naso, Accused Serial Killer n AHAF President’s Farewell Message n Welcome to the AHAF Marcel B. Matley Handwriting Research Library n In Loving Memory n How Social Networking can help your Business n Bulletin Board n AAHA-AHAF Conference
Changing of the Guard In 1977, after ten years of studying graphology on my own, I discovered the American Handwriting Analysis Foundation. Attending meetings of the Orange County Chapter, I made new friends, found mentors and was accorded access to seminars by the likes of Felix Klein and Roger Rubin that opened new vistas. In 1985 I took over from Jeanette Farmer as Editor of AHAF News, which became AHAF Journal, and maintained that position for eight years. During that time I was also a certification judge and served over ten years in various positions on the (former) L.A. County Chapter board. Currently, I’m SoCal Chapter president and last year contracted to provide this newsletter, which also has its own subscriber list, as a benefit for AHAF members. Even during a lengthy leave of absence, I continued to support and publicize this organization for which I have great affection and respect, and next month, at the summer Conference, I will be installed as national President. The leadership team that has been elected with me is, I believe, capable of achieving great things for the organization and for graphology. We have already met via Skype to discuss our plans. Raising AHAFs profile and becoming more credible in the mental health community is a high priority. To that end, a Professionalism committee is forming, headed by Jane Hollis, MS. Jane will lead us further into the arena of psychology, which dovetails nicely with Annette Poizner’s article in this issue, and my own upcoming presentation at the Conference. The team has also been working on the Campaign for Cursive blog, and we welcome your posts. Kathleen Dickinson has created letter templates that you are invited to adapt for yourself, to write to legislators and others about bringing cursive back to U.S. schools. You can email me now for copies of the letters, and soon, they will be posted on the AHAF website. Check back often. Another project we are looking into is web conferencing for those who would like to participate, but cannot get to the conference for one reason or another. We’ll meet in 2013 in Northern California, but stay tuned for an opportunity to test web conferencing in a smaller way before then. Deb Peddy and her board have worked hard to hand over the organization to us in good shape. The list of major accomplishments she spearheaded during her term is lengthy and laudable. You can read her report on page 7 of this issue of The Vanguard. I’d love to hear from you—what do you need from your organization? Let us know: sheila@sheilalowe.com
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ately clear your computer history and texts messages if you die. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong. There is great need for a sarcasm font. MapQuest needs to start their directions on #5. I’m pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died. Bad decisions make good stories. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren’t going to do anything productive for the rest of the day. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don’t want to have to restart my collection...again. I’m always slightly terrified when I exit Word and it asks if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What’d you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away? I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call. I think the freezer deserves a light as well. The Vanguard is the sole property of Sheila Lowe. This quarterly publication is available on a subscription basis at a rate of $25/ year for the electronic version; $30 for print. Advertisements related to handwriting analysis will be considered. The Vanguard logo was created by Lena Rivkin. 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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Annette Poizner, MSS W, Ed.D., RS W
Bringing Graphology into the Future — New Possibilities, New Opportunities The feeling for and love of handwriting are spontaneous happenings. At a precise moment of our life, their written form falls suddenly under the light of our consciousness. Max Pulver
selves often use tests, such as the Thematic Apperception Test, even when the reliability and validity of that test has not been demonstrated. Psychologists For me, the experience of having my handwriting analyzed know that it is often difficult to validate projective assessment was life changing. Hearing fundamental truths about myself measures, tests that claim to provide information about an inand realizing that all that information was somehow embeddividual’s personality. Psychologists continue to use those ded in my chicken scratch, I resolved to learn more… about measures but are careful not to imply that there is a scientific myself, about handwriting, about psychology. One year later, I basis for this use. In that spirit, graphologists should never imreturned to Israel and studied graphology intensively, then ply that graphology is a science or is scientific. Using that lancame to my calling: the field of psychology. guage will immediately alienate the mental health community I vividly remember sitting in the office of my faculty adviwho can only reject such a claim. sor, three days off the plane from Israel, waxing enthusiastic When psychologists do use tests that lack empirical validaabout my interest in graphology. He stared at me blankly. Fition, they never use such tools in isolation. Psychologists nally he said, “Graphology has virtually no place in the field might administer a battery of tests so that they cannot be critiof psychology in North America.” I thought to myself, “Well, cized for relying on any one measure, particularly one that something better be done about that.” lacks empirical validation. Along these lines, graphologists That was over twenty years ago and this project has been can be criticized for over-relying on one test, devoid as it is of intense. Having completed doctoral research on the use of graexperimental literature which justifies its use. phology within psychotherapy, a dissertation performed at the But there is good news. Graphologists have already cultiUniversity of Toronto, I’ve presented at academic and clinical vated the ability to interpret projective material. Nothing stops conferences like that of the Canadian Psychological Associathem from learning other forms of projective personality astion and published professional articles. Now an acasessment. For example, one might study up on the Adlerian demic/clinical publishing house has just released my technique called the Earliest Recollections Test. There are graphology text, Clinical Graphology: An Interpretive Manual wonderful texts that explain how this technique is done, infor Mental Health Practitioners. This work has been featured cluding a book by Arthur Clark, Early Recollections: Theory in dailies across Canada and in Reader’s Digest. Now that an and Practice in Counseling and Psychotherapy. Graphologists academic publishing house has published a graphology intercan learn the technique and begin collecting handwriting and pretive manual, this technique has a hope of reclaiming the early memories at the same time. Both can be analyzed tostatus it rightly deserves. And we all can have a role in buildgether. Graphologists can study and use projective storytelling ing the credibility of a practice that has been misaligned and methods, having an individual spontaneously generate a little misunderstood for years. story, as if they were telling a story to a child. One text about So I’m writing from the front line, having learned from exthis practice is The Mutual Storytelling Technique by Richard perience some of the pitfalls that are possible when presenting Gardner. The technique can be used with adults, even though graphology to the public. I’d like to offer thoughts and sugthe use described in that book pertains specifically to children. gestions that can guide us all as we invite the public to revisit There are many techniques available. Learning them adds their thoughts about this technique. credibility to the work that you are doing. In the world of psychological measurement, the use of any On a related note, we all understand that graphology has given psychological test is contingent on experimental rebeen popularized and we can easily find books in libraries that search. In other words, the validity and reliability of any test make unusual claims about how to interpret any given graphic has to be established empirically. Yet, psychologists them-
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indicator. How many times have you picked up a book and read that a certain peculiar letter formation means something highly specific. Do you ever think to yourself, “Who says?” If the technique we use does not have empirical validity, at least it ought to have face validity. In other words, it should make sense. There should be some sort of logic that guides us in interpreting specific graphic signs even if they are unfamiliar to us. It has been my agenda to study and write about the symbolism of space, a symbolic map that can help us interpret graphic indices that are not familiar and give us bounds within which to interpret them. I’ve been coding this information and documented it in my aforementioned book, but believe that we need to further extend our understanding of the symbolism of space so that we can speak with confidence about the interpretations we come up with. As graphology gains credibility, there are more ways you can bring this technique into the marketplace. For example, large companies often conduct Wellness Days for their employees. Graphologists can design talks that discuss mental health, showing how we see wellness or its lack in the handwriting of celebrities. Graphology teaches about the ideal of being balanced and shows how individu-
als can recognize their own imbalances in their handwriting. Speaking in the corporate world is lucrative and doing so builds the credibility of the profession. Another possibility: graphologists can speak to school boards. Teachers can learn about mental health markers in handwriting and parents can learn about the value of handwriting as a brain exercise for children. Further, graphologists can present to students in schools. In fact, my first exposure to graphology occurred in 7th grade when my school brought a graphologist to lecture to the students. I remember being intrigued, even then. In other words, graphologists can bring their wisdom further afield in myriad ways and there may be additional venues that should be used in order to educate the public about the value of handwriting analysis. While we work together to further establish the credibility of graphology, we can be careful, monitoring whether using graphology as a means of entertainment might compromise this broader goal, that should be a common priority. Graphologists who are willing to give a quick analysis on the basis of one line of script can potentially hurt the larger goal of establishing graphology as a bona fide discipline. Of course, sometimes it’s possible to give a very entertaining talk
about graphology and still retain the dignity of the technique, in which case there would be no barrier to doing such a presentation. As a litmus test, graphologists can reflect whether there is dignity associated with what they have been asked to do. I was once asked to show up at a mall so as to help a retailer sell stationary by doing short little assessments on those passing by. Psychologists don’t do these sorts of taste tests, bringing the Rorschach out for entertainment at sidewalk sales. I declined the job. I do believe that this field is going to be receiving a fair bit of media attention over the next year and we can all be beneficiaries as North Americans revisit their thoughts about graphology. Hopefully the Vanguard and AHAF will be forums for additional conversation about how graphologists can work with this momentum and move the cause forward that much further. Annette Poizner, MSSW, Ed.D., RSW, is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who routinely uses graphology and other forms of projective personality assessment in her clinical practice. Additional articles are available on her website annettepoizner.com Click here to read an excerpt of Annette’s book, Clinical Graphology.
alphabet and ink. Vought’s By Lena Rivkin paper cuts Annie Vought is a stunningly original California-based feel as intiartist. From the very first moment I laid eyes on her work, I mate as diswas awestruck by how vividly she has braided my twin pas- covering a sions of art and graphology. Upon exploring her original hidden treaand beautiful ‘paper cuts,’ which are derived from actual sure trove of handwritten letters, I was put in mind of the mysterious and handwritten powerful art of Cy Twombly and also of the intricate deliletters, and cacy of Chinese paper cutting. As an artist, I deeply appreci- invite the ate Vought’s keen visual eye and her originality in viewer to ditransforming handwritten letters into three dimensional, al- vine the most breathing and pulsing words that punch with life. But mysteries of what sets the work of Annie Vought apart is that her incredi- the emobly detailed and hand cut work is pin-mounted to the wall, tional need whereby the reverse shadows of the cut out words create a and personality behind each word. Vought writes beautifully ghostly, emotional impact. of her own fascination with handwriting, which is only As a graphologist, I just love how Vought expresses the made more poignant by our increasing tendency to type insingular drama of cursive handwriting. Not since Twombly stead of write. As much as cursive writing is in danger of have I seen a recent artist delve into the emotional and becoming a lost art, as elucidated in the blog deeply personal way that humans express themselves with CampaignForCursive blog, (cont. Pg 5)
A Language of Letters
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What Started It? how your colleagues came to learn about graphology Martha Ben Assa, Israel Once upon a time about 30 years ago, one of my children, who studied criminology at the Tel Aviv University, came home for a weekend and showed me a small book about graphology in Hebrew (Yogev was the name of the writer, I think). I mentioned this to a friend and she took me to see Chava Ratzon, one of the most outstanding graphologists in Israel at that time. When she heard that I was a pediatrician she climbed up onto a chair, searched the upper shelves of her bookcase and handed me a book about children’s handwriting and scribbles, perhaps the first one ever, by a German Graphologist, Minna Becker. And so it all started for me. marthaba@netvision.net.il Andrea le Sueur Julio Cavalli, Argentina
Andrea le Sueur, South Africa Martha Ben Assa
A series of articles in a bimonthly womens magazine planted the graphology seed for me at the age of 16. Handwriting samples readers had sent in were analyzed briefly and snippets of the writing used as illustrations. This was in 1973, and it was only 27 years later that I finally had the opportunity to study graphology formally. I had such fond memories of those early articles that I went to the Fair Lady archives recently to dig them out. It was a moving trip down memory lane to discover them cheek-by-jowl with the celebrities of yesteryear, with their old-fashioned typeface and layout, on paper yellowing with age. andreals@telkomsa.net
I initially began to study graphology in my personal capacity whilst I was working towards my qualification in Educational Psychology. But in Julio Cavalli 1995 a friend invited me to a graphology conference. It marked a turning point in my life. I decided to do everything possible so that the Ministry of Education of Argentina would recognize a degree in graphology. In 1997 after much effort the Ministry approved a 3-year academic degree, thus formalizing a career that for a long time was tainted with superstition and trickery. Fifteen years later, I still feel great satisfaction that graphology, at least in Argentina, has regained its rightful status as a science. juliocavalli@gmail.com
Annie Vought (Continued from page 4) Annie Vought’s art goes a long way to prove to us all that cursive writing is as vital now as ever. Vought’s art is a potent reminder that the time it takes to write a handwritten letter is well worth the effort. All we lose in losing cursive is the immediate expression of our true selves. http://annievought.com/category/art/paper-cuts Lena Rivkin: lena@abouthandwriting.com
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Joe Naso — Accused Serial Killer
By Carla Winter-Evans On Tuesday, June 5, I was finally sitting down to write up a clear description for an upcoming graphological workshop presentation. I had barely written the first sentence when the phone rang. A reporter from KRON 4 News wanted an immediate interview. Apparently, convicted serial killer Joe Naso had recently mailed exclusively to KRON a handwritten letter to “set things straight” on the truth of the crimes of which he was accused. The crimes were committed over a span of 20+ years— serial murder by strangulation using pantyhose on prostitutes he hired to pose for him to photograph. Things happen fast with news. The call came in at 1:00 pm, the reporter showed up at 2:30. The interview lasted until 3:30 and aired at 5 pm and 8 pm PST. I barely had time to even glance at a photocopy of the sample before the on-camera interview. The TV clip turned out okay despite my spontaneous obser6
vations, given in relatively dim light from a photocopy. As graphologists, we particularly seem interested in the deviant, and this sample has plenty of juice for all of us. I was particularly impressed with how his deviant potential expresses itself with classically identifiable graphological traits. Here are my analytical impressions: Overall Impression: An obsessive control freak and constrained individual, deviant, detailed oriented, creative, disturbed, on a band wagon, clarity in form, but muddy in letter structure. Showmanship, strong ego, narcissistic, intelligent, attention to detail. Dot grinding in some cases. In others, I dots are precise and consistent. Margins: Fills the page tightly, eventually slightly but increasingly overstepped the left margin. Consistency: Writing height consistently precise along with consistency in slant. The Vanguard
Rhythm: Fairly even overall. Spacing: Narrow spacing between letters and words but rounded large formed letters until the signature. The sample is an oratory, a show, presenting his case (subject is representing himself in court). Fragmented and broken letters throughout example. Intro page is a more spontaneous sample. Notable letters: O’s in the text were open and clear where they were articulated open, but some overlapped closures to left trend. The O’s in his signature were opposite in form from the main text, his more authentic natural self at the moment…closed. I - generally dotted with precision and attention to details. Some circled and grinding i-dots, indicative of cruelty and capacity for torture.
July - September, 2012
AHAF President’s Farewell Message Hello everyone, The conference is fast approaching and I hope many of you are making plans to attend. This year we will swear in the new board and they are eager to begin. The current board has served four years and I want to thank them for all that we have accomplished together. I am very proud of our work, with the following worth mentioning: Our updated website, which features PayPal, an interactive blog, members-only access, and a professional page for advertising, has clearly given us the advantage. And public interest has been apparent since making our contact information easily accessible. AHAF is now on Facebook, taking advantage of social media opportunities.
It’s a great way to promote the activities of our chapters and improve communication between members. Gmail accounts for each officer were established and will transfer with each
office. Important communications, board business and related documents can now be efficiently transferred, streamlining the transition from one board to the next. The Vanguard was adopted as our official publication offering our members
a new professional newsletter with relevant articles and noteworthy information within the graphological community (follow the Campaign for Cursive as it progresses). The Southern California Chapter has been chartered and meets quarterly in
Ventura. Congratulations to Sheila Lowe as the chapter president. The task of revising both the Bylaws and the Manual of Operational
Procedures has been a painstaking process that is now complete. Enhanced support for our chapters and more meaningful benefits for our
members as we strive to strengthen the organization and increase membership. Recently, we moved the AHAF Library from San Francisco, CA and Marcel
Matley’s stewardship and Linda Larson’s help to Stockton, CA with Linda Green taking over as librarian. It took a great effort to transfer all the materials and the team did an incredible job. Our library is now dedicated to Marcel for his devoted service to AHAF and its members. I truly appreciate the efforts of so many who support AHAF and contribute to the organization’s success. We will continue to lend support to the new board after they are sworn in at the annual meeting. I will remain in service as board advisor, or perhaps I should say bored advisor, given the capabilities of the new officers. It has been a pleasure to serve as AHAF president and I look forward to staying in touch with you. I hope to see you in Chicago! My best, Deb Peddy, C.G. mostwrite@gmail.com
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E - consistently omitted top stroke while adding additional strokes to middle bar, in addition to using the middle bar for creative connections to other letters. J - (Joe’s signature) very embryonic, left trending, separated, protected, hiding pulling away, in denial, separating from main action. Many nonconventional, creative letter connections throughout. Tendency to retrace well formed letters - obsessive/compulsion. Text is riddled with tics and hooks, especially at bottom of letters, because of the cap/print style. Lower zone not observable, except in signature, where it is repressed. Pen stroke is a muddy mess. Consider a neurological underlying physical condition in addition to the mental/emotional dysfunction. Inconsistent pen pressure: Inharmonious. Signature inconsistent with text: Text is clearly his oratory legal defense. Graphical inferences (Ed note: the following refer to pages not included with the article) Cover page: 5th line from bottom, the word, “Misguided”—the “ed” gets retraced and the first “d” is emphasized—obsession around the syllable “Ded” (dead). Cover page: 7th line from bottom, “Serial Killer Suspect”—even though the writing is in all capitals, he capitalized the caps in the phrase, thus emphasizing the title description. Cover page: 3rd and 4th lines from bottom—emphasis on “tell it like it is” and “more to come.” Although Joe Naso has received a fair amount of media attention, I tried hard to maintain my neutrality in my observations, always being mindful that although a person may have negative traits and potentials in their writing they have the choice to transmute those tendencies into positive expressions and vice versa. The judgment in this case is based on hard core DNA evidence linking Joe Naso to the murders. Got an opinion? I’d love to hear your comments. carlawinter@me.com partiart.com 7
Welcome to the AHAF Marcel B. Matley Handwriting Research Library Recently renamed the Marcel B. Matley Handwriting Research Library and dedicated on June 12, 2012, the library is a rich resource which prides itself on the breadth of thought represented and the variety of authors included and is available to AHAF members. The library began in 1984 as a Northern California Chapter Library at Dorothy Hodos’ home, then went to Linda Larson’s house next door, later to Nancy Zon’s, and finally found a permanent home at Marcel Matley’s house in San Francisco, becoming the National AHAF Library in 1991. There was some controversy at the time about who the library belonged to—the Northern California Chapter or National AHAF. As the story goes, Marcel’s wife, Helen, came in, looked at the small bookcase in their living room and said, “This is what all the fuss is about?” Under Marcel’s loving stewardship, and with the assistance of Linda Larson, the support of Robert Backman and HARL, and with the help of many, many donations, the library soon grew to fill half of the Matley garage. Twenty-one years later, after extensive discussion, careful consideration, and much hard work, the Library was moved to the Stockton, CA, home of AHAF’s new librarian Linda Green in May 2012. As Linda Larson and I were re-shelving the books at their new location in Stockton, we basked in our treasures and noted that we have extensive collections in several categories: children’s handwriting, career guidance, questioned documents, graphology history, psychology, health/medical research (extensive research by Marcel Matley), the Enneagram, drawings and doodles. Our broad author base includes works by Allport & Vernon, Amend & Ruiz, Crepieux-Jamin, Robert Backman, Mary 8
www.ahafhandwriting.org in the Members-only section. Nearly one thousand audio cassette and VHS tapes of keynote speeches in the collection are in fragile condition and need to be digitized soon or be lost forever. Some are treasures. An effort has already begun to save this material. If you are interested in helping with this important project, contact Linda Green at greenmsngr@gmail.com If you are trying to locate a specific graphology book or are looking for project research material, you have a wealth of information to tap into in our AHAF Library. If you are a new student of graphology, you need look no further to find numerous study aids. Our humble library is growing as members contribute books and, in some cases, their entire personal librarMarcel Matley, AHAF Librarian for 21 years ies. We are grateful for your book donations and personal monographs and Lynn Bryden, Milton Bunker, June can provide a receipt for your income Canoles, Charlie Cole, Paul de Saint tax re cords. Colombe, Felix Klein, Reed Hayes, The protocols for library use are on Huntington Hartford, Kim Iannetta, the AHAF website at Library. Books are Erika Karohs, Leslie King, Kathie listed alphabetically. To check out a Koppenhaver, Linda Larson, Sheila book or to get help finding library mateLowe, Marcel Matley, Renna Nezos, rials, contact AHAF Librarian Linda Nadya Olyanova, Louise Rice, Hugo Von Hagen (1902), Ted Widmer, Joseph Green at greenmsngr@gmail.com or phone 209-518-8243 or 209-518-6886. Zmuda and many more. Journal collecWe look forward to hearing from you tions include AHAF Journals from 1968, and serving you. Vanguard Newsletters, The Canadian Analyst, NADE Journals, and course materials from many disparate graphology schools. Unpublished writings, which include monographs and theses, are the special resource of the library, as are the various chapter newsletters and journals, AHAA-AHAF convention programs, and assorted memorabilia. Much of this is “one of a kind.” Most of this material is cataloged and can be found on the AHAF website
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July - September, 2012
The Northern California Chapter of AHAF honored Marcel Matley for his years of service as the organization’s librarian.
New AHAF Librarian, Linda Green and Incoming Vice-President, Linda Larson, after a long weekend of moving the library from San Francisco to Stockton. Back: Jean Foss, Jill Kleiss, Stan Crouch, Carla Winter, Marcel Matley Front : Diana Kipping, Linda Green, Rose Fischler, Linda Larson, Jane Hamataka
Nancy was one of my first handwriting students back in the early 1980s. She went on to study with and become a dear friend of Sister June Canoles. Nancy and Pat Seifert (also a student) became cornerstone members of the Northern California Chapter of AHAF for decades. A party just was not a party without Nancy and her husband Carl. Nancy was also the Chapter Treasurer and then National Treasurer of AHAF for many years. Besides her wonderful husband Carl and their three children, Chuck, Cathy and Jeff, the great love of her life was a little green parrot named, Barney, who she won in a poker game on a cruise. They were best buddies for decades. The thing I will never forget about Nancy, besides her laugh, was that she was absolutely the BEST hugger in the world. I never felt more love in a hug that I did from Nancy Zon. Till we meet again dear friend. Linda Larson
Nancy Zon
July - September, 2012
Long ago, Kate and I went on several road trips Kate Wright together to attend conferences and board meetings. We had the best time. She was a Mensa member who never flaunted her intellect. In fact, she was more humble than she probably should have been. Kate learned graphology from Liz Mills. A member of AHAF and AAHA, she served as AHAF’s Certification chair, and later as AAHA’s Administrative Assistant. She loved graphology and along with another colleague, developed her own course. She was a speaker on the first-ever Vanguard Conference and a contributor to the early newsletters. When she died in May, her daughter Becky wrote that Kate had become content to stay in her room, enjoying baseball, her cat, and family visits. Kate went peacefully, surrounded by those she loved. She is already missed. Sheila Lowe
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helpful tidbits about handwriting analysis. There are already over a thousand youtube videos on our topic and they are getting a lot of hits. A $20 webcam Can Help Your Business can help you put your own spin on a subject near and dear to you. If you go to YouTube and search on “handwriting Do Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, forums, blogs, podcasts analysis” you’ll see that a fancy producintimidate you? Take a step back and think of it this way: tion is not required. Just look and act Handwriting is about communication and social media is like a professional. And to make sure about communication—there you are: a perfect go-together, your video comes up, use lots of deand a way to build relationships. scriptive text and tags, then have your friends view and rate But why worry about building relationships if you’re just your video. looking for new clients? Well, if you were to attend a netDo you have a Wikipedia page? That’s another way to let working event and just dashed around the room distributing as people know about you, and another link you can put on your many business cards as your hot little hands could push at Facebook and/or webpage. You can also link your Facebook other attendees, you’d be unlikely to garner those clients. Why account to Twitter so that your FB posts are automatically not? Because networking—whether it’s done in person or on- tweeted. line—is all about building relationships, not collecting Today, people interact through text messaging, email, socards.When you make an important buying decision, which cial networking. Using a medium they understand and enjoy is would you rather do: take the rec- will get their attention faster than the old one-way media. And ommendation of someone you if you want to keep their attention, write in bullet points, not know, or an advertisement? long paragraphs. Your competitors are already doing it, and if It takes time to get to know you want your share of the market, social networking is somesomeone and decide you want to thing you cannot afford to ignore; it’s not going away anytime trust them with your busisoon. Be transparent, though, and show your public who you ness. Same goes for mainreally are. You won’t get away with fudging facts, and a lie taining good relationships with will follow you all over the Internet. existing clients. Developing loyalty with your contact base can be done efIf you are reading these words, fectively and inexpensively through social networking by you fall into one of two categoposting helpful information and links on a blog or on your ries: a regular subscriber to the Facebook page. You can build a following investing only a newsletter or a member of few minutes a day. AHAF who now receives A blog offers important information to a targeted group of The Vanguard as a benefit people, in this case the AHAF SoCal chapter-sponsored of membership. If you are Campaign for Cursive, educators and parents. You might want a AHAF member, we would like to to target psychologists, or human resource directors, etc., desuggest that one way to get the best out of the pending on the area of graphology you most want to promote. organization is to join a committee and share Start your own blog: http://www.blogger.com/home It’s easy your special skills and talents. We have several committees and free! This can be part of building your brand, which is an that you are invited to consider, including Membership, Certifall-important aspect of marketing in the 21st century. Just reication, Chapter Coordinator, Public Relations, and Newsletmember to update your blog regularly. ter. If you are interested, send an email to And speaking of branding...when you hear the name info@ahafhandwriting.org and let us know where your talents Coca-Cola, Microsoft, or Starbucks, chances are, unless lie. We are especially seeking the right person to head a Comyou’ve been living under a rock in the Gobi Desert all your munications/Public Relations committee. This is an important life, you are undoubtedly familiar with those brands. You position that has not been filled for some time. know exactly who they are and what they produce. Keeping a volunteer organization going takes a village, and Branding has been described as a promise that your prod“many hands make light work.” So, how about it? uct/service is better than the rest. And while you may never If you are not a AHAF member, please visit the website gain the notoriety of Starbucks, you can use social networking and take a look at the benefits. You can join online for only to help create a brand that people will learn to associate with $50/year, which includes your subscription to The Vanguard. your business. You’ll want to make sure that the social netThere is strength in numbers, and the organization needs to working you do reflects your values and attitudes. grow so that our voice will become loud enough to be heard. YouTube can be part of your social networking. A video of two minutes or less, if you are succinct, can provide viewers
Social Networking How
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July - September, 2012
Interested in forming a chapter or
study group in your area? It just takes six members. Contact Linda Cropp: allhandwriting@hotmail.com In other news… Carmen Kirschling (Canada) invites
Chapter News New Jersey Chapter heard guest
speaker Phil Pearlman on his specialty, “Line-ology and Brain Quadrants.” The group enjoyed a potluck lunch, too. NorCal Chapter had Carla
Winter-Evans share her TV experience (see her article this issue) and next month they will discuss left trend.
all to visit and comment on their IGAS chapter’s new website: www.igas.ca The group seeks new content and welcomes articles, photos, etc., Contact Carmen: webeditor@igas.ca The PA chapter of IGAS analyzed the
handwriting of Lady Gaga, Mitt Romney, and other interesting folks at their last forum. Lena Rivkin was featured in a moving
segment with her brother Phillip, who is autistic, on CBS2, demonstrating how they communicate through art. Click this link to watch
Monique Stirling addressed ASPG
in May, and Betty Rozakis will speak on October 27 about Knowing Yourself, Your Relationship and Your Solutions Through Handwriting and Tree Drawings. For information: PatSiegel@aol.com Reed Hayes pointed us to an article
in which flawed handwriting evidence was presented by French document examiners. Click to read Ruth Holmes was featured in the
Detroit News late last year, comparing the handwritings of several infamous bombers. Edda Manley sent a link to an
article about Annie, an amazing first-grader born without arms who won a handwriting competition: Click this link
Rocky Mountain Chapter takes the
summer off—we hope all are safe in this frightening wildfire season. SoCal Chapter featured members
Marjorie Satren, Lena Rivkin, and Sheila Lowe discussing the topic “Politicians May Lie but Their Handwriting Won’t.” The general public was invited through a press release sent to several local newspapers. Tucson Chapter enjoyed Gayna
Scott’s recent presentation on printing, with 12 people attending.
SoCal Chapter Vice President, Lena Rivkin and her autistic brother Philip.
Join the Vanguard2 Forum Online, too (it’s free), email sheila@sheilalowe.com.
AAHA - AHAF Conference – will you be there? Members and friends of graphology’s two major organization are scheduled to converge on Hillside, IL July 18-21. Edda Manley will present a pre-conference workshop on Wednesday, with the conference proper starting on Thursday. AAHA is celebrating its 50th anniversary at this event, which it is their turn to host, and AHAF members look forward to joining them. There’s still time to register. You’ll find a form on our website at www.ahafhandwriting.org/conferences, which includes hotel information. If you’re not going, what would get you to attend a conference? The numbers of attendees has plummeted over the July - September, 2012
past few years. True, graphologists overall are an aging population, which undoubtedly has an impact, but where are the younger members? Would you “attend” if web conferencing were available? We’re looking into that possibility for next year, when AHAF will be hosting in Northern California, with new AHAF Vice President Linda Larson as Conference Chair. Any input you have now would be welcomed and appreciated: lindalarson260@gmail.com or sheila@sheilalowe.com Meanwhile, we hope to see you in Hillside. The entire new AHAF leadership team will be there and would love to meet you.
The Vanguard
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News for the Successful Handwriting Professional and Serious Student A division of Sheila Lowe & Associates and the official publication of AHAF
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