9-16-07

RIAMTA General Meeting September 16, 2007

2 P.M. – 4 P.M CCRI Campus, Room #1134, Warwick, Rhode Island

4PM Education

GENERAL MEETING ADGENDA

A. President’s Recommendations for Changes to General Meetings:

B. Reports from Department Chairpersons:

1. Membership

2. Treasurer

3. House of Delegates (HOD) for National Convention

4. Education

5. Government Relations

6. NE Regional Conference (NERC)

7. Sports Massage Team (Lou Ann)

8. Newsletter

9. Video Library

10. RI Crisis Incident Stress Management Team (CISMT)

GENERAL MEETING MINUTES

Meeting started at 2:05 P.M.

Attendance: 26 including Board members and students.

A. President’s Recommendations for Changes to General Meetings:

B. Reports from Department Chairpersons:

1. Membership & Hospitality

· RIAMTA memberships: 369 professional, 5 associates, 67 students, 2 schools (CCRI and Arthur Angelo School).

· Kenji asked show of hands how many attended NERC

· We currently have 456 members in RI – 369 professional, 67 students, 5 associate, 2 schools

· Billy passed around Hospitality Survey with ideas for a night of fun for our members to get to know each other. One of the ideas is “Massage & a Movie” to learn a new technique and partner with a friend

2. Treasurer

· Wayne reported that RIAMTA donates $1 per member to AMTA Foundation

· What does AMTA Foundation do with its funds? Sponsors research and members apply for research grants. The Foundation funded a student research project by a student who was present at NERC.

3. House of Delegates (HOD) for AMTA National Convention

· Pat reported that AMTA National funds each state for 2 delegates to attend. RIAMTA delegates usually consist of an experience delegate (such as Pat who attended the previous conference) and a junior delegate (Christopher) who is being mentored by the experienced delegate.

· Pat presented the Recommendations that RIAMTA delegates will vote on at HOD. At today’s meeting RIAMTA delegates surveyed the Chapter membership by voting on the following National recommendations:

o Position Statement 1. Georgia’s Recommendation. Nominations and elections of officers.
Votes: Yes. 22 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain.

o Position Statement 2. Georgia.
Votes: Yes. 22 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain.

o Position Statement 3. If practicing massage where massage is regulated massage therapist most hold valid professional license to get AMTA Professional licens.
Vote: No. 0 For, 22 Against, 0 Abstain.

o Position Statement 4. NJ Recommendation – Can belong to two chapters if pay fee for both chapters.
Discussion: Which state will get the chapter money from National?
Vote: No. 0 For, 20 Against, 2 Abstain.

o Position Statement 5. Only business, ethics, and theory courses can be offered online for AMTA credit. Hands-on classes cannot be offered online.
Votes: Yes. 22 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstain.

4. Education

· Currently in the process of getting the Chapter certified as NCBTMB education provider. Members taking continuing education workshop today will get certificate for 1 credit as part of our application for certification.

· Survey of member interests for class length: 9 want 1-day class as overview; 7 want 2-day class which covers either upper body or lower body

· Survey of members for range of 1-day through 3-day class:
4 members want 3-day class, 14 members want 2-day class, 15 members want 1-day class. The 1-day class wins.

· Sandra Burger, North Carolina gives a Massage and Fibromyalgia class and is available Sept. 14, 2008. 15 members are interested.

· Active Isolated Stretching – Marjory Brook from upstate NY– offers a 1-day overview (vs. 1-day upper body and 1-day lower body classes) -Sunday January 13^th is a possible day for a class.

· Pat also reported on results from an education survey that had been in the last newsletter. Report of survey

· Pat has evaluation forms, registration sheets, and certificate for today’s education workshop by Dr. Miller. RIAMTA will use Dr. Miller as a presenter for our application to be an education provider. That way the Chapter can submit Dr. Miller as a presenter. RIAMTA has to tabulate evaluation results and will submit with our application.

5. Government Relations

· Wayne – In 2007 RIAMTA fought against a law that was meant to fight prostitution through massage laws.

6. NE Regional Conference (NERC)

· For March 27-30^th the theme is Achieving the Silver and Striving for the Gold

· See www.amta-vermont.org . They are the hosting chapter.

· Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel in Marlboro, MA $99/ a night; AMTA fee structure

· Courses: orthopedic massage, hot stone massage,

· RI decorations and travelers massage

· Deb - Perry Plouffe Scholarship 2007 is the last year RIAMTA is awarding it.

· Next September there will be a random drawing at Sept 2008 meeting to win the registration fee to NERC in March 2009

7. Sports Team (Lou Ann)

· National Massage Therapy Awareness Week activities

· Governor will issue proclamation making October 21st – 27th as Massage Therapy Awareness Week

8. Newsletter

· Next deadline October 30th

· “Back up” list of volunteers to help w/mailing

· Keep the yahoo group list for chapter business only

9. Video Library (Paula)

· The traveling library is here today. Contents of the library are also listed in the Handprints newsletter.

10. RI Crisis Incident Stress Management Team (CISMT)

· Annual refresher training of RI Crisis Incident Stress Management Team (CISMT) was held on 8/20/07. Of the 50 members attending, 30 were from RIAMTA. Other attendees were from fire and police departments, doctors, nurses, and clergy.

· For RI AMTA massage therapists on the CISMT the training for NCBTMB will be up for review on Sept 24th.

· If any massage therapists are interested, see application on RI AMTA website to send to Ann Balboni at 21 Laurel Circle.

Meeting adjourned at 4:00 P.M.

Respectively submitted,

Yolande Riendeau, Secretary RI AMTA