9-8-05

9/18/05 Rosters and Minutes: 9/8/05 Conference Call

Updated Roster for current Board Officers and Committee Chairs 9/05

BOARD Officers (2 year elected positions)

NOTE: President & 2^nd VP & Secretary are all elected in one term, and 1st VP & 3^rd VP & Treasurer are all elected in the following year’s term, for continuity of leadership.

NOTE: VP’s moved up in position according to past records of how the chapter has handled vacancies in the VP positions.

President Kelly Lo Giudice -2/28/06

1^st VP Deb Luhrs 3/1/05 -2/28/07

2^nd VP Paula Kochanek -2/28/06

3^rd VP open open -2/28/07

Secretary Jane Allard -2/28/06

Treasurer Carl Stearns 3/1/05 -2/28/07

Committee Chairs ( ) denotes stepping down from chairperson position

Web Master Carl Stearns

Video Librarian Paula Kochanek

Education ( Cate Chapin )

Sports Frank Rapone

( Louise Humphrey )

MERT Regina Cobb

**Co-chair needed

Newsletter Editor Celeste Macphee

Government Relations Becky Ellsworth

New England Reg.Conf. Jay O’Connor

Cate Chapin

Delegates to National Convention (one year elected positions)

2005 Cate Chapin and Carl Stearns

2006 Carl Stearns and Pat Bachus

Alternate ( Louise Humphrey )

Attendance for 9/8/05 Conference Call

Present: Kelly Lo Giudice, Paula Kochanek, Jane Allard, Carl Stearns, Cate Chapin, Jay O’Connor, Frank Rapone, Celeste Macphee, plus brief check-in from Pat Bachus

Absent: Deb Luhrs, Regina Cobb, Becky Ellsworth, Louise Humphrey

(*The posted President’s agenda was lengthy so Minutes will numerically (è) reflect the agenda.)

WELCOME

è#1 Motion: approve 2/27/05 Board Meeting Minutes: Jay O’Connor, second Carl Stearns, approved.

è#2 Motion: approve 6/12/05 Board Retreat Minutes: Paula Kochanek, second Cate Chapin, approved.

è#3 Nat. Massage Therapy Awareness Week (10/23-29, 2005): Frank suggests a meeting of he, Deb, Regina. Individual efforts may be easier to accomplish. Handouts to clients will create awareness. Kelly commits to work with firefighters, has met with the Chief. She will contact other MT’s, Chris Adamo, suggests making coupons and brochures available. Goal is to care for the caretakers. Paula and Jane can get a list of Northern RI MT’s (from Kelly), Paula has contacts at Pawtucket Memorial Hosp. Jay says the goal is educating the public on Therapeutic Massage, the active RIAMTA Chapter, and website. Jay and Celeste locate National’s “Planning and Coordination of Publicity Guide” which any of us may download on a pdf .

Kelly states that anything we can do is a win-win…anyone willing to take a role with veterans? Jay requests another editorial in the ProJo, Kelly will submit an article and a press release. Publicity samples are available on National site. Frank suggests a banner at Kent County Hospital. Jay spoke of a radio interview.

è#4 Membership: How to grow our Chapter involvement: reminder to bring someone to the General Membership Meeting on 9/18/05. Do we know who our neighboring MT’s are? Are they AMTA members? Good idea to get to know them. Students are gained by attraction.

Welcome Letter: Thank you to Cate and her husband Rick for mailing.

Carl is asked about updating the database for email addresses, says it was Rob Allen’s (former 1^st VP) job. Carl is now willing to do these as long as it is a no-pressure agenda, picking up from July ’05.

Meeting 9/18/05 Cate and Frank will cover food and refreshments. Paula provides the education with John Gregory, Marketing Your Business.

Vendor: Celeste has been contacted by an advertiser, Insurance Company to request a table to be set up at our Gen. Membership meeting 9/18/05. Discussion, Board decides no to this idea, as we do not wish to set a precedent. All advertisers are able to educate us as a service in the Newsletter. Celeste will edit articles of this nature, for space and content, and pass these by Kelly.

Meeting Idea VP’s survey members to get feedback via a fill-in card; follow up report at next Board meeting. Also, follow-up needed to contact members who do go to meetings.

è#5 2^nd VP, Paula Kochanek, states that she is now stepping down from an active role as 2^nd VP. She “can continue only in a limited capacity. Video Librarian is all I can handle right now.” Kelly asks for succession plans. The survey is Paula’s commitment today.

è#6 NERC Jay O’Connor reports NH is Host Chapter 2006, and a push for accountability, budget concerns, and record keeping are being voiced at Coordinators meetings. 2005 Conference lost money due to lateness of Registration packets going out. Numbers were down, too. Chapter is being asked to create a budget. For 2006, RI is only in charge of Travelers Massage. It’s a good idea to shadow the Host State this year, and to volunteer for Travelers. We voted to have Saturday State Gathering in the President’s room again, successful! Theme for RI 2007; suggestions “HOPE” and “The Power for Change Is In Your Hands.”

Kelly asks Jay do we have NERC literature to distribute A the New Mexico National Convention? Yes, we have tear-off style leaflets.

Hosting 2007 involves a team doing a lot of little jobs, lead by co-chairs. Need volunteers. Jay and Cate are the NERC Reps/coordinators We do have a timeline: 18 months prior = October 2005! At the 2005 New Mexico National Convention, we can give out applications to potential presenters for 2007. Jay has started a folder for potential presenters. Jay can provide us with the timeline. We each need to keep alert for any great presenters. Carl would like to be part of the selection process. Considerations are: air fare/travel, accommodations, size of teaching room needed, ability to do CEU’s.

Pins www.providence line.com This company will do the pin at cost, $1.00 per pin (1/2 the price) and a waived set-up fee. Pins with a “sticker” and epoxy work well and are locally made. We will begin to discuss this design.

Thanks to Jay for researching pins.

è#7 Kelly cannot do any outreach to schools til winter. She will contact CEI and get Celeste to send # of newsletters.

è#8 Perry Plouffe Memorial Scholarship Criteria

We are aware that this Scholarship’s purpose is to provide an opportunity for an AMTA member to attend the New England Regional Conference, to achieve continuing education, and to enjoy the respective Conference experiences. This member would not easily be able to afford this opportunity. This Scholarship opportunity both attracts and grooms a member for service.

Weighted criteria: Financial need: 50%, Chapter involvement and/or AMTA positions held: 25%, Massage Therapy involvement and professional community positions held (if applicant has held any office, served on a committee and/or has held membership of a professional organization other than AMTA or has been involved in community organizations while practicing massage)

The following questions have no percentage point value, but are to be taken into account in the event of a tie:

10 sentences about the applicant

Special qualities of applicant
Major projects participated in for AMTA that has had an impact
Altruistic activities

Perry Plouffe Memorial Scholarship Guidelines

These are incomplete and need to be completed and voted on ASAP

1) The application on the website still states: *You will be asked to help out with the conference if you are accepted as our recipient. It will be your way of paying the conference committee back.”

2) The email address for Jane Allard is incorrect. Current is: blueheronj@gmail.com

3) The scholarship is available for Associate or Professional members.

4) We need to decide # of times one member may receive this Scholarship, and in what time frame.

5) Attendance at RIAMTA meetings a factor

6) Volunteerism for RIAMTA a factor

7) Criteria developed (see above)

8) Applicant name and vital info deleted from application, for the Board’s anonymous review and voting purposes. Board vote includes all officers and Committee Chairs.

9) Application submission dates are August 11-September 11

10)Decision of Board made before the September General Member Meeting

11) Announcement at the September General Member Meeting

12) Call to Conference out in December

13) Signed agreement by applicant: (on application) includes the statement:

“If selected for this scholarship, I hereby promise to volunteer and to attend all classes I choose for the (year) New England Conference. I will also provide an article regarding the Conference for the April (year) RI Chapter Newsletter. If I should not be able to fulfill my responsibilities for this Conference last minute, I promise to reimburse the New England Conference for the amount of the Scholarship.”

14) Update of dates of application and (year) Conference on web and in Newsletter maintained.

è #9 We agreed on approval for criteria for AMTA’s

Chapter Meritorious Award:

The AMTA selection form asks the following and assigns a point for each in
order to help with contested nominations:
AMTA Chapter Positions Held (10 pts for each office & chair held, 5 pts for
each committee member position)
Professional/Community Positions Held (if nominee held any office, served on
a committee or members of professional organization other than AMTA or
involved in community organizations while practicing massage 1 pt for each
service or activity, limited to a total of 10 pts)
Honors or awards (honors, awards, other special recognitions 1pt each,
limited to 5 pt total)
The following questions have no point value but are to be taken into account
in the event of a tie:
10 sentences about the nominee
Special qualities of nominee
Major projects participated in for AMTA that has had an impact
Altruistic activities

èMotion: Timeline for Chapter Meritorious Award is February prior to National Conference of that year: Pat, second: Frank. Approved.

è#10 Succession Planning: AMTA has job descriptions for all positions on line. Succession Planning is in this description. Kelly will email; these to us. Kelly asks is everyone keeping orderly histories, files of positions so they can be passed on? Each of us can write up our job description.

è#11 Delegates for National Convention 2005 have 4 suggestions to present to the members. Cate will provide info.

è#12 Gov’t. Relations: Becky, a student graduate of CCRI is active, has clearance now, Criminal Background Check. Kelly needs to check with her to hear what the goals and future action plans are. Suggestions: we are professionals, old verbiage changed, establishment license, Food Service label, resume an Advisory Board: when Jay was Program Director at CCRI Newport, he gathered 7-8 resumes and recommendations, which he and Becky can update.

è#13 Conference Call a success – unanimous yes!

MEETING SCHEDULE:

Thursday, January 19 7-8pm, Conference Call

Sunday, February 5, 2006 1-2pm Board

2-4 General Meeting

4-5 Education

Retreat Day a success? The first one, 6/12/05, was a long day. New ideas: 9am-1pm with 1/3 of that time used for bonding activities. Attendance is optional. Second half of day used for a fun retreat. Need to find a place. Tabled for now.

è#14 Education: Tom Meyers, 12/3-5/05, Cate reports interest, but no money paid yet. Hope for 16-18 participants; 24 maximum, no minimum. Kelly and team will promote this at National 2005.

Michael Regina-Whitley of the NEC Board and Massage Today, will present in the Spring 2006 prior to Special Olympics, for Massage for the Special Needs Population.

èMotion to close meeting Paula, second Carl. 9:15 pm Approved.

Respectfully submitted by Jane F. Allard, Secretary

THIS IS KELLY’S PROVIDED AGENDA

Welcome
Approval of 2/27/05 Minutes

Approval of Retreat Minutes

NATIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY AWARENESS WEEK: A Key to a Healthier You, Oct
23-29, 2005

Update:Need someone to head the committee to work on this. Deb, Louise,
Frank, Paula, Regina volunteered to be on the committee at the retreat.
Remember press releases and even one event is more than we have done in the
past.
NMTAW was mentioned in the newsletter and new member mailing.

Goal #1 Actively participate in NMTAW

Action#1 Press release
Who will be in charge of this task? What¹s the deadline? Kaeli Sutton, a
member, at 338-5466 has experience with press releases and is willing to
help with the release

Action #2 Link during other sports events
Is there another event? If so, who takes on this task and what are the
deadlines?

Action #3 Have smaller events, soldiers and families, outdoor festivals

Update. Veterans, Soldiers and their Families:VA Hospital on Chalkstone Blvd
in Providence Volunteer Services Coordinator Gloria273-7100 ext 0 for the
operator and ask for the Volunteer Services Coordinator Kelly talked with
her directly 8/15 and she will get back to Kelly after she talks with
supervisors. We may need more experience therapists to do this event such as
those working at Kent County.

Michelle: Chief of patient services for Operation Iraqi freedom 457-3300. I
have not contacted her

Veteran Center in Warwick 2038 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02889 Contact Berne
Green 739-0167 Kelly left phone message for Berne and sent her/him? info on
8/17

Deb Luhrs says she can get a contact for Kingston area. Has this been done?

Firefighters: Providence Firefighters Kelly Left message for Asst Chief Mark
Pare at 243-6050 about the event, been doing phone tag for past few days.

Who takes on this task and what are the deadlines?

Proposed Action #4 Member involvement
Offering gift certificate, contacting members via phone, email and at the
meeting.
Contacting members who attended meetings and events and asking for their
participation once we decide details. Other ideas?
Who will be in charge of this task? What¹s the deadline?

Membership Goal #1 OUTREACH: Members

Action #1 Offer volunteer opportunities, planning opportunities
Dates in Newsletter, in mailing this summer: done, but needs to be done more
proactively Ex. Newsletter mailing on a regular day and advertised
Contact neighboring Massage Therapists: have we all been doing this?
Other needs on this action?

Action #2: Inform members of meetings in Newsletter, e-mail, phone calls,
Buddy system: actually taking a member to the meetings, arriving early,
networking and communing
Update: New member mailing went out in July thanks to Kelly, Cate and Cate¹s
husband Rick. New members who joined after the mailing were also sent
packets in Aug by Kelly. Other updates?

Are we all planning to bring another member to the Sept 18th meeting?
Is food set for the meeting?
Is continuing ed all set?

One of our advertisers in the newsletter, Gaylin Cordes, an insurance
salesman, asked Celeste if he could set up a table of information at our
next member meeting. So we need to decide and make guidelines if necessary.
Thoughts?

Idea: the VP¹s surveying members who come to the meeting and ask what
brought you? And would you come again? And any suggestions they might have?

Idea: Following up within three weeks with members who attended the meeting.
Who will be in charge of this task?

Other needs?

Action#3: Start in September to inform about the NEW ENGLAND CONFERENCE:
NEC Planning on State level: we need a timeline Do we have this?

What do we need to do for this year¹s NEC? Who will be in charge of this
task?

Cate and I have a room on the first floor and will host a party for RI
again. What evening would be best? I will get the article to Celeste for the
newsletter.

Choose Theme for RI ¹07: What do we want?

Co-Chairs Hospitality ¹07 Hospitality Chair; Raffle gifts, sales Ideas of
who would be good in this position?

Idea from retreat: Summer cookout Do we want to take this on? Who will be in
charge of this task? What¹s the deadline?

Proposed Action #4 Increase identity of RI Chapter
Pins: Jay update?
Hats were talked about. Do we want to take this on? Who will be in charge of
this task? What¹s the deadline?

GOAL #2 OUTREACH to Massage Schools and Students
Action #1: Form a committee Update: Paula and I met to discuss our goals and
tasks.

Action #2: gather resources
Brochures from National: Kelly has them and will bring one for each board
member to Sept 18th so we can all answer questions about membership. The
RIAMTA newsletter is already sent to all RI schools, Salter school ,
Bancroft, MTI and CCMT (Celeste correct this if I missed a school)

Create a Presentation Packet so any Board member can represent us at
schools: Kelly with input from Paula created a brochure for just RIAMTA. Is
this enough?

Action #3:Contact all schools, locally. Next: Bancroft, MTI
CEI, CCRI and Arthur Angelo contacted. CCRI students received AMTA brochures
and presentation about professional membership in business class. Kelly will
give Regina RI Chapter brochures for her students for fall semester.

Action #4: Make appointment to present in schools
Do we want to take this on? Who will be in charge of this task? What¹s the
deadline?

Action#5: Go, present!
Do we want to take this on? Who will be in charge of this task? What¹s the
deadline?

Proposed GOAL #3 Clarity around Awards
Action#1 Perry Plouffe
We have a new format for the application that was sent in the new member
packet. The deadline was Sept 11th but was published incorrectly as Sept 1.
The new format has the applicant sign an agreement about attendance and
writing an article for the newsletter about their conference experience. Has
it been posted on line yet?

Need an accurate history of the awardSUpdates from NEC? What¹s the deadline?

- Hide quoted text -

Discuss and decide on criteria for the award.

Criteria, history and new application need to be posted online. What¹s the
deadline?
Action #2 Chapter Meritorious Award
The AMTA selection form asks the following and assigns a point for each in
order to help with contested nominations:
AMTA Chapter Positions Held (10 pts for each office & chair held, 5 pts for
each committee member position)
Professional/Community Positions Held (if nominee held any office, served on
a committee or members of professional organization other than AMTA or
involved in community organizations while practicing massage 1 pt for each
service or activity, limited to a total of 10 pts)
Honors or awards (honors, awards, other special recognitions 1pt each,
limited to 5 pt total)
The following questions have no point value but are to be taken into account
in the event of a tie:
10 sentences about the nominee
Special qualities of nominee
Major projects participated in for AMTA that has had an impact
Altruistic activities

Do we agree that AMTA has provided enough criteria? Any others?

SUCCESSION PLANNING
Proposed GOAL #1 All position filled

Proposed Action #1 Need job descriptions that volunteers can sign. AMTA
provides them online. Kelly is sending them to all. Please read and for the
Sept 18th meeting have an edits if necessary so they are ready to go for Feb
elections.

Other ideas?

Proposed Action #2 Each officer/board member is involved in succession
planning

Identify members who are interested and have skills for positions before
vacancy of position.
Jane thoughts for your position?
Paula thoughts for your position?

All officers/board members keep organized information and passes off
information to next volunteer.
How are we all with this one?

DELEGATES
Proposed Goal #1 Delegate received feedback from board and members about how
to vote at National Convention on proposals

Proposed Action #1 Delegates inform Board and get feedback
Proposed Action #2 Delegates inform members and get feedback
Cate and Carl, how should we do this? Should we do this at the Sept 18th
meeting? Cate and Carl update?

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Goal #1 HISTORY
Action #1 Done: Brainstorm
Action #2 Collect and e-mail histories and past experiences
(Deb, Carl, Regina, Kelly, Jane?) Kelly already met with Becky. Update from
others?

Update:
Becky has come on board as Gov Rel Chair.
In July our chapter wrote letters, emails and phone calls to the governor in
response to changes in the massage establishment law. Memers were also
informed via emails and phone calls and newsletter articles. The Goivernor
did not veto the bill but also did not sign it. Bill has passed into law.
Deb and Becky met with Senator Polisena 8/29 and he agreed to help with
getting the respect and proper attention our profession needs. He is going
to help us get our Advisory Board activated and help us update our laws and
regulations. While at the State House Becky applied and received her
lobbyist Badge (only $5 ). Our next meeting at the state house will be with
Senator Polisena, the attorney general, liaison to Dr.Giford at the
healthdept, and the president of the police chiefs association.
Becky applied to meet with the Governor and is waiting to hear when that
date will be.
Becky says our facts and paperwork must be done before November 1st, so it
maybe submitted to Legislation,

Becky, What are your proposed Goals and Actions for Gov Rel?

Anyone interested in being a lobbyist get to Becky
Who is interested in attending the next state house meeting?

EDUCATION
Proposed GOAL #1 Offer continuing education opportunities in RI
Proposed Action #1 Create education committee 2 times year
Proposed Action #2 Offer cont ed seminars 2 times year
Proposed Action #3 Offer short cont ed at general meetings

Proposed GOAL #2 Successful New England Conferences
Proposed Action #1 Involvement of RI 2005
Proposed Action #2 Planning of New England Conference 2006

Do these goals and actions fit? Thoughts? Update Cate? Tasks and deadlines?

SPORTS MASSAGE
Proposed Goal #1 Coordinate RI Sports Massage Events
Action #1 Create Sports Massage Committee
Action #2 Offer events at least 3 times a year
Action #3 Increase amount of paid events

Do these goals and actions fit? Toghts? Update Louise and Frank? Tasks and
Deadlines?

PLANNING NEXT YEAR¹S MEETINGS
Do we think the conference call works and is useful for us as a chapter?
Dates for Jan
Feb general meeting
Retreat discussion. If we do retreat again, who wants to help plan and
coordinate it?
Dates for conference call and fall general meeting

OTHER ISSUES?

END of Kelly’s Agenda.