The AMTA-MI Chapter provided chair massages to the responders both days and had the opportunity to network and promote the benefits of massage. Many of the responders had received massages when they responded to 9/11.

This mock response gave us a chance to educate and learn from the various agencies along with letting them learn more about massage and how we can be integrated into a response or post response.

We have more exercises that MERT will be invited into this coming year. If your interested in becoming a volunteer for AMTA-MI MERT contact Julie Finn, 3rd VP and MERT Chapter Coordinator mimertamta@yahoo.com

See photos of the event here.

Portland, Oregon was the location of the 2011 AMTA National Convention. This year’s theme was Envision.

Attending the National Board of Directors meeting as a chapter representative versus the past year where I was actively part of the decision making process for our membership.  The meeting had a full agenda covering Bylaw notifications and changes related to National Officers Eligibility for Candidacy and a Change Article X, Section 5. Position Statement Review Commission (PSRC). There was dialogue and deliberation by the Governance Standing Committee led by Dan Barrow Governance Standing Committee Chair and Mark Tyle Chapter Relations Director regarding the makeup of the finance committee, develop position statements review workgroup policy change and job descriptions, revision of the Chapter Volunteer Code of Conduct along with 3 bylaw amendments 2 which dealt with elections and one was a charge extension request for online forum for the House of Delegates. 2 Motions carried and one regarding Section 8 Election was withdrawn since the first motion pertaining to this carried.

Nancy Porambo, Vice President and Finance Committee Standing Committee Chair and Larry Laboda, Chief Financial Officer presented the financial report for six months ended August 31, 2011. Chapter update was given by Chris Voltarel, Chapter Relations Standing Committee Chair along with a report was given by Ruth Werner, Massage Therapy Foundation President.

Other reports were given by Rick Rosen, Executive Director, Alliance for Massage Therapy Education. He discussed the National Teacher Education Standards Project Presentation on core competencies for massage therapy teachers. Kate Ivane (Henrioulle) Zulaski, COMTA Executive Director also gave a brief update.

Presentation by Cynthia Riberio, President-Elect, Jocelyn Pysarchuk, Knowledge transfer Director and Christopher Kirbabas, Convention and Meetings Program Director on 2014 Convention Site.  Denver will be the site for this convention.

Chapter Presidents Council Meeting (CPC)

Started with Welcome and Introductions by Richard Wedegartner, Moderator of the Chapter Presidents Council (CPC).

Glenath Moyle, President of AMTA introduced the Board of Directors and reports were given by Ruth Werner, Chris Voltarel, Maureen Hoock, Chair of the House od Delegates Operational Committee.

Glenath, Richard, Scott Raymond, President of the AMTA-CT and Chris V. presided over a pinning ceremony for all new chapter presidents.

As part of this meeting there was round table discussions on Member Recruitment & Retention lead by Karen Kubek, Director, Member Experience & Mike Donovan, Account Executive.

Questions where related to:

1. What does your chapters’ do to encourage new members to join AMTA? What has been effective?
2. What does your chapter do that encourages members to renew their AMTA membership?

Second item for the round table discussion dealt with questions related to attributes of a successful “board team” along with providing examples of stories we would share that exemplify on or more of the following…

• Encouraging diversity of ideas
• Creating an environment where members want to participate
• Improving the AMTA experience of members or a member

The final item was the year together is coming to a close as a chapter board. What are three adjectives you want to use to describe your year together> What did you do (as a board or individual) during the year to make those words true?

All of these topics brought out excellent brain storming and communications. Many of the ideas were duplicated and we all felt we received some new ideas to bring back to help both our members and the board.

The CPC closed with an election of CPC Moderator-Elect.

Location: DeVos Place, Grand Rapids, MI

Dates: Friday April 20th thru Saturday April 21st

Time: 10am till 5pm

If you can help out please contact Julie Finn AMTA-MI MERT Chapter Coordinator mimertamta@yahoo.com or 248-960-3180

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Julie Finn

3^rd Vice President

AMTA-MI Chapter MERT Chapter Coordinator

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.

Find out more information and register.