President's Welcome...
From the President of the Vermont AMTA
Winter 2010
What’s Happening in Our Chapter:
Let’s start out with the very best of news. We have two chair positions filled! Michelle Robbins has stepped forward and filled the Public Relations vacancy and Andrea Altman has started right in by taking the position of Education Chair. I am very happy that these two new and dynamic board members are filling two of the most important roles for our state chapter.
What remains to be found is an additional person to attend New England Regional Conference Planning meetings with Terye Wohnus. Please let me know if you are interested in representing our state chapter in this important role. Thankfully, you will not be taking on this position alone, since Terye is now in her third year with the NERC Planning Committee. There are some very nice incentives! Please give me a call or email if you are interested.
The Vermont Chapter board members are now beginning our phone call campaign to all Vermont Chapter members. Please be aware that, through May 2010, we will be calling each chapter member and asking you what your needs are and how we can help. We are all in this together.
One example of meeting the needs of AMTA-VT members was the chapter board’s vote to forego collection of chapter dues this past year. You may have noticed that your membership dues for the AMTA had a $0 in the chapter dues column which would have read $20.00 previously. This offer is available if your membership is renewed on or before February 28, 2010. Renew now - every little bit counts!
Another example of networking to benefit AMTA-VT members occurred at our Annual Meeting in November. Barbara Clark was the winner of our raffle during Ralph Stephens’ class for a free registration for the World Massage Conference. The WMC is a web-based conference with presenters from around the world. Conference registrants can access the presentations for up to six months after the conference ends and enjoyed over 70 offerings.
Do you need information on what, where and when educational workshops are being held? Do you have a question as to CEU requirements for NCBTMB? Are you looking for some input on how to build your practice or where there are employment opportunities? Do you have an ethical business question? Please use your board members as a resource and/or another member you feel comfortable in confiding your challenges. How can we help you??
What’s Happening Nationally that Affects You:
AMTA National Website Upgrades
- Improvements in AMTA’s Website – You will be able to join or renew in real time, automatically, with no delay
- Manage and print CE transcripts
- Update profiles in AMTA’s Find a Massage Therapist national locator service
- Edit contact information, including email address, phone number and mailing address
- AMTA will be sending emails to members about more upgrades as they occur
Marketing Support for Your Practice
MyPracticeBuilder is an online application available through the AMTA website. It helps you to identify potential clients and has an extensive online library of pre-built direct mail pieces to choose from.
- Direct mail pieces are easily customizable
- Printing and mailing are done by MyPracticeBuilder
- AMTA members pay only for the pieces they print
- No minimum orders
Visit www.reach3.com/amta to find out more about this practice building service.
What’s Happening in My Practice:
I recently was stunned by the fact that I was three CEUs short of my ethics requirement for recertification by NCBTMB. This was two weeks before the deadline for my recertification application. I quickly jumped onto the AMTA website and looked at what was available for ethics that fulfilled my requirement for recertification. Happily I found a perfect fit: “Creating Healthy Boundaries” by Ben Benjamin, PhD and Cherie Sohen-Moe.
Let me tell you that, before I took this course, I was honestly apprehensive about taking online education - particularly in a field where experiential learning dominates. I do still believe that any “technique” being taught should be hands-on, but agree that classes on “theory” do have a place on the internet. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of navigating the course online and that the structure was conducive to retention of the material. It was simply a good experience.
See you in mud season!
George
More links...
Featured Events
New England Regional Conference (NERC) will be held March 11-14, 2010 in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Marjorie Brook will be offering 16 CEUs on Lower Body Acitve Isolated Stretching (AIS) and Scar Tissue Release Therapy at the Stoweflake Spa and Resort in Stowe on November 5-7, 2010.