To: AMTA-MI Chapter Members and Board Members
From: Eileen Sesko – AMTA MI. Chapter Delegate 2011-12
Subject: Overview of my participation in the AMTA National Convention, Portland OR. October 2011.
It was an extreme privilege for me to attend the AMTA National Convention in Portland OR. This last May I was elected for a one year term as a delegate to represent the MI Chapter of AMTA. The experience was overwhelming and very enlighten. During the week of the convention I was able to network with many massage therapists from all over the country, we shared meals together and exchanged stories of our areas of practice. We exchanged information about our Chapters and our personal profession, what was working for them and what was not working things that I personally could take back to our MI chapter and share with our board to help us as a group encourage and enlighten our membership about all the possibilities that AMTA provides for ALL of its members.
One of the main duties of an elected delegate from the state chapter is being a House of Delegates participant. I had no real understanding of what the importance of that position was until I started receiving information from the AMTA National Board. There were rules and regulations to review and there were proposals to review – proposals that I would have to vote on. These proposals were written by massage therapist and presented to the House of Delegates. These statements (proposals) would be passed or declined by the voting House of Delegates. Our first gathering took place on the first day of the convention. We reviewed the rules and regulations, the rules of Parliamentary Procedures and the proper etiquette of participating in this voting body. As a delegate I was able to ask questions request further information about the proposal so that I would be more informed to vote yes or no. I was so enlightened by all of the proceedings and the explanation that as a professional group the positions statements that we were voting on would represent all of the AMTA members. In conclusion I would like to thank all of the members of the MI chapter that voted for me to be a delegate to represent our state chapter. It was a wonderful experience and one that I can share with as many of our chapter membership and those of other chapters.
