Integrative Health Resources was formed in the summer of 2005 when two like-minded Marquette groups (The Holistic Connection and the original Integrative Health Resources) met and discovered they were on parallel paths, each with visions of connecting our local community with integrative practitioners and services.
The seeds to The Holistic Connection, (Core members included: Barb Dupras, Kim Danielson, Frank Jeffries, Diana Oman, Lorraine Schwarz), were planted in the spring of 2004, nurtured along by numerous planning meetings in the months that followed, and actually blossomed in November 2004 with the 1st Holistic Buffet. The Buffets were held monthly at the Ramada Inn. It was a great success. Attendees experienced a wide variety of informative presentations and demonstrations by area practitioners throughout 2005!
At about the same time, Integrative Health Resources, a Michigan Nonprofit Organization was formed to help educate the general public regarding the latest advances in the field of integrative health. (Core members included: Cindy Engle, Darlene Gill, Val Holway, Jenny Magli, Kathleen Ventre). The main goal was to enhance integrative educational opportunities in our area through educational workshops and informational events. A very successful women's health forum was presented in November 2004, as well as the highly acclaimed April 2005 Northern Michigan University presentation by David Brownstein, MD.
The merger of our two groups was a natural progression as both groups held the common vision of health education in the area of integrative and holistic medicine, as well as the development of a future wellness center in Marquette. We are grateful to Life Coaches, Debra Russ and Gareth Zellmer, who generously offered their services and facilitated our successful merger.
Our two groups formally combined under one name, Integrative Health Resources, and a charter board was created on September 20, 2005.
Charter Board Members included:
- Chairperson: Diana L Oman
- Vice Chairperson: Barb Dupras
- Treasurer: Kathleen Ventre
- Secretary: Cindy Engle
- Directors: Kim Danielson, Valerie Holway, Frank Jeffries, D.C., Jenny Magli
Current Board members are:
- Chairperson: Diana L Oman
- Vice Chairperson: Barb Dupras
- Treasurer: Kathleen Ventre
- Secretary: Melissa Middleton
- Directors: Jenny Magli, Kim Kee, Cindy Engle, Mary Ewalt
