CHAPTER HISTORY
BOSTON CHAPTER OF NCGR HISTORY
The Boston Chapter of NCGR grew out of a rich history of astrology in the New England area. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, the astrological community was comprised of three organizations:
1.) The New England Astrological Association began on June 1, 1953 at 6 PM in Boston to encourage and promote the science and art of astrology.
2.) Star Rovers began in 1967 under the guidance of Isabel Hickey out of her wish for young people to meet and discuss principles of astrology as she taught them.
3.) After the National Council of Geocosmic Research was established on March, 6, 1971, 9:02 PM EST, Wareham, MA, USA a local chapter called the Massachusetts Bay Chapter was formed. This chapter ceased to exist in 1978, after a detrimental period of conflicts, tensions, and elitism.
The current Boston Chapter of NCGR was built on the ashes of the Massachusetts Bay Chapter. On the Autumnal Equinox, September 23, 1979, a core group from the Massachusetts Bay Chapter met at the home of Frances McEvoy in Belmont, Massachusetts. At 12:37 PM, the new chapter was born. Richard Davis, chapter treasurer, used his stopwatch to note the time when the 0 degrees Libra Sun moved across the midheaven. Venus, Mercury, Pluto and the Moon were also in Libra in the 10th house, and Neptune was rising in Sagittarius (see chart). The Libran emphasis in the new chart was chosen to insure that the new chapter would not repeat the discord from the earlier organization. This chart has worked well, as the Boston Chapter has been noted for its friendliness and egalitarianism.
Some of the original members of the Boston Chapter were Frances McEvoy, Patricia Russo, Janice Kelly, Jeanne Sinnott, Richard Davis, Muriel Lenth, Joyce Levine, Nancy Wesseler and Priscilla Tarbox.
In 1982 the New England Astrological Association and Star Rovers dissolved to form a new group, the Astrological Association of Massachusetts. Within a few years that group also dissolved and nearly all the members then joined the Boston Chapter of NCGR. Other early members were Alice Howell, Lorraine Welsh, Wilma McIntyre, Catherine Gillikin, Peter Baptiste, Maria Parsons, Norma Smith, Bruce Scofield, Jane Millikan, Barbara Koval, Mary Crossley, Rita Knight, Sue Kozel, Irene Santurjian and Karen Thorne.
The Boston Chapter of NCGR has grown steadily from its original members in 1979. The presence of Saturn, Jupiter and the North Node in the 9th house of the chart speaks to the importance of the Chapter's monthly publication, The Astrologers' Newsletter, which has a wide distribution. Today the Boston Chapter has close to 300 members.
In 1994 and 1996 the Boston Chapter sponsored two remarkably successful conferences, Spring Awakening and Kaleidoscopia. The Chapter holds monthly workshops with internationally known speakers. Attendees come from all over the New England/New York area. The secret to the success of the Boston Chapter has been its newsletter, its quality speakers, its low admission fees, and most of all, its thoughtful and curious members. All members are encouraged to participate in any way they can to ensure that the Boston Chapter continues to be a vital and active astrological community.
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