Sylvia, the NHF’s Vice-President, graciously gave me 45 valuable minutes of her time on a brisk November evening when I called her at her home in Pittsburgh, asking for advice on how to build the membership of the National Health Federation.

“If we like what we do, we will do it well. I believe in it!” she said without hesitation. I agreed that I was eating, sleeping, and breathing NHF. “You’re passionate, like the rest of us,” she observed. Isn’t it great to associate with other passionate, committed individuals all working for a common end – Health Freedom?

Hailed as the woman who had signed up large amounts of members – from 35 to 60 at a health conference, I knew that she was one who could give valuable direction to fuel my growing passion to see NHF surging ahead with renewed life and collective power. I asked her to speak to all of us who want to see NHF grow in strength and effectiveness as a positive catalyst in the World. She was sure to include her husband Joe in her successful pattern. “He is a jewel. We do everything together.” I sensed the power of the team at home and the impact on the NHF community because of this remarkable unity.

For those of us members who run our own businesses or manage businesses for others, we know that the minute we let the intensity of our focus slip, then our business will mirror the shift of attention in a loss of clients, revenue, and their enjoyment of the great things we have to invest in them or do for them. Everyone loses when our concentrated energy diminishes.

The best way to build a business – or a Federation in this case – is through a dedicated and attentive drive with small steps taken daily that lead to consistent, positive progression. The power of our collective focus will lead to efforts we each use to build the case and cause for Health Freedom helping us all; in fact, the whole World.

Since most of us would agree we want to leave the World a better, freer place, Sylvia’s successful techniques and strategies can give us all valuable direction. She’s been practicing what she teaches since the 80s. We each bring our own special talents and gifts to the effort, not trusting that what the founding members established in 1955 will remain unless we all continue to recreate it every day. We hope that you too will share your own ways with the rest of your Federation ‘family’ by contributing your comments to this post.

Sylvia is such a great conversationalist and she spoke freely of her many years in the health-freedom world. “Find ways to connect with like-minded individuals. Go to health fairs, even if you don’t host a booth, and hand out the Health Freedom News magazine – you know I never travel anywhere without them. I leave them at privately owned health-food stores. We need to talk to people!”

When I asked her about the growing apathy among many people and the feeling that there was simply no way they could change the system, she remarked, “People are slowly learning there are other choices.” Depending on what field they work in often determines if they can or will share their knowledge.

Sylvia shared a story about speaking to a group of nurses at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Her daughter, who worked in the medical offices there, arranged the talk. Sylvia was reluctant to accept and actually found herself a bit nervous at the prospect of addressing the medical community, which felt like enemy territory. In the past it usually hadn’t yielded pleasant results. One time, she’d actually been asked to leave in similar circumstances. She was very clear about never diagnosing, but instead phrasing her suggestions in reference to her own self, “If I had cancer, I would … You don’t want to end up in jail.” I knew she wasn’t kidding.

Sylvia decided to risk “tomato stains on her powder-blue suit” as she taught the standing room only group of nurses, many with Cokes in hand, how to juice for health and the benefits of each variety of fresh juices in the body. The nurses all enjoyed samples of fresh carrot, apple, and other juices and surprised Sylvia by sharing their gratitude at the end of her talk. “When are you coming back?” But, they all admitted no matter how right it was, they would be fired for discussing any of it with patients of the hospital.

“So focus your efforts on like-minded individuals,” she told me over and over again. “Don’t waste your time where you will not be received or they can’t use the information you gave them. Target places where these people will be, such as health fairs and you will have a captive audience. Find these groups and join them.” Sylvia understands the power of leveraging her time and energy.

I knew the often prohibitive cost of hosting a booth at a health fair. Sylvia said, “Just go to the health fairs and talk to other attendees. You don’t have to have a booth. Hand out magazines. Share the current issues with people that are related to health and politics, bills… If you happen to know the speaker, ask for just a few minutes to share the mike before they begin and tell the audience about the NHF and the great work we do for them – many of whom do not even know we are working on their behalf. It isn’t hard to convince this group of people.” It was clear that Sylvia knew the issues and explained them in a compelling manner.

Sylvia reminds me of a flowing brook. She is effervescent, determined, and takes the path of least resistance with people in the use of her time, energy, and passion. She loves what she does. Her intense desire for health freedom is her driving force. She has found the easiest ways to help others grow to the next level in their own commitment to health.

Sylvia isn’t selling memberships, she is empowering people to have their voice carried around the World by the NHF delegate at the Codex meetings. This is one of NHF’s defining factors: It is our Voice for Health Freedom. No other group can make that weighty claim. Clearly a leader from the word ‘go,’ Sylvia endows others with the resources and connections they need to transform their desires into reality through support and work as a member of the NHF. She inspires me as a new member so very greatly. I shared with her our increasing emphasis on social media using Face Book, Twitter, LinkedIn, and other social media to continue to inspire and encourage each other to make positive progression in this fight for health freedom. Our energy will feed off each other and we will make great strides. Iron sharpens iron.

Our talk turned to Maureen Salaman, past President of the NHF. Sylvia knew her personally and said I would have loved her. I myself only knew of her through the many books on my library shelves that Maureen had written over the years that came to me by way of my health-loving mother.

“She dedicated her whole life to health and to helping people. Maureen was fabulous and we enjoyed a wonderful rapport.` She was ‘life.’ She was beautiful, compassionate, and caring.” Sylvia explained that she introduced Maureen to Pittsburgh and arranged for her appearances on Christian television shows there.

“Pittsburgh became Maureen’s second home. There were many times we would enter a speaking engagement together at noon and Maureen was still signing books at 7p.m., reluctant to leave until the last person had their autograph and many times a personal consultation with her on health issues. Maureen is sorely missed . . . .” Sylvia trailed off, but I assured her, “You are our inspiration now.” Again, without hesitation, she replied, “Together we will make it happen.” Read more about Sylvia at http://www.thenhf.com/page.php?id=141 and share your own ideas with us on keeping NHF healthy and viable in the coming years.