News from AHG Chapters (updated January 9, 2012) 
AHG Chapters bring herbal communities together to share their love of herbs, and to provide support for the important work of clinical herbalism all over the country. Each chapter is unique, reflecting the needs and interests of their community. Check this list to see if there is chapter in your area. When contacting chapters, keep in mind that they are kept afloat by volunteer efforts so it may be a week or longer before you receive a reply.

No chapter in your area? Why not start one?  Local chapters operate under the non-profit umbrella of the American Herbalists Guild to further the organization’s mission (AHG Mission Statement). We can help you organize a chapter! To get started, download and read a copy of Guidelines for Starting a Chapter.  Then contact Patricia Kyritsi Howell, Chapter Liaison, at ahgchapters@gmail.com.

Alaska
We’ve had several people ask if there are any herbalists or herb communities in Alaska, and frankly, we have no idea what is going on up that way. If you are in Alaska and want to connect with other herbalists in the state, feel free to send us an email at ahgchapters@gmail.com and we’ll put you in touch with each other. It would be great to have an Alaska AHG chapter!

California (Long Beach)
Plans are in the works to start an AHG in the Long Beach area. All AHG student or professional members, or any herbal folks in the area, are invited to contact Anita Burke at burkebarge@msn.com or 562.257.8313.

California (San Diego)
The San Diego Chapter consists of about 30 AHG members and is meeting regularly. Contact Joanne Odenthal at joanne@plantwoman.com.

California (San Francisco/Bay Area)
The SF/Bay Area meets in Berkeley at the Ohlone Herbal Center, 1250 Addison Street, Berkeley, Ca. The center is one block south of University Ave. and just a short walk from the North Berkeley BART. For further information contact Patricia Kazmierowski at patricia@patriciasorganics.com or 510-548-1417.

California (Northern)
AHG members are interested in starting a chapter in northern California (defining northern California as the entire area north of the SF Bay area.)  If you are interested, please contact Mary Pat Palmer at mpatpalm@earthlink.net or 707-895-3007.

Colorado (Boulder)
An AHG chapter is long overdue in the thriving herbal community in Boulder. We’ve had several inquiries so if you want to get a chapter going here, there seems to be quite a bit of interest. Who wants to start the ball rolling?

Florida/Western (St. Petersburg)
The Western Florida chapter meets in St. Petersburg. For information about meeting times and location, contact Bob Linde at acuherbals@att.net or at his office phone, 727-551-0857.

Florida/East/Central  (Brevard/Indian River Counties)
The Herbal Wisdom Society, now a regional chapter of the AHG encompassing Brevard and Indian River Counties in east central Florida, meets the first Wednesday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The group welcomes all herbal and native plant enthusiasts to participate. Our gatherings are informal, backgrounds and experience diverse, and primary goal is to share and promote our love of herbs, native plants and their many uses. Chapter activities include an ongoing community service project at Oars & Paddles Park in Indian Harbour Beach, where we meet during spring, summer and early fall to plant and maintain a substantial garden of native Florida plants and herbs. During the winter months we host herbal based workshops, education evenings and herb walks. Our meeting locations vary during winter months. If you are interested in joining the chapter or receiving our meeting reminders, please send an email to Laura Fadden at laura@heavydutygraphics.com or call Mama Jo's Sunshine Herbals at 321.779.4647.

Georgia (Atlanta)
One of AHG’s oldest chapters has been meeting since 1998 to increase awareness about medicinal herbs and herbalism. Activities include monthly gatherings, plant walks and workshops about all things herbal. We currently have 80 people on our membership list with a core of 30 highly active members.  We are an open, informal, and friendly group that welcomes members and non-members at our monthly meetings and gatherings.
Meetings are held the third Sunday of the month at 6:00 PM at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens in metro Atlanta. No meeting in November and a special Holiday Party in December. GHG communicates with members, and others interested in our events, using Yahoo Groups. To be placed on this mailing list, send an e-mail to info@georgiaherbalistsguild.org or visit the GHG website at www.georgiaherbalistsguild.org.


Illinois, Great Lakes AHG Chapter (Chicago)
The newly formed Great Lakes Chapter meets at the Chicago College of Healing Arts, 1622 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60660. Meetings are also streamed live on-line. For more information, email chicagocollegeofhealingarts@gmail.com.

Indiana (Bloomington)
Several AHG members in southern Indiana are interested in contacting others in the area to talk about forming a local chapter. Contact ahgchapters@gmail.com for more details.

Iowa (Cedar Rapids)
The Iowa chapter has changed its meeting location from Des Moines to Cedar Rapids. Meetings are held at Green Angels Herbs & Healing Arts, 3405 Mt. Vernon RD. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA  52403. For a meeting schedule or more information, contact Trilby Sedlacek, RH, AHG at AHGiowa@gmail.com or 319-247-

New Jersey (Warren County)
The New Jersey Chapter meets the 3rd Wednesday of the month at Herbally Yours in Changewater, NJ which is located in Warren County.  Our programs are focused on education & support for practitioners.  Monthly meetings include discussions on specific topics along with case histories, presentations by individual member, and occasional herb walks to visit the plants. For details, contact Kerry Adams at Herbally@verizon.net or 908-689-6140.

New Mexico (Albuquerque)
Welcome to 2012 New Mexico! This is the perfect time to join together to start a NM AHG Chapter!
Please contact me if you are interested in attending our first meeting which will be held on Feb 4, 2012 in Albuquerque, NM. The time and exact location to be determined. For more information, or to be added to the mailing list, contact Beverley Shuck at bev@nmherblady.com or 505-228-8804/505-382-8119.

New York (Long Island) 

The Long Island Chapter of the AHG meets at the library in Northport about four times a year. We plan to have more frequent meetings as the year progresses. We look forward to your participation! For details and meeting dates and times, contact Jeanne D’Brant at drjeanne@optonline.net.

Oregon (Eugene and beyond?)
Plans are in the works for a Eugene-based AHG chapter as well as in other parts of the state. For more information about the latest plans, contact Kristi Shapla at kristishapla@yahoo.com.

Ohio (Cleveland/Lake County)
Anyone in this area interested in forming a chapter? Contact Mike Faciana at Theherbguy@yahoo.com or 440-639-2206.

Ohio (Southern Ohio)
See the Western Pennsylvania listing below.

Pennsylvania (Eastern Region)
For more information about the Eastern Pennsylvania AHG Chapter, please see their Facebook page, AHG Chapter- Eastern Pennsylvania, or contact Judy Fox Smyth at foxsmythherbal@msn.com or 215-816-6950.

Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania/Ohio Region)
The chapter meets on a monthly basis during the growing season at venues offered by our members and by e-conferencing during winter months.  Our focus is on supporting each other as we explore and expand our knowledge of local medicinal botanicals.  For details contact Leslie Alexander at leslie@restorationherbs.com or 814-374-4119.

Texas (Austin)
The mission of this chapter is to provide herbal educational opportunities for our local community. Plant walks, farm tours, preparations workshops, traditional diagnostics, botany lessons, movies, fellowship and more! Stay posted on our activities by checking out http://texasahg.blogspot.com or sending an email to texasahg@gmail.com.
 
Washington
The Washington chapter describes itself as a “seed-in-motion” organization that holds quarterly meetings at locations around the state. Most meetings are in Western Washington at Bastyr University (north of Seattle), Tacoma or Olympia. The chapter plans to expand the location of meetings and events to include the eastern part of the state. Meetings are held at various locations. To be placed on the WA AHG mailing list, send an e-mail to waahg06@yahoo.com. The list is open to everyone and, in addition to announcements about chapter meetings and events, is used to publicize information about other herb events and presentations; to advertise classes being presented by members; to announce any new clinics or businesses operated by members; and to list any AHG-approved continuing education classes.