RI Chapter AMTA Board Conference Call 01/18/07
AGENDA:
CONFERENCE CALL:
The meeting started at 7:07 P.M.
In attendance- Kelly LoGiudice, Deb Luhrs, Kenji Omori, Yolande Riendeau, Carl Stearns, Frank Rapone, Dorry Renquist, Regina Cobb, Celeste MacPhee, Jay O’Connor.
1. Government Relations Committee
Discussion started with Kelly’s reference to the email that Wayne sent to the Board that gave current status of Government Relations Committee. The discussion then focused on The Bill that the City of Providence is trying to enact that will change current massage laws as a way to fight prositution, whether or not the Chapter should hire a lobbyist or a lawyer regarding our opposition to the Bill, the need to contact our Legislators, and the need for the Committee to design a plan and a budget.
Jay asked when the bill would be coming up again. Frank thinks that it could be anytime and that we all need to call our Legislators. Regina says that the issue lost steam when Representative Polisena, a Legislator that the Committee was working with, started working on his election campaign for Mayor of Johnston (which he won). As far as the contents of The Bill, Frank reported that Providence officials want a massage law that will help Providence fight prostitution in the city. Kelly thinks we need someone to write out a law as we need it to be. Jay questioned if we need to rewrite the law or just protect it currently is? Regina would like more input from Wayne on whether or not we should seek a change to The Bill or not. Kelly feels that we need more feedback from the Committee and clear recommendations to move forward.
Regarding the Committee budget, Carl reminded the Board that the budget will be voted on at the Chapter’s Board and General Meetings on Sunday, February 4th and the he will be leaving on vacation the following day. In that case, the Committee will have to propose a budget on-line and if it is $10,000 or more that the Board needs to know that.
Kelly wants form letter of talking points for members to use when contacting our legislators. Frank needs current list of legislators. Jay asked if such a list exists in Chapter library.
Kelly: do we need lobbyist, lawyer, legislative sponsors?. What does Board want? Jay: Committee doesn’t want lobbyist / lawyer right now. Regina: Is cost a factor? Regina knows that AMTA National had helped some people in Oregon. Kelly added that she gave Becky an application for an AMTA grant for a legislative push from National. These grants are awarded to 1) states with no legislation and 2) states that have legislation but where AMTA Chapter(s) want to update massage therapy laws. ACTION? Becky filling out application for AMTA grant?
Dorry: does Committee take minutes? Kel: yes and we should get them.
(Subject needs further clarification) Deb spoke to Froma Harrop at Providence Journal about possibility of writing an editorial, but Deb will wait until after the next Committee meeting on Feb 19th to take any further action.
Kelly believes that we need a plan from Committee with dates and deadlines since the Chapter does not know the Committee’s priorities. ACTION: Kelly asked Deb to have Committee make a plan and submit it to the Board.
Deb joined the Conference Call at 8:30. Here are Deb’s contributions:
2. NERC Planning Jay: shaping up well this year and Carl has been wonderful with registration. Numbers: More than 150 registrations; 26 from RI (RI 3rd, 1st Mass, 2st CT), hotel full, overflow hotel has 29. No presenters have backed out. Have 10 exhibitors. Communications clear with presenters. Lots of major pieces in place. Big issue: getting exhibitors and sponsorship Hospitality Jay told Kelly we need spreadsheet of volunteers and hospitality volunteers. Volunteer duties: collect meal tickets, room monitoring, registration. (Will use wireless laptops on site for registration. When people register on site they sign up themselves). Registration Volunteers– Carl: need 2/3 people Thurs/Friday to hand out Registration bags. Financial part – Cate, Carl, Michael
Kelly Hospitality/NERC Volunteering Overview - Booth . Working on Del’s lemonade, video loop of RI. Shop in Newport sells all things RI. Would they buy back any stuff we don’t sell? Another RI company for RI stuff. In the past we handed out T-shirts, we aren’t doing it unless the Conf Coordinator can get sponsor to hand out. - Raffle: Will there be a raffle? If there is a raffle then we need to supply a gift for the raffle. NERC no longer sells Perry Plouffe raffle tickets. 3 states (including us) still provide the scholarships. NERC Conf Committee not doing it anymore. - ACTION: Jay to clarify raffle. - Jay – each state gave $2,000 to go forward (with Perry Plouffe Scholarship or NERC?) - Hospitality Duties: handles concerns, lost & found, taking box lunches to vendors - Hospitality provides supplies. Make sure there is tape. - ACTION: Board members. Jay asking RI Board to look at their Registration this weekend to say when they can volunteer, especially Thurs 5-8pm and 8-10pm - Volunteers: For example, volunteers run here and there, track people down, and collect meal tickets. - Pre-Conference Meeting – Thurs. 3/22 1:30 pm - Jay – needs to find out who introduces main speaker - Carl – 19 people signed up during Registration to volunteer. Kelly is asking him to send update just before Feb. 04 meeting to get those names. We will have on-site sign-ups at meeting also.
3. Chapter Elections and February 04 Board and General Meeting - Food – Frank will talk to Deb, or Pat Bacchus likes doing that - Education – (Pat Bacchus in charge) We could tap Julia Smith, Carlo a shiatsu person. - Last education event was Shelby – good feedback. - Kelly – people like self-care applications in continuation education - Regina – Alva Medeiros will contact Pat Bacchus about being possible Education co-chair - Elections – 1st VP (Deb Luhrs) and Treasurer (Carl). Carl will contact Wayne about stepping up for Treasurer. (Dorry will miss Feb 4th meeting)
ANNOUNCEMENT: Kelly moving to PHL in next 6 months Kelly suggests there be President election in February and she will stay with NERC and do President transition. Need a President for 1 yr. to finish Kelly’s term. 1st VP moves into President’s position (election?) Deb – Kelly has done good job of making the position a guidance one and delegating duties to committees. Jay – Both Cate and he will look for successors for NERC. However, leadership of NERC goes alphabetically by state name. Dorry – would volunteer to run for 1st VP and NERC Rep.(NERC often meets as conference calls) Kelly – thanks Dorry for stepping up for 1st VP. But is there protocol since Dorry won’t be there? Carl – Dorry should send a position statement with her vision and a bio. Deb wants to talk about GR.
Kel – Pat volunteers for Education chair with Alva Medeiros. Frank – Dorry will need a replacement for Co-Chair for Sports.
4. Ad-hoc Discussion – Not on Agenda
Kenji asked for clarification on making budget requests. Carl responded that if a group needs more or less than money than was allotted last year that it should let him know. Kelly noted that Celeste is requesting a higher budget for the newsletter. ACTION: Kelly asked Carl to send out the budget to the Board.
ACTION: Kelly asked Yolande to send approved minutes of General Meeting of 09/17/06 to the Board. Carl will post those minutes to the RI AMTA web page.
5. Adjournment MOTION: Carl made motion to adjourn, Deb seconded, vote was unanimous.
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m..
Minutes respectfully submitted by Yolande Riendeau, Secretary |