In August 2018, an important transition took place. Six regional helpers who began their work in 2014 finished their busy and productive four-year term (read their farewell message here) and we welcomed eight new regional helpers: Harlan Gleason, Helena Mertens, Leo Horthy, Renata Reid, Owen Riparetti, Marcella Cooke, Hani’a Abram, and Patricia Snyder.
Our new Regional Helpers will be supporting our annual Congresses and visiting many groups over the next four years. To help you get to know them, each has provided some brief profiles. Read the first four profiles below, with more to come!
Hani’a Abrams: I was opened in Berkeley, CA. Present at my opening were Meldan Heaslip, Henry Couden, Lawrence Schectman, and Aaron Heller. I regularly attend Latihan in Berkeley, San Francisco, and Marin, with occasional visits to Palo Alto and Walnut Creek.
I write prose and poetry (see one example here) and, lately, indulge in imbibing anime.
I am embarked on a project working with Subud members in Hungary, Indonesia, and Chile on a publishing enterprise for children’s entertainment and education.
I’ve worked mainly in business administration & management, although my first career was in music. I am interested in everything encompassed in the arts and have a secret addiction to international noir & witty spy novels.
Three years ago, I left vertical, familiar, compact Manhattan for sprawling, horizontal, unknown Los Angeles! In spite of my trepidation, agoraphobia, & commitment issues, I think it’s going pretty well. I’m gradually getting acquainted with the new me and accepting that everything comes with avocado.
I’m still not ready to buy a car, but I do have a couple of houseplants. If anyone knows where I can find a good dry cleaner and shoe repair shop on the Westside, please ping me.
Harlan Gleeson: I was born into Subud and was opened in 1988 when I was 18 years old. My parents found Subud through Hanafi Libman in Aspen, Colorado in the mid-1960s.
I’ve been an active member in Los Angeles for most of my life and my first LA latihans were at the legendary Hope Street Hall. In 1995, I moved to Austin, TX and started my family. During five years there, I was an active helper at the local group and a regional helper for Subud South. I very much enjoyed traveling and getting to know the Subud South members. I have been a California Congress Chair twice, both times in Joshua Tree. Good times!
One of my passions is stand-up comedy. I am the president of Funny Bones Toastmasters, an active Rotarian and I love art, so much so that I am now an art dealer.
Helena Mertens: I was opened in 1965 in London and emigrated to the US that same year in order to study dancing in New York. Robert and I were married in 1969. We have three children and two grandchildren, plus several “granddogs” and we share our home with four delightful felines.
Living in the foothills of the Sierra mountains in Badger is a big change from being in New York where I had lived for many years. I like the quiet of country living and especially love our local Subud community, for which I am continuously grateful.
I am also grateful to be given this job of regional helper and feel the blessing of it.