Editorial
(September 2003)
Past Editorials
Beginning
with this issue of IHR —the magazine and the Website — we are replacing our
long-running “Letters to the Editors” department with a new format named MailBox.
Not that we are doing away with ‘Letters’; on the contrary, letters from readers
are an integral part of this magazine. They provide a sort of roundtable for
professional opinions and the exchange of ideas, while providing valuable
feedback for both the Magazine and the industry as a whole.
To put it more simply, we are expanding our Letters section in a way that will
stimulate greater interaction among the global electrolysis community, and we
are encouraging electrologists everywhere to send us not just the traditional
letters but any tips, handy hints, short-cuts, observations, practical questions
(or answers), problems and solutions, jokes, puzzles, poems, congratulatory
notes or helpful suggestions, and yes, even their beefs. We need to “lighten up”
the content of the MailBox. We need more shoptalk!
IHR had its beginnings as a regional association newsletter and aspired to
greatness in 1979 — a period in electrolysis history that seemed exactly right
for the launch of an international trade journal that would draw electrologists
together — regardless of any affiliation they might have with a regional or
national association, school, modality, or manufacturer.
In the years that followed, our profession grew, associations proliferated (both
regionally and nationally) and electrologists united in large numbers. The road
got a little rocky at times, but it knew where it wanted to go and it brought
travelers closer to their objective. The idea of networking and communication
with other electrologists, schools, suppliers and manufacturers, elevated the
profession to new heights — and IHR was there, in partnership with the
associations — to help bring everyone together: Electrologists were learning the
value of speaking with one voice.
Twenty-four years later, following a period of huge economic growth, a tech
bubble kicks off a devastating economic downturn, we experience a laser invasion
that rivals H.G. Wells’s War of the Worlds, most of our national associations
scatter and fold, all but a few of our schools are missing in action, and we
mourn the passing of some of our oldest and dearest electrolysis manufacturers.
We are an industry fragmented again.
But wait! says Bill: “What light through yonder window breaks?” Just when things
look to be at their worst, the economy shows a glimmer of recovery. Interest
rates are at an all-time low, and the increase in unemployment together with a
downturn in the economy is creating a dramatic increase in the number of people
looking to get into service industries such as our electrology Schools. Regional
associations are increasing their membership. And practitioners around the
country tell us that clients are slowly returning.
Although IHR is at a bit of a loss as to how it can help with the schooling
issue, it is in a position to help with the search for unity, communication and
networking solutions. The associations still have ahead of them such tasks as
rebuilding their memberships and restoring public faith in needle electrolysis.
Such things are beyond IHR’s ability to help — but may nevertheless be
ameliorated through the Magazine’s use of internet technology.
The annual convention of the American Electrology Association, coming to Ft.
Lauderdale, Florida in November, will be the largest single networking and
educational event of the year dedicated to electrology, and IHR strongly
recommends that everyone attend. For those that cannot attend, IHR provides an
opportunity to network with professional colleagues 24/7 — down the street or
around the world — all at their fingertips through the internet.
In the ‘Subscriber Only’ section of IHR’s Website, we have a networking forum
where Q & A’s posted by other electrologists can be read and new comments added.
Electrologists can email each other privately from within the forum. There’s a
wealth of interesting and educational material available to subscribers, and if
its bargains you’re looking for, IHR is offering subscribers their own free Hair
Route email account. To sign up, log onto www.hairroute.com. Go to the
Subscribers Only site and click on the FREE Email Account button.
Hope to see you all soon in the networking forum.
— Anthony
Copperthwaite
publisher@hairroute.com
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