Patricia O'Reilly 
SERVICE AWARDEES

2026
Service Recognition of I.I. Regional Liaisons

Stephanie English

North American Liaison – 2008-2019
North & Central American Advocate – 2019-2024

NAR Liaison
Served as Ikebana International North American Regional (NAR) Liaison (2008 – 2019) sending quarterly newsletters and subsequently establishing a NAR website (2014).
 
NCAR Advocate
Continued in the communication role when the NAR Liaison function was expanded into North & Central American Regional (NCAR) Advocate Committee (2019 – 2024).

  • Editor-in-Chief of monthly NCAR Seedling Newsletter.
  • Established “Ikebana North America” Facebook page.
  • Advocate supporting Florida chapters.
  • Developed and presented forums in support of NCAR chapters
  • Spearheaded the update and expansion of the online listing of ikebana Sensei in NCAR.
  • Produced and participated in ikebana demonstration videos for chapter programming during pandemic.
 
President & Board Member for I.I. Naples #160
Served in multiple roles over the years as President, Membership, Treasurer, and Communications.
Established Website and Facebook Page for I.I. Naples Chapter.
 
Ikenobo Sensei
President Ikenobo Naples (2000- Present)
Actively teaching Ikenobo ikebana as Senior Professor 1st grade in the IKENOBO school.
​“Professor Emi Kasamatsu is a true pioneer of ikebana in Paraguay. She created space for this art [in Paraguay] and inspired many dedicated followers from several ikebana schools, as well as admirers of Japanese culture.”
​– Kasumi Uchiyamada
Emi Kasamatsu

South American Regional Liaison – 2016–Present

Serving as I.I. South American Regional Liaison (2016-present).
  • Chaired two I.I. South American Regional Conferences (1987 & 2015)
  • Founded I.I. Asunción Chapter #198 (1977)
  • Past President I.I. Asunción Chapter #198 (1978-79, 1981-83, 2013-15)
  • Past President of I.I. Tokyo Founding Chapter (1974-75)
 
  • Dedicated decades to teaching Ohara ikebana and facilitated establishment of  several ikebana schools in the community.
  • Promoted ikebana through TV, newspapers, and live demonstrations.
  • Active participant in annual exhibitions in partnership with the Embassy of Japan.
  • Graduate of the Ohara School in Japan and trained multiple generations of ikebana teachers.
  • Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (2016) – the first Paraguayan-born Nikkei (descendant of Japanese immigrants) to receive this prestigious honor.​
  • Well-recognized researcher and publisher on gender, family histories, and Japanese immigration in Paraguay.

2025
Leadership with NAOTA

RUSSELL BOWERS

His contributions and leadership for many years with North American Ohara Teachers Association (NAOTA), Ohara Study Group Boston, I.I. Boston Chapter #17 "has had a lasting and far-reaching impact" in the greater Boston's ikebana community.

NAOTA Board of Directors
NAOTA President                                 2022 - Present
NAOTA East Coast Vice President    2020 - 2022
NAOTA Secretary                                 2014 - 2018
 
NAOTA Conferences
Chair Boston NAOTA Minor Conference                 2023
Co- Chair Boston NAOTA Major Conference          2016
Volunteer in various Conference Flower Rooms

NAOTA Member                                 since 2014

Ohara School of IkebanaBoston Study Group President           2023 - present 
Oregon Chapter member                    2020 - present
Hosted Ikebana and Japanese Cultural videos      2021 

Ikebana International Boston Chapter
Member