Online Education Center

ABMP presents the newest version of the Successful Business Handbook—now available in a digital format. All Certified, Professional, Practitioner, and Supporting level ABMP members can access it online by logging in to the ABMP Members section.

This updated 176-page guide offers many valuable resources for entrants to the profession and for tenured practitioners. Inside you’ll find live links to the many resources and websites mentioned in the more than 60 articles.

• To strategize your business success, we’ve included an in-depth take on resume writing (“Create Your Resume”), creative approaches to getting that much-needed loan (“Finance Your Vision”), and a comprehensive look into a tried-and-true bodywork staple—seated massage (“Seated Solution”).

• We also want to expose practitioners to the ever-changing technological landscape. New articles “E-mail Marketing” and “Tap Into Social Networking” address the growing popularity of using the Internet as a tool to connect with your clients.

• We hope you find our many other new additions helpful, too. These include “6 Tips to Finding the Perfect Location,” “Effective Record Keeping,” “Establish a CAM Clinic,” “Get Your Practice on Radio and Television,” “Personal Safety,” “Prepare for Tax Time,” “Responsible Retailing,” and “Take That Vacation.”

Log in to the ABMP Members section and access the digital edition of the Successful Business Handbook.

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Fall is in the air, and so are germs. The issue of H1N1 (swine flu) has further heightened awareness as well as fear. Obtaining a clear understanding of when you should or should not work on clients—either because of your illness or theirs—is paramount in a bodywork business.

Check out ABMP’s “Keep Your Practice Healthy” webinar, to help you and your clients prepare for cold and flu season. This webinar provides the key components for preventing disease transmission and implementing Universal Precautions, leaving you with a handy “hygiene and sanitation” checklist to help you meet ABMP standards. It’s your job to not only ensure your health, but also that of your clients, and give them no reason to shy away from booking a massage during the winter months.

This webinar is part of our ongoing ABMP BizFit practice management series. While these webinars are typically only available to members, ABMP recognizes this as a public health issue and has consequently made the webinar available to everyone.

View ABMP’s “Keep Your Practice Healthy” webinar.

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The Massage Therapy Foundation is now requesting abstracts for all oral and poster presentations for the 2010 Highlighting Massage Therapy in CIM Research Conference. This conference will focus on and represent rigorous scientific research exploring massage therapy in CIM practices.

The following topics for submission are recommended: current massage and manual therapy-related research and topics with a special focus on translational research and public health.

Please complete the abstract template and return it via email to Alison Pittas, Research and Grant Program Manager at apittas@massagetherapyfoundation.org.

Abstracts will be peer reviewed by the Scientific Advisory Committee and abstracts selected for presentation will be notified by January 15, 2010.

Download abstract template here:
http://www.massagetherapyfoundation.org/pdf/Abstract_Submission_Template_2010FINAL.doc

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Scottsdale, Ariz. (Sep. 25, 2009) Massage Envy’s annual signature fundraising event, Massage for the Cure, provided an unprecedented 46,680 massages and raised over $466,000 during the nationwide event.

Massage for the Cure, hosted on Tuesday, Sept., 15th, benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure and helps fund breast cancer screening and treatment initiatives across the country. One-hour therapeutic massages were offered at a discounted price of $35, with $10 from each massage directly benefiting the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Affiliates. Additional donations were accepted, and all proceeds collected stay in the local community. Total additional donations are currently being calculated.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s event,” said Massage Envy’s CEO David Humphrey. “The enthusiasm and dedication of Massage Envy owners, employees and clients has made Massage for the Cure our largest fundraising effort and we are incredibly grateful for their support.”

Since the first Massage for the Cure event in 2005, Massage Envy has raised over $1.3 million for Komen. This year, with 589 Massage Envy clinics across 41 states participating for the first time, Massage Envy provided 46,680 massages.

The money donated during Massage for the Cure will help fund educational and community outreach projects. The funds will also sponsor screening and treatment initiatives in local communities.

“We are thankful to have such a wonderful partnership with Massage Envy, and couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of the Massage for the Cure event. Our local Affiliates across the country will benefit greatly from these donations,” said Katrina McGhee, vice president of global partnerships for Komen for the Cure.

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. In 2009, more than 40,000 women and men will die from breast cancer. A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes and the disease claims a woman’s life every 13 minutes.

About Massage for the Cure
Massage for the Cure is an annual, one-day event hosted by Massage Envy and benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a global leader in the movement to end breast cancer. Since the event’s inception in 2005, Massage Envy has raised over $1.3 million for Susan G. Komen for the Cure, with 100 percent of the proceeds being used for education, screening, and treatment programs in local communities. Now in its fifth year, Massage for the Cure was held on Sept. 15, 2009, at 589 Massage Envy clinics across the United States.

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The World Massage Conference is a web-based, online conference featuring over 70 of the top massage experts from around the globe in an information-packed, six-day event. Topics include research, spa, techniques, business, treatments, education, and more.

Learn more about the World Massage Conference.

ABMP members, register at half-price!

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A Letter to California ABMP Members from Bob Benson, ABMP Chairman

September 1, 2009

Dear ABMP California Member:

With great pleasure I communicate to you that the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) is, as of 5:19 p.m. today, fully open for business, receiving and processing applications for statewide certification as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) or a Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP). Because of the importance of this opportunity, all ABMP California practicing massage members should be receiving within the next two weeks a mailed copy of this communication along with an application form.

This opportunity is the culmination of eight years of extensive ABMP involvement addressing inequities in local government regulation of massage practitioners. Most of those years involved crafting legislative solutions, assuring that the needs of ABMP’s diverse membership were fairly considered, and battling to get a bill signed into law. SB 731 was that vehicle; it became effective January 1, 2009.

CAMTC certification is voluntary. The design is to allow someone to continue practicing massage therapy (following local city and county ordinances) without securing CAMTC certification. Some municipalities are, however, electing to step away from massage licensing activities, instead requiring individuals to secure CAMTC certification. Please check with your own city or county if you are planning not to obtain CAMTC certification.

Reasons to Certify
Even where it remains voluntary, there are excellent reasons to seek CAMTC certification:

• Cost: A single $150 fee (plus an estimated one-time $80-$95 charge for live-scan fingerprinting and related ID costs) covers you for an initial 24 months; renewal for the next 24 months will cost only $125 (with no need to repeat fingerprinting);
• Pre-emption: While you still will need to secure a local government business license if you have your own practice, possession of CAMTC certification will exempt you from local government massage licensing requirements and fees;
• Portability: With CAMTC certification, you can practice anywhere in the state;
• Title Protection: Only individuals holding CAMTC certification will be permitted to use within California the titles “Certified Massage Therapist” or “Certified Massage Practitioner” or similar wording or abbreviations¹;
• Visibility: Consumers will be able to verify on a website who is or isn’t certified; over time, consumers may begin to establish a preference for certified individuals.

Helpful Hints
Most applicants will be able straightforwardly to qualify for certification simply by having their massage school supply an official transcript to CAMTC. If, however, the school you attended no longer is in operation, don’t despair. Gather what evidence of attendance and program completion you possess. If all you have is a copy of a graduation certificate, supplement that with additional evidence of participation in the program when you send in your application (e.g. a copy of a cancelled check evidencing tuition payment, a graded final exam, class notes, or a statement from a former instructor confirming your program completion).

If you have 250 or more massage education hours, but not that many at a single approved school, you still probably can qualify for CMP certification. This is also the case if you have the total hours, but not at least 100 of those hours in specified curriculum areas. In both cases, apply for “Conditional Massage Practitioner” certification. Once CAMTC examines your full record, they will likely see you are immediately eligible for full certification.

If you have at least 100 massage education hours, but not 250, check out Pathways B and C on the “Overview of Pathways to CAMTC Certification” chart; you may possess sufficient experience hours to qualify for CMP status through these grandfathering education + experience routes.

Cautions … and a Request for Patience
The application form and supporting documentation requests are thorough, necessarily so. As you are painfully aware, for decades certain individuals offering other personal services have tried to pose as massage therapists. Cities and counties adopted restrictive massage therapy regulations, thinking that would curb prostitution. Having secured back an opportunity to regulate our own profession, it is important that CAMTC certification requirements and disciplinary processes be thorough so that we earn the trust of local government officials.

Most cities appear ready to give CAMTC an opportunity to be successful. A few cities have indicated they may resist the new CAMTC massage therapy regulations and instead try to apply local ordinances to all therapists practicing within their boundaries. Both ABMP and CAMTC disagree with those cities’ legal positions and have pledged to work to alter the stance those cities are now taking. As we become aware of a city taking such a position, we will notify ABMP members residing in that jurisdiction.

In closing, I ask you to be patient with CAMTC staff these coming months. Certification criteria and procedures are still being refined. Every CAMTC staff member processing applications is a rookie, because the organization is just getting started. None of us know whether initial application flow will be a trickle or a rush of many thousands at once. If interest is high, it may take weeks to catch up. My advice: if statewide CAMTC certification is appealing to you, initiate the application process at least a couple of months in advance of the expiration of your current local government permit or license.

To learn more about CAMTC certification, please visit other parts of www.camtc.org. If, after exploring that website, including the Frequently Asked Questions section, you require additional information, you can talk to a CAMTC staff member at (916) 669-5336. While ABMP staff is less versed in the details of the new program, we of course also welcome your calls or e-mails.

Sincerely,

Bob Benson
Chairman

_________

¹If you are an ABMP Certified Massage Therapist, ABMP Certified Bodywork Therapist, or ABMP Certified Somatic Therapist, you will be required to obtain CAMTC CMT level certification to continue being permitted to use those ABMP titles within California. We anticipate that a reasonable CAMTC grace period will be provided before this limitation is enforced. Beginning January 1, 2010, ABMP plans to limit both new and renewal ABMP Certified level memberships to those California residents who have obtained CAMTC CMT level certification. Any Californian who currently holds an ABMP Certified level membership who elects not to become CAMTC certified may alternatively switch to ABMP Professional level membership.

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A Letter to California ABMP Members from Bob Benson, ABMP Chairman

August 25, 2009

Dear ABMP California Member:

I had hoped to be in a position this week to inform you that statewide certification as a Certified Massage Therapist (CMT) or a Certified Massage Practitioner (CMP) would be fully ready on September 1. I still anticipate that will be the case sometime in mid-September, at which time ABMP will send by regular mail to all California practicing massage members a formal announcement, an application form, and accompanying instructions.

What is available at this time is about two-thirds of a loaf for those of you who desire to get started on the process. You may link to www.camtc.org and click on “Application for Certification,” which will permit you to download an application form and instructions. You then will be able to fill out the form, arrange for your massage school(s) to send in official copies of your transcripts, gather other supporting documents, and transmit that material to the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) along with payment.

What is missing at this point is the Live Scan fingerprinting process, which will provide the basis for a criminal background check, a helpful safeguard to distinguish you from others trying to pose as massage therapists. In charge of Live Scan procedures is the California Department of Justice (DOJ). CAMTC staff filed a preliminary application with DOJ on April 29. CAMTC filed the final required information with DOJ on July 21. On August 21 DOJ suddenly determined that it needs to make a computer programming change to accommodate CAMTC processing requirements. DOJ now says the “earliest” possible date to activate Live Scan will be September 8, with no guarantee it won’t take longer. When all systems are go, ABMP will post that fact here on www.abmp.com.

CAMTC certification is voluntary. The design is to allow someone to continue practicing massage therapy (following local city and county ordinances) without securing CAMTC certification. Some municipalities are, however, electing to step away from massage licensing activities, instead requiring individuals to secure CAMTC certification. Please check with your own city or county if you are planning not to obtain CAMTC certification.

Reasons to Certify
Even where it remains voluntary, there are excellent reasons to seek CAMTC certification:

• Cost: A single $150 fee (plus an estimated one-time $80-$95 charge for live-scan fingerprinting and related ID costs) covers you for an initial 24 months; renewal for the next 24 months will cost only $125 (with no need to repeat fingerprinting);
• Pre-emption: While you still will need to secure a local government business license if you have your own practice, possession of CAMTC certification will exempt you from local government massage licensing requirements and fees;
• Portability: With CAMTC certification, you can practice anywhere in the state;
• Title Protection: Only individuals holding CAMTC certification will be permitted to use within California the titles “Certified Massage Therapist” or “Certified Massage Practitioner” or similar wording or abbreviations¹;
• Visibility: Consumers will be able to verify on a website who is or isn’t certified; over time, consumers may begin to establish a preference for certified individuals.

Helpful Hints
Most applicants will be able straightforwardly to qualify for certification simply by having their massage school supply an official transcript to CAMTC. If, however, the school you attended no longer is in operation, don’t despair. Gather what evidence of attendance and program completion you possess. If all you have is a copy of a graduation certificate, supplement that with additional evidence of participation in the program when you send in your application (e.g. a copy of a cancelled check evidencing tuition payment, a graded final exam, class notes, or a statement from a former instructor confirming your program completion).

If you have 250 or more massage education hours, but not that many at a single approved school, you still probably can qualify for CMP certification. This is also the case if you have the total hours, but not at least 100 of those hours in specified curriculum areas. In both cases, apply for “Conditional Massage Practitioner” certification. Once CAMTC examines your full record, they will likely see you are immediately eligible for full certification.

If you have at least 100 massage education hours, but not 250, check out Pathways B and C on the “Overview of Pathways to CAMTC Certification” chart near the end of the instructions posted on www.camtc.org; you may possess sufficient experience hours to qualify for CMP status through these grandfathering education + experience routes.

Cautions … and a Request for Patience
The application form and supporting documentation requests are thorough, necessarily so. As you are painfully aware, for decades certain individuals offering other personal services have tried to pose as massage therapists. Cities and counties adopted restrictive massage therapy regulations, thinking that would curb prostitution. Having secured back an opportunity to regulate our own profession, it is important that CAMTC certification requirements and disciplinary processes be thorough so that we earn the trust of local government officials.

Most cities appear ready to give CAMTC an opportunity to be successful. A few cities have indicated they may resist the new CAMTC massage therapy regulations and instead try to apply local ordinances to all therapists practicing within their boundaries. Both ABMP and CAMTC disagree with those cities’ legal positions and have pledged to work to alter the stance those cities are now taking. As we become aware of a city taking such a position, we will notify ABMP members residing in that jurisdiction. A few other cities, notably Santa Monica, are intending to accept pre-emption, but are making noises about requiring everyone to have CAMTC certification in place by September 1, 2009 – a physical impossibility even if DOJ was not behind schedule. CAMTC will attempt to reason with Santa Monica officials, but can make no promises of success.

In closing, I ask you to be patient with CAMTC staff these coming months. Certification criteria and procedures are still being refined. Every CAMTC staff member processing applications is a rookie, because the organization is just getting started. None of us know whether initial application flow will be a trickle or a rush of many thousands at once. If interest is high, it may take weeks to catch up. My advice: if statewide CAMTC certification is appealing to you, initiate the application process at least a couple months in advance of the expiration of your current local government permit or license.

To learn more about CAMTC certification, please visit www.camtc.org. If after exploring that website, including the Frequently Asked Questions section, you require additional information, you can talk to a CAMTC staff member at (916) 669-5336. While ABMP staff is less versed in the details of the new program, we of course also welcome your calls or e-mails.

Sincerely,

Bob Benson
Chairman

__________
¹If you are an ABMP Certified Massage Therapist, ABMP Certified Bodywork Therapist, or ABMP Certified Somatic Therapist, you will be required to obtain CAMTC certification to continue being permitted to use those ABMP titles within California. We anticipate that a reasonable CAMTC grace period will be provided before this limitation is enforced. Beginning January 1, 2010, ABMP plans to limit both new and renewal ABMP Certified level memberships to those California residents who have obtained CAMTC certification. Any Californian who currently holds an ABMP Certified level membership who elects not to become CAMTC certified may alternatively switch to ABMP Professional level membership.

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What:  Massage therapists supporting Marine Corp Marathon participants
When:  October 25, 2009
Time:  7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where:  Rosslyn Metro Station, Fort Myer Drive Exit, Arlington VA, inside finish festival
Contact:  Charles Fisher, marathon@massageenvydc.com

On October 25, 2009, 35,000 runners will enter the grueling Marine Corp Marathon. As we know, the best reward for this accomplishment is a relaxing massage. This year, you can provide relief to these runners and earn a Guinness World Record for “The Most People Being Massaged” in the process.

Many wounded troops and their families will participate in the marathon, and massage therapists will be there to provide our support. To demonstrate pride and support to the troops, we will bring the Guinness World record back to the United States. Currently the record is held in the United Kingdom.

Rarely in a person’s lifetime is there an opportunity to become a Guinness World Record holder. The Marine Corp Marathon is a perfect opportunity to give back to the community and bring the record home!

Massage Envy is coordinating the event and we are looking for massage therapists and students who wish to participate. Interested volunteers will be requested to assist by providing a basic effleurage, petrissage, and tapotement stroke to the lower extremities in 8-12 minutes intervals. The day will be long but very rewarding. Distribution of business cards is encouraged. Massage Envy will provide necessary supplies such as lotion, gel, crème, and tables.

The current record for most people simultaneously massaged is 154, set at Potters Fields Park in London, UK, on October 21, 2007. All participants were massaged by qualified practitioners to celebrate the launch of a new range of treats offered by Nectar (UK). We will bring the record home with 220 people being massaged.

Volunteers will receive gifts such as T-shirts and sponsor paraphernalia. Food and beer will be provided for volunteers also. Feedback from therapists who have participated in similar events suggests that on average a therapist will walk away with 10-30 new clients by participating.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP via http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1768498. We need to have an approximate count for gifts, food, and Guinness World Record Holder Certificates.

Therapist volunteers receive:

• A certificate for breaking the Guinness World Record
• Advertising and exposure to 35,000 runners
• Networking with local therapists
• Free promotional gifts, including T-Shirts, food and beer
• The opportunity to increase the visibility of massage in the community
• Post-event press coverage

Interested parties:
Please RSVP at http://www.active.com/framed/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1768498.
For more information, contact Charles Fisher at marathon@massageenvydc.com.

For more information about the Marine Corp Marathon, visit http://www.marinemarathon.com/.

PDF of the event flyer available for posting.

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The 2009 Fascia Research Congress post-congress workshops are available for registration online at http://www.fasciacongress.org/2009/post_conference_workshops.php. All workshops are scheduled for the day following the main conference, Saturday, October 31, 2009.

The Second International Fascia Research Congress will take place at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, October 27-30, 2009 (full details at http://www.fasciacongress.org/2009/).

Post Congress Workshops
There is an impressive variety of workshop subjects presented by some of the top people in their respective fields. Workshops will focus primarily on clinical methodologies in fields where the human fascia is a main focus of practice and/or theory. An important goal of the Fascia Research Congress has been from the outset to provide an opportunity where both researchers and clinicians can meet, share their work, and collaborate.

For Researchers. It is expected that new areas of scientific inquiry will be identified. The workshop program is designed to give fascia research scientists a greater understanding of how clinicians relate to the subject of the human fasciae, a first hand view of clinical applications, and exposure to the questions clinicians have about the workings of their specialties.

For Clinicians. The program is also designed for clinical practitioners. They will have an opportunity for cross education to learn new techniques and points of view. At the First International Fascia Research Congress in 2007 in Boston, it was clear that those in clinical practice have a keen interest in learning about the scientific basis of their work. The intention is that education in the science underlying clinical methods will add new understandings for the benefit of practitioners themselves in their work and ultimately in the delivery of successful outcomes for those they serve.

Next Steps
You are invited to register for the main conference plus a post-conference workshop, or just post-conference workshops. There are five full-day workshops and six half-day, each of the latter is planned to be repeated twice. You can select any one full-day presentation or any two half-day sessions.

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From ABMP President Les Sweeney

Social media has exploded in the last six months, in large part due to the popularity of sites like Facebook and Twitter. We at ABMP have engaged in social media as an avenue to build community with members and the massage and bodywork profession as a whole

However, we’ve been struck by the challenge of sorting through the maze of massage relationships, high school friends, parents of our children, and coworkers. We started to realize that a community just for the massage and bodywork profession makes sense.

So, we’ve started one at www.massageprofessionals.com. On it you’ll find many of the characteristics of other social media–a place for your picture, profile, discussions, groups you may join or create, even opportunities to post your own blog. What makes this different is that the site has been established solely for massage therapists and bodyworkers.

Massageprofessionals.com is a community for the entire massage and bodywork profession–students, those just entering the field, and seasoned professionals, alike. I am hopeful that all practitioners (whether belonging to ABMP, AMTA, any other organization, or no organization at all) find value in joining what we hope will be the largest, most vibrant community in the profession.

Please take a look and tell your friends and colleagues that we’d love to have their voices be part of the network, too. Thank you for participating and helping us build our profession’s new community!

www.massageprofessionals.com

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The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards are pleased to announce the volunteer MTBOK Task Force member selections have been made. Every attempt has been made to select a dynamic group of individuals who together represent what may be considered the broadly defined field of massage therapy.

Each of the MTBOK Task Force members were chosen for their experience, credentials and expertise as well as having a working understanding of at least one of the major areas impacting the current and future growth of the Massage Therapy profession. The members of the MTBOK Task Force are:

• Megan Lavery
• Kevin Pierce
• Susan Salvo
• Michael Shea
• Steve Schenkman
• Dawn Schmidt
• Nancy Schmitt
• JoEllen Sefton

The Task Force is responsible for initiating a profession-wide and unifying effort to articulate a common body of knowledge for the profession. Under the guidance of Chip Hines, a PMI certified Project Manager Professional, the Task Force members will begin work on the foundational elements of the MTBOK project in July, 2009. These foundational elements include:

• Definition of massage therapy
  • Describing the Field (primarily to enhance understanding and appreciation of the profession by those outside the profession)
  • Scope of Practice
  • Terminology
• Competencies of an entry-level massage therapist (knowledge, skills, abilities)

The MTBOK project is expected to complete the foundational elements phase of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge initiative in approximately one year.

Six organizations have agreed to jointly steward the MTBOK initiative. They are American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), AMTA Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP), Massage Therapy Foundation, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB).

All stakeholders in Massage Therapy are encouraged to follow the progress of the project, and to provide comments, suggestions and make contributions. Specific instructions will be forthcoming as the project gets started this summer. Task Force bios and other MTBOK updates are available at www.mtbok.org.

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From the Desk of Les Sweeney, President, ABMP

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Dear Members:

ABMP recently learned of the proposed launch of the USA Massage Resource Association (USAMRA), a membership association created by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB). According to a memo to the NCBTMB Board of Directors, it is NCBTMB’s intent to enter the association marketplace and offer “a robust membership package including insurance and much more-all designed to strengthen the value of NCBTMB by virtue of its relationship with usamra.org.”

We want to share our perspectives on this development and take the opportunity to restate our commitment to you and to the massage and bodywork profession.

ABMP feels it is entirely within NCBTMB’s prerogative to try to find an audience for a new membership association. We are firm believers that any group or entity has the right to compete in the marketplace. After all, ABMP was in a similar position in 1987, when AMTA was the only professional membership organization then serving the field.

That does not mean, however, that we think NCBTMB’s decision to form an association is in its best interest as an organization, or that their doing so will benefit the profession. Birthed by AMTA 18 years ago, NCBTMB was created for the purpose of offering voluntary certification to massage therapists who subscribed to and met high standards of preparation, knowledge, and ethics. Seduced by the attraction of multiplying significantly the number of individuals taking an examination NCBTMB developed, NCBTMB moved into a vacuum, encouraging states to adopt their National Certification Exam for use as a required entrance exam into the profession, even though their exam had not been designed for that purpose. Within the past three years, a new organization-the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards-emerged (with an initial loan from ABMP) and developed the MBLEx, a true entrance examination that quickly garnered the support of both ABMP and AMTA as the entry exam of choice for our profession.

Both ABMP and AMTA have publicly expressed support for the value of voluntary certification and have encouraged NCBTMB to re-concentrate its energies on serving that original purpose. NCBTMB has resisted that advice, instead aggressively litigating and lobbying to retain a place in entry-level testing and now seeking a new mission to provide professional association services.

While defending NCBTMB’s right to try such a new initiative, ABMP believes that NCBTMB has not earned the right to merit your professional membership affiliation. At the core, what should an effective professional membership association provide its members? You have told us

• quickly responsive, knowledgeable service to all constituents, whether your request for help is simple or complex;
• practice development assistance;
• first-rate communications, in print and online, to keep you abreast of new developments in massage knowledge; and
• comprehensive liability insurance protection backed by an experienced staff present to support you should a claim be filed against you.

NCBTMB can secure some sort of insurance, but lacks experience in administering such a program. Their experience in providing practice development and educational content communications is highly limited. As to basic service responsiveness, NCBTMB’s record is widely considered by the massage profession to be deplorable. Stories of no live person to answer the phone, timely respond to an inquiry, or provide knowledgeable information are legion. NCBTMB has changed the content of their examinations without giving either the massage education community or state licensing boards opportunities for meaningful input. Does this sound like an organization with the skills to be your chosen professional membership association?

Throughout ABMP’s 22-year history, our focus has been on constantly improving the value of your membership. Liability insurance is an integral part of ABMP membership and an important element of any massage therapist’s practice. But as we like to say at ABMP, it’s only part of the story. Membership includes an award-winning magazine, valuable publications and business resources, a robust (and also award-winning) website, legislative and regulatory advocacy, top-notch service, and an opportunity to be heard. Through 1,000-plus Massage & Bodywork articles, curriculum and instructional supports for schools and students, and frequent webinars, ABMP has earned wide respect as a contributor to the advancement of massage knowledge and teaching.

Sometimes providing quality customer service is as simple as making sure someone answers the phone. ABMP has built its reputation over 22 years-one phone call, one conversation, one member at a time. When an ABMP staff member does not immediately have an answer to your inquiry, she quickly finds out and communicates the answer to you. No bull. No pretensions. Honest acknowledgement of what we do and don’t know.

It’s not generally ABMP’s style to toot its own horn. Perhaps the idea of an organization with demonstrated weakness in customer relations thinking they can better provide professional membership association services got my Irish up! We welcome competition and have learned through experience interacting with AMTA that we can constructively work with them on issues of common concern to the profession even while vigorously competing for members. If NCBTMB moves forward to form USAMRA, we hope to continue to support their certification and continuing education approval activities. Rest assured though: ABMP will work hard to keep you as a member and to ask you to encourage others to share your membership choice.

Thank you for listening; most importantly, thank you for your loyalty to ABMP. We intend to merit your continued support.

Regards,

Les Sweeney, NCTM
President, ABMP

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As part of the ABMP BizFit Practice Management series, a “Marketing and Promotion, Part 2” toolkit is now available. We’ve compiled the research for you in a single spot to save you time and help pave the foundation for business success. The kit includes:
Articles:
Creating Customized Marketing Tools
Spreading the Word About Your Business
Developing an Advertising Strategy

Resources:
Everybody Deserves a Massage Week
Customized Client Loyalty Poster

To access these resources, log in to the ABMP Members section and select the ABMP BizFit headline.

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ABMP is proud to sponsor EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week every July. During this event, ABMP members give their time, money, and effort to help those less fortunate, while raising the profession’s visibility. In 2007, the program won a silver award from the Colorado Healthcare Communicators for its overall excellence. The 2010 EveryBody Deserves a Massage Week will be held July 18-24. Massage therapists can order free materials from 800-458-2267, ext 632, beginning Spring 2010.

In this community effort, ABMP encourages and supports members in donating time to such community-spirited activities as offering complimentary massages while collecting cash or canned-food donations to charity. Other efforts include making special offers and discounts to senior citizens, students, police and firefighters, as well as charity telethon work and health fair participation.

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Please visit http://www.camtc.org for more information.

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> Report online scams.

Advertising Company Takes Money, Doesn’t Deliver
9/21/2009
Alert Regarding Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising)

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) members have reported entering into a contract with the company calling itself Nationwide Advertising (aka Coast to Coast Advertising). This company purportedly disappears at times and reappears under a different company name. This company has taken our members’ money but has not provided the advertising that was contracted for. The company sells printed ads on restaurant placemats and phone book covers and appears to have a policy that it will charge yearly for the ads even if a yearly renewal was not agreed upon. In some cases the ads are never printed.

We advise ABMP members to check out any complaints that may be on file regarding a company that you are considering for advertising contracts or for other business relationships. Watch your credit card accounts for any unauthorized charges, and take steps to report these unauthorized charges to your credit card company as soon as possible. Go online and Google the company’s name, or contact your local chamber of commerce to research for any reported complaints.

Internet Scams Target Massage Therapists
Massage therapists are now on the receiving end of a variation of an online con. Here’s how it works: An out-of-town “client” contacts a practitioner via e-mail wanting to schedule appointments for a time in the future when he/she will be visiting the area. The appointments and times are scheduled. Shortly thereafter, the practitioner receives a cashier’s check for these services, but it’s generally for much more than the originally agreed upon price. The alleged client or a secretary of the client contacts the therapist, explains the mistake, and asks the therapist to deposit the check and simply refund the balance. The check appears to clear and the practitioner sends the overage back to the client only to learn two weeks later that the check was a fraud. Now the practitioner is out whatever the overage was.

If this has happened to you, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website, www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm, and click “File a Complaint” to fill out the form. You can also forward the offending e-mails to spam@uce.gov. In addition you can file a complaint at the Internet Crime Complaint Center’s website, http://www.ic3.gov/.

Using caution and common sense will help you avoid the pitfalls of Internet scams. For more information on Internet scams, visit www.ftc.gov/spam/ or www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/cashier.asp.

Member Example
June 12, 2009: An ABMP member reported receiving the following e-mail:

Subject: I NEED A MASSAGE THERAPIST
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 11:11:28 -0700
From: Tom Richardson
–
Hello Therapist,
My name is Tom Richardson, am 42yrs married with two loving kids. I worked as International and Public relation officer for Dubai Petroleum company I will be coming over to your state on a meeting with some of our business associates. I will like to know if you can render me your massage services for the period of my stay. I want a “Body Deep Tissue” I will be coming over for the meeting on the 25th of June 2009 and will likely be staying over for 6 days, meaning that you will be rendering your services for 6 days. I will like my massage session to start by 11:30am to 12:30 before commencement of my meetings and daily. Further more, I want to inform you that I will be lodging in one of the hotels in the city, I can have my driver bring me over to your massage center daily to make it easier for the both of us, I will like to know if there is a very good hotel close to you where I can lodge so I could come over myself. Let me know if this is ok by you so that we can make a final arrangements and you can have me fixed in your schedule for this date.

Secondly let me know if you’ll accept check as mode of payment

P-s: Let me know the total cost of your massage services for 6 days/one hour daily.

Thanks you very much and I await to hear back from you on a timely fashion.

Best Regards.
Mr. Tom Richardson

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The New Mexico Massage Therapy Board will convene a rule hearing to hear public testimony and comments regarding proposed amendments, repeals, and/or replacements to the rules relating to general provisions, fees, and licensing requirements for individuals, schools, and instructors.

Details on the proposed changes can be found at http://www.rld.state.nm.us/Massage/news.html.

The rule hearing will be held at the Regulation and Licensing Department, Rio Grande Conference Room, in the Toney Anaya Building, 2550 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505, on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Persons wishing to present written comments at the hearing are asked to provide (8) copies of any comments or proposed changes. In addition, persons may present their comments orally at the hearing.

Following the rule hearing, the New Mexico Massage Therapy Board will convene a regular board meeting to consider adoption of the proposed amendments, repeals, and/or replacements to the rules.

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HB 2059 is currently moving through the Oregon State Legislature. The bill amends and creates new provisions for health regulatory boards, including the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy (OBMT). This seemingly innocuous bill turned much less so on Tuesday, May 12, 2009, when the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) proposed an amendment that would require the OBMT to accept their national certification exams. The amendment (HB 2059-A7) reads as follows:

“The board shall accept passage of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork examination of another board-approved national standardized examination as meeting the written examination requirement contained in this paragraph.”

ABMP urges schools to contact members of the Senate Committee on Health Care and Veterans Affairs immediately and encourage them to vote “no” on HB 2059-A7. When speaking with legislators keep your comments short and to the point. It is best to call or email the committee members.

I am (name) calling from (name of the school) in (city). I am calling to ask Senator ______ to vote on a proposed amendment to HB 2059. The amendment is “dash 7” and would require the Oregon Board of Massage Therapy (OBMT) to accept a certification exam offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. We support the current language in the law that allows the OBMT to decide on acceptable exam(s).

The OBMT currently accepts the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB). The OBMT has direct oversight of this exam both administratively and in content. We are satisfied with the OBMT decision to accept this exam.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at (phone number).

Attached is a statement by ABMP that was sent to the committee last week urging the committee to vote no.

Members of the Senate Committee on Health Care and Veterans Affairs

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1725
Email: sen.lauriemonnesanderson@state.or.us

Senator Jeff Kruse
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Email: sen.jeffkruse@state.or.us

Senator Alan C Bates
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1703
Email: sen.alanbates@state.or.us

Senator Bill Morrisette
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1706
Email: sen.billmorrisette@state.or.us

Senator Frank Morse
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1708
Email: sen.frankmorse@state.or.us

Contact:
Jean Robinson, Government Relations Director (jean@abmp.com)
Jennifer Argenbright, School Liaison (Jennifer@abmp.com)

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The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards recently announced the appointment of Chip Hines, MS, LMT, as the Project Manager for the definition phase of the MTBOK project.

Hines is a former senior federal government project manager and PMI-certified project management professional. He brings with him a wealth of experience in managing large-scale projects that require consensus building within a diverse community. Chip is also a Licensed Massage Therapist (Maryland) who is NCBTMB certified and has taught advanced bodywork at the Baltimore School of Massage.

As project manager, Chip will direct and manage efforts of the Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge Task Force, to ensure its members successfully produce the desired outcomes within the time and resource constraints; serve as a public liaison for the Task Force; and act as a conduit to MTBOK Stewards. The taskforce, made up of subject matter experts in the field—practitioners, educators and researchers—will be seated in July 2009 to define, develop, and articulate the MTBOK. Foundational elements of the MTBOK project consist of:

• Definition of massage therapy (scope of practice, terminology, describing the field);
• Definition of the competencies of an entry-level massage therapist, in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).

Chip will serve a twelve-month contract and report directly to the MTBOK Stewards. The MTBOK Stewards consist of representatives from the American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

For more information and ongoing updates on the Body of Knowledge Project, please visit www.mtbok.org.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) said today it has won three awards for its editorial offerings and website from the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) and the Western Publications Association (WPA).

ABMP won two SNAP EXCEL awards: a silver in general excellence for editorial products and a bronze in online publishing for the members section of www.abmp.com.

The ABMP entries “displayed superior quality” among “an extraordinary number of high-quality entries,” SNAP said. SNAP has recognized leading publications nationwide for nearly 30 years.

WPA honored ABMP with a Maggie award for the best web publication – website/trade for www.abmp.com. Maggies have a 58-year tradition of recognizing “hard work, dedication and creative talents” in publishing, WPA said.

“These awards echo what our members have been telling us about our flagship publication, Massage & Bodywork, and other ABMP publications,” said Leslie Young, vice president, communication and editor in chief of the magazine. “They also speak highly of our member website, which we strive continually to make user-friendly and attractive.”

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a professional membership association serving the massage therapy profession by promoting ethical practice, fostering acceptance of the profession and protecting the rights of legitimate massage and bodywork practitioners. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Golden, Colo., ABMP is the largest massage membership association in the United States with more than 67,000 members.

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House bill 662, providing for the state licensing of massage therapists, was signed into law by Governor Schweitzer on May 5, 2009. The new law goes into effect immediately. However, applications for state licenses will not become available until a Board of Massage Therapists is appointed then writes rules and regulations to implement the law. There is no action for you to take at this time. ABMP will continue to keep members informed.

In order to qualify for licensure, existing practitioners will need to sign an affidavit stating that they have engaged in the practice of massage therapy for at least 100 hours in Montana. Practitioners would be able to qualify under this provision until July 1, 2012.

After July 1, 2012, applicants must have completed a minimum 500-hour massage therapy program and pass an exam approved by the Board.

Once a massage therapist is licensed, he or she will have to complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years for license renewal.

Practices exempt from massage therapy licensure, as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy, include: movement education, structural integration, and reflexology.

The Board of Massage Therapy will be comprised of one member of the public, one licensed health care provider, and three massage therapists. ABMP encourages members looking for a meaningful volunteer experience within the massage profession to apply for a position on the board. Board members will be reimbursed for mileage driven, are required to be residents of Montana, and to have practiced massage therapy for at least three years.

You can apply for a position on the board by going to https://app.mt.gov/cgi-bin/governor/appointment.cgi

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) was named “Association of the Year” April 25 at the 2009 World Massage Festival held in New Braunfels, Texas. Festival founder Mike Hinkle presented the award to ABMP President Les Sweeney, NCTM, at an awards ceremony.

“ABMP has become the membership leader, but its online video magazine and member services are by far the best in the profession,” Hinkle said. He cited “contributions to the profession, creativity, leadership, and commitment” as elements in honoring ABMP at the event. Hinkle is the former owner of Pensacola Massage Center in Pensacola, Fla.

“We are deeply appreciative of this recognition from our peers,” Sweeney said. “We work hard to provide meaningful value to our members and the profession.”

The festival is in its third year and reaches out to massage therapists, educators, profession leaders and the general public in supporting massage practice and education. The festival helps therapists network with each other, massage business suppliers, schools and professional associations.

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The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Stewards are now accepting applications for volunteer positions on the MTBOK Task Force. Eight positions are available. Application deadline is May 1, 2009.

The job description and application guidelines for Task Force volunteers are available on www.mtbok.org. The task force will be seated in July 2009. This volunteer position will require a nine-month commitment, with a projected completion date of April 2010.

Interested candidates should submit the following, contained in one electronic file (either Microsoft Word or PDF format):

• Resume/curriculum vitae
• Cover Letter
• List of professional references

E-mail applications to mtboktf@gmail.com by May 1, 2009.

The MTBOK Project is a collaboration of several massage organizations, established to develop and adopt across the massage therapy profession a living resource of competencies, standards, and values that inform and guide the domains of practice, licensure, certification, education, accreditation, and research. For more information, please visit www.mtbok.org.

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Last week the Illinois Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 318 (SB318), which now moves into the Illinois House of Representatives for consideration. As you recall, SB 318, sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein, would amend the Medical Practice Act to allow any person licensed under it (physicians, chiropractors) to delegate tasks or duties to licensed or unlicensed personnel as long as those duties fall within the scope of practice for the physician or chiropractor. If passed, SB 318, would circumvent the Massage Licensing Act and allow the unlicensed practice of massage therapy and other allied health professions. It’s safe to assume that chiropractors would have a bigger potential impact on the massage therapy profession than physicians.

The Illinois House of Representatives is currently on break and legislators can be found in their home districts. ABMP encourages you to call or visit your representative’s district office and ask them to vote no on SB 318. You may use the following talking points:

• SB 318 is an unbridled expansion of the Medical Practice Act to allow chiropractors to delegate tasks or duties to an unlicensed person, even those activities that are currently deemed by Illinois statute to require a license. SB 318 does not require supervision of unlicensed employees, does not restrict their activities to the chiropractor’s office, and does not limit the extent to which an unlicensed person may do licensed activities. Unlicensed employees will be able to perform licensed activities without any restrictions.
• SB 318 circumvents the Massage Licensing Act and will promote the unlicensed practice of massage therapy. The Illinois Chiropractic Society has stated specifically that massage is one of the tasks that they want chiropractors to delegate. There are nearly 8,000 licensed Massage Therapists in Illinois in virtually every county of the state. There is clearly no shortage of qualified licensed Massage Therapists to meet this need.
• SB 318 will increase the opportunity for hazardous practice and impact public safety. Untrained employees will be allowed to provide direct patient care to patients with medical conditions.
• The Massage Therapy Licensing Act requires licensees to be fingerprinted as part of the license application process. This is required to help protect the public from sexual predators and other people with a history of sexual violations. SB 318 will not afford the public these protections.

We encourage you to forward this e-mail to massage therapists, clients, family members, friends or any other healthcare consumer to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose SB 318. This action will have more of an impact if accomplished by April 21, 2009.

We are keeping track of conversations being held with legislators regarding this issue. Please relay any information that you can gather from your discussions with your representative to jean@abmp.com.

To find out who your legislator is, go to:
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1

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House bill 662, sponsored by Rep. Elsie Arntzen, has passed the House and is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Safety Committee on April 8, 2009. If passed, the bill would require massage therapists to become state licensed and would establish a Board of Massage Therapists to implement the law.

The bill would allow practitioners to qualify for licensure by signing an affidavit that they have engaged in the practice of massage therapy for at least 100 hours in Montana. Practitioners would be able to qualify under this provision until July 1, 2012.

After July 1, 2012, applicants would have to complete a minimum 500-hour massage therapy program and pass an exam approved by the board.

Once a massage therapist is licensed, he or she will have to complete 12 hours of continuing education every 2 years for license renewal.

Practices exempt from massage therapy licensure, as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy, include: movement education, structural integration, and reflexology.

ABMP will keep members informed as the bill moves forward.

To view the entire bill go to http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billpdf/HB0662.pdf

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As part of the ABMP BizFit Practice Management series, a “Marketing and Promotion, Part 1” toolkit is now available. We’ve compiled the research for you in a single spot to save you time and help pave the foundation for business success. The kit includes:

Articles:
Creating a Marketing Plan
Attracting Clients
6 Ways to Keep Clients
10 Low-Cost Promotions You Can Start Today

Resources:
How to use Body Sense magazine and Fingertips for the Client as effective marketing tools.

To access these resources, log in to the ABMP Members section and select the ABMP BizFit headline.

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Senate bill 318, sponsored by Sen. Ira Silverstein, would amend the Medical Practice Act to allow any person licensed under it (physicians, chiropractors) to delegate tasks or duties to licensed or unlicensed personnel as long as those duties fall within the scope of practice for the physician or chiropractor. If passed, SB 318, would circumvent the Massage Licensing Act and allow the unlicensed practice of massage therapy.

The bill would allow chiropractors and physicians to assign various duties to staff who might not be trained or qualified to perform those duties. For example, they could ask a receptionist to perform massage, or a massage therapist to draw blood. If passed, this bill could negatively impact public safety and would obviously impact a host of licensed professions, including massage therapy.

To view the entire bill, go to:
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=09600SB0318sam003&SessionID=76&GA=
96&DocTypeID=SB&DocNum=0318&print=true

ABMP encourages you to call, email, or fax your state senator immediately and ask them to oppose SB 318. Keep your conversation short and on point. It doesn’t take much to express your view. Here is a sample script:

“SB 318 will allow physicians to delegate duties and tasks to unlicensed individuals. As a licensed massage therapist, I am concerned that this bill would allow massage to be performed by individuals who are not trained and licensed which would severely impact patient safety. As a consumer, I don’t want unlicensed and unqualified people would be working on my family and me.”

To find out who your legislator is, go to:
http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/SelectSearchType.aspx?NavLink=1

SB 318 is the Senate version of House Bill 64, which ABMP reported on in February.

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Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) conducts research as a service to the profession and on March 24 released new statistics about how massage school enrollment and graduation rates are faring.

Student enrollments and graduations continued their decline from 2006 to 2008, even as the number of training programs for massage therapists continued to grow during that period.

Enrollment has declined 11.9 percent from 66,653 entrants in 2006 to 58,700 in 2008. Graduates from massage therapy programs in 2008 totaled 53,372, vs. 62,784 graduates in 2006, a decline of 15.0 percent.

“ABMP considers these results a continuing market correction that began after the peak in school activity in 2004,” said Les Sweeney, nationally certified massage therapist and ABMP president. “Based on our extensive relationships with massage and bodywork training programs, we noted two years ago that there was a leveling off in the rapid school-enrollment trend. We think that massage and bodywork school enrollment is in the process of settling into a more natural number.”

While the number of massage therapy schools continued to grow over the last two years, the growth rate from 2006 to 2008 was even slower than the growth rate from 2004 to 2006. The number of state-approved schools increased 2.5 percent, compared to an increase of 7.8 percent from 2004 to 2006.

“We think the growth of massage programs has likely reached its end; in fact, the 2010 report could likely show a decrease in the number of schools,” Sweeney said. “It would not be surprising to see a further reduction in the number of massage training programs during the next few years. The current economic crisis could accelerate that trend. The landscape has become more competitive. Those with quality instruction, passion for the field and effective student recruitment and support are more likely to thrive.”

ABMP has an active school relations program that includes nearly 2,500 ABMP staff visits to schools over the last decade, a comprehensive initiative launched in 2007 to strengthen massage students’ educational experience and the sponsorship of a 2008 instructors’ textbook in massage therapy.

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Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) has adopted emergency rules establishing a Good Faith Provisional Registration process. This process provisionally registers any individual as a massage therapist who has taken steps to comply with Colorado law by April 1, 2009, but who will not have received their registration by that date.

To be eligible for provisional licensing, individuals will have had to submit the following by April 1, 2009:

• Application and fee
• Education or training standards established in the law
• Fingerprints and background check

For more information, see the Nov. 20, 2008 Colorado Legislative Update

Individuals who have taken these measures will have provisional registration for three months and will be considered in compliance with Colorado law. Within this three-month time frame, all who applied prior to April 1st should have their registration issued.

Those individuals who have not taken the necessary steps prior to April 1, 2009, have not made a good faith effort to become registered, will not receive the provisional registration, and will be treated as any other unlicensed or unregistered professional operating in Colorado. In short, massage therapists who are not registered cannot legally practice in Colorado after April 1, 2009.

For more information, see the Nov. 20, 2008 Colorado Legislative Update

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Colorado Registration Deadline: April 1, 2009
This is a reminder that the deadline for massage therapists to become state registered in the state of Colorado is April 1, 2009. You must be state registered by April to continue practicing. This is a mandatory registration. Applications and detailed instructions can be found at:
http://www.dora.state.co.us/massage-therapists/licensure.htm

Fingerprinting and background checks are mandatory and can take up to 12 weeks to be processed, start this process immediately.

Indiana Registration Deadline: July 1, 2009
Applications for state certification will be available the first week of February. They will be posted on the State Board of Massage Therapy website: http://www.in.gov/pla/massage.htm

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As part of the ABMP BizFit Practice Management series, a “Prepare for Tax Time” toolkit is now available. We’ve already done the research for you with this compilation of resources in a single spot, saving you time and providing massage therapists with the specific tax information you need. The kit includes:

Articles:

Preparing for Tax Time: Serving Up Solutions
Financial Record Keeping and Management
Understanding Balance Sheets

Online Resources:

Small business tax workshops, phone forums, and webinars

Discounted Tax Preparation Services:

ABMP members receive a $20 discount from H&R Block

To access these resources, log in to the ABMP Members section and select the ABMP BizFit headline.

Senate Bill 854, sponsored by Senator Dan Patrick, was introduced to the Texas State Legislature on February 12, 2009. It has not been assigned to an initial committee hearing yet. The bill adds restrictions and requirements for massage establishments and increases penalties for noncompliance.

If passed, SB 854 would restrict the business hours of massage establishments, prohibit the presence of sleeping quarters in any establishment, and require a daily employee log to be maintained, subject to inspection for 90 days. In addition, it would require an owner of a massage establishment to conduct criminal background checks on all applicants for employment and all employees. If the bill were enacted, the new regulations would be very expensive and cumbersome for a small business owner. SB 854 would also prohibit an employer from hiring a staff person who knowingly has a communicable skin disease or a venereal disease.

ABMP strongly opposes the bill and encourages members to contact Senator Patrick immediately and ask him to reconsider the bill. You may also call or email your state senator and ask that they vote no on SB 854.

Senator Patrick can be emailed at the following:
http://www.senate.state.tx.us/75r/senate/members/dist7/dist7.htm#Form

If you don’t know who your state senator is, go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/Home.aspx

To view the entire bill, go to:
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/81R/billtext/pdf/SB00854I.pdf

ABMP will keep members posted on the bill’s status.

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The Massage Therapy Body of Knowledge (MTBOK) Project Stewards recently met in San Antonio, Texas, to establish next steps in the MTBOK development process. The Stewards are pleased to announce the establishment of a structure to articulate the foundational elements common to a MTBOK shared by all stakeholders in the profession. The foundational elements of the MTBOK consist of:

• Definition of massage therapy (scope of practice, terminology, describing the field);
• Definition of the competencies of an entry-level massage therapist, in terms of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs).

This profession-wide initiative will be managed and supported by a project manager. The position will serve a twelve-month contract and will report directly to the MTBOK Stewards. A job description for the Project Manager position and application procedure has been posted on www.mtbok.org.

A task force, made up of subject matter experts in the field—practitioners, educators, and researchers—will be established to define, develop, and articulate the MTBOK. The task force will be seated in July, 2009, and will be managed and supported by the Project Manager.

Individuals interested in serving on the task force are encouraged to visit www.mtbok.org in March to review the task force criteria as well as steps required for submission of interest.

The MTBOK Stewards consist of representatives from the American Massage Therapy Association, AMTA Council of Schools, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Massage Therapy Foundation, and National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork.

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H&R Block offers ABMP members special savings and discounted tax preparation fees when they visit an H&R Block office. To help find your every deduction, and for more information:

• Log in to the ABMP Members section
• Select the headline “H&R Block Offers Discounted Tax Services”
• Click the the specified link to learn how to receive your discount

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As part of the ABMP BizFit practice management series, we are tapping into our greatest asset—our members—and inviting you to share with your colleagues the business practices that have contributed to your success.

If you are a budding filmographer who records your own videos, we invite you to submit your YouTube video for possible inclusion on ABMP.com. Simply send us the link to your video that describes your successful business practices for getting new clients, retaining current clients, locking in future business, or any other practice method that is serving as a foundation to your success. Here’s how to submit your video:

1. Record your “best practices” video.
2. Download the video to your computer and do any editing necessary.
3. Go to www.youtube.com, click the “sign up” button, and set up an account (or log in, if you already have an account); upload your video following the site’s specifications.
4. Copy the URL link that appears on your video page, and paste it into the submission form.

Videos should be no longer than three minutes.

Please note: While ABMP will make every effort to post member videos, each will be reviewed and must meet content/quality standards for inclusion on ABMP.com. Please allow up to five business days for posting. ABMP is unable to edit any video submissions; videos should be ready for presentation prior to submission.

> Submit Your Best Practices Video.

> View samples of ABMP massage therapists’ Best Practice videos.

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ABMP Applauds AMTA Endorsement of MBLEx as Entry-Level Exam
On January 26, 2009, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) distributed a press release announcing its support for the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), an entry-level requirement designed to support a therapist’s ability to practice from state to state. In response, Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals issued the following:

Working Toward a Common Goal
ABMP Applauds AMTA Recognition of MBLEx

(Golden, Colo., Jan. 27, 2009) — Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) today said it commends the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) for reaching the conclusion, after careful and thorough study, that “the MBLEx exam, developed by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) is the best choice for a licensing exam that can lead to portability of massage practice.”⁽¹⁾

“We applaud the decision of the AMTA Board of Directors,” said ABMP President Les Sweeney, NCTM. “This is an important step forward for the profession.”

AMTA provided leadership and loaned funds in the early 1990s to create an organization, the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork (NCBTMB), to offer a way for individual massage practitioners to qualify for national certification and thus demonstrate their commitment to high professional standards. The AMTA statement makes clear it still sees voluntary certification as “a valuable cornerstone of the massage therapy profession.” Nonetheless, ABMP wishes to recognize AMTA’s courage and selflessness in assessing changes in the profession and endorsing the separation of roles for NCBTMB and FSMTB exams.

ABMP played an instrumental role in creating the FSMTB and has felt for some time that an exam like the MBLEx that is specifically oriented to assess qualifications for initial licensure is the appropriate instrument for that purpose. A key factor in that decision is that FSMTB’s constituent members are state licensing boards; the MBLEx exam was developed and is administered by the state bodies charged with deciding who is qualified to begin massage practice.

ABMP has also consistently supported the continued availability of voluntary national certification. Entry level readiness assessment and demonstration of an advanced level of commitment should be two complementary pillars of the massage therapy profession — as is already the case in many other health care professions. “We feel there is a place in the massage and bodywork profession for advanced credentialing,” Sweeney said.

ABMP shares AMTA’s stated aim to promote portability within the profession as well as its expression of hope that its “support for one massage licensing exam will help move the profession forward in a unified way.” ABMP currently is engaged alongside AMTA, NCBTMB, FSMTB and other massage organizations in working toward agreement upon articulation of a commonly accepted massage therapy body of knowledge.

For 22 years, ABMP and AMTA have healthily competed to secure and retain members of their respective professional membership organizations. The individual therapist has benefited from the resulting efforts by both organizations to add services and improve value. For the good of the profession, it is important that the two organizations can complement that competition by working in agreement on important issues like the entry-level exam choice matter at hand.

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⁽¹⁾ The Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx) test was developed with input from more than 7,600 massage and bodywork practitioners, state regulatory agencies and 50 subject-matter experts in massage and bodywork education and practice. It was introduced in October 2007 and has been accepted by 15 state regulatory boards.

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Today, House Bill 5651, providing for the state licensing of massage therapists, was signed into law by Governor Granholm. While the law is effective immediately, it will take some time to implement. There is no action for you to take at this time. It will likely take at least 6-12 months before applications become available, ABMP will continue to keep members informed.

The law will benefit the massage therapy community in three primary ways:

• Minimum training requirements and scope of practice are defined.
• An avenue for consumer complaint is established.
• Local regulations will be pre-empted, meaning all massage therapists will license with the state and no longer have to become licensed in their city or in multiple cities. 

Existing practitioners
For approximately the first year license applications are available, existing practitioners will be able qualify for state license by meeting one of these five criteria:

1. Provide evidence that you have been an active member, as a massage therapist, of a professional massage therapy association (such as ABMP) for at least one year; or
2. Establish by affidavit that you have practiced massage therapy for an average of at least 10 hours per week for five or more years; or
3. Establish by affidavit that you have practiced massage therapy for at least 3 years and provide evidence from the school you attended that you also completed at least 300 hours of formal training; or
4. You have passed an exam approved by the board*; or
5. You have completed at least 500 hours of classroom instruction in massage.

Once a massage therapist becomes state licensed, you will be required to complete 18 hours of continuing education and renew your state license every 3 years.

After the initial year of licensing, new candidates for state license will have to complete a 500-hour minimum massage therapy program AND pass an exam (to be) approved by the board*.

An eleven member Michigan Board of Massage Therapy, consisting of seven massage therapists and four public members, will be created to implement the law. If you are interested in serving on the board, please send a resume and cover letter to jean@abmp.com.* The board will be responsible for writing rules and regulations to implement the law, in addition to designating approved exams.

Professions exempt from obtaining state registration, as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy, include: reflexologists, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager), energy workers (Reiki, Shiatsu, Asian Bodywork, Polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork)

To view the entire law, go to:
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2007-2008/billenrolled/House/pdf/2008-HNB-5651.pdf

Questions can be directed to Jean Robinson at jean@abmp.com.

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Choose from 250 bodywork images, perfect for use on websites and marketing materials. ABMP’s photo library contains images of professional photographs, covering a variety of subjects. Ranging from massage-specific, to hands-on, to environment shots, these high quality images will help you round out your marketing materials. Access this exclusive ABMP member benefit by logging in to the ABMP Members section.

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New York Legislative Update
December 30, 2008

On December 16, 2008, Governor Paterson released the Executive Budget plan for 2009-2010. In an effort to reduce a record $13.7 billion budget deficit, the Executive Budget recommends increasing and extending taxes and fees along with spending cuts in virtually all government programs. If the recommended budget is passed, massage therapists would potentially be affected by three proposed measures:

1. The extension of New York City’s personal and credit services sales tax statewide.  This would make personal services (such as beauty, barbering, manicure, pedicure, massage, health salon, or gymnasium services) and credit rating and reporting services subject to sales tax statewide. Currently, only New York City imposes a sales tax that applies to these services.

ABMP’s view: Most visits for massage therapy are for treatment of symptoms. Massage therapy is a form of health care recognized by the National Institutes of Health and clients should not be lumped in with personal services such as beauty and barbering. At the very least, clients presenting a prescription for massage therapy should be exempt from the tax. Health insurance rarely covers massage and bodywork. Taxation of individuals who are already paying out-of-pocket to relieve their pain literally adds insult to injury.

Fifty-eight percent of massage therapists are self-employed. The task of collecting and paying a service tax could double the time spent on the administrative duties of owning a practice. ABMP has already been in contact with the governor’s office and intends to contact assembly members and leadership with our views.

2. Expansion of fingerprinting to licensed insurance personnel. This would require fingerprinting and background checks at current fee levels of $75 for any individual who is applying for a license under Article 21 of the Insurance Law. If you receive insurance reimbursement for massage services, you would be required to comply with a background check.

3. Increased state licensing fees. This would increases licensing examination fees for 16 disciplines licensed by the Department of State, including massage therapists. These fees have been increased at various times between 1967 and 2005. The current exam fee is $250, the license fee is $100 and is valid for three years. New York’s fee structure is currently below the national average.

The governor is responsible for developing and preparing a comprehensive, balanced budget proposal, which the legislature modifies and enacts into law. By mid-January the legislature will begin analyzing the governor’s proposals, primarily through its fiscal committees (Senate Finance and Assembly Ways and Means), but both houses will have to come to an agreement on priorities.

Action
ABMP recommends contacting your assembly member to voice your concerns. Attempting to expand service taxes to massage therapy and other personal services has become an increasingly common way for states to try to increase tax revenue. We have had success in defeating some attempts, but only if massage therapists become involved in contacting their representatives. Many legislators assume they are imposing a “luxury tax” on wealthy people, not knowing that most people seek massage for pain relief. It would also be prudent to have your clients contact their legislators since they are the ones who will be taxed for their healthcare service.

If you do not know who your representative is, go to:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

The 2009 Yellow Book, a Statistical and Narrative Summary of the Executive Budget Prepared by the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, was released on December 22nd. To view the Yellow Book, go to:
http://assembly.state.ny.us/Reports/WAM/2009Yellow/

To view Governor Paterson’s Executive Budget, go to:
http://publications.budget.state.ny.us/eBudget0910/fy0910littlebook/RevenueActions.html

To view legislative updates for New York, visit the interactive legislative map at www.abmp.com.

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On Monday, November 17, 2008, the Rules and Regulation Hearing was completed at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The applications for state registration will be available on 12/1/2008 at: http://www.dora.state.co.us/massage-therapists/index.htm

All massage therapists must be state registered by April 1, 2009 in order to continue practicing. Some people have confused the grandfathering provision, which only relates to qualifications for registration, with the April 1, 2009, date by which massage therapists need to be state registered in order to practice. Do not delay applying! All massage therapists must be state registered by April 1, 2009.

Fingerprinting and Background
In order to qualify for state registration, applicants will have to be fingerprinted, and have background checks completed. All applicants are required to submit fingerprints for a new background check, even if you have previously completed this process for your local license. Unless you are able to have your fingerprinting done electronically (as described below), this will be a 2-step process. First, get your fingerprints taken; next send the fingerprint card to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Start this process immediately. Background checks can take up to 12 weeks to be processed.

You may be fingerprinted by any of the following agencies:

1. DORA recommends electronic fingerprinting because it is the most accurate method and can be transmitted directly to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Some local law enforcement agencies may be able to submit fingerprints electronically and it can also be done at:Arapahoe Community College
   5900 South Santa Fe Drive, 2nd Floor, Room M-2600
   Littleton, CO
   ph. 303-797-5800Hours: Monday – Thursday 8 AM – 6 PM, Friday 8 AM – 4 PM (no appointment necessary); call before you go to be sure they are up and running. It is a new program. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted ($62, this includes the background check fee of $39.50 for CBI).
2. Manual fingerprinting at :Colorado Correctional Industries
   4999 Oakland Street (Two blocks west of Peoria)
   Denver, CO 80239
   ph. 303-370-2165Hours: Monday – Friday 8 AM – 4 PM (no appointment necessary)
   Cash only ($10)
3. Manual fingerprinting at your local law enforcement agency. We have provided a list of agencies (attachment), but you will need to confirm the information.Contact the agency you will use to find out (a) if they use the electronic (preferred) or manual method for fingerprinting; (b) if they supply the appropriate Fingerprint Card (Form FD258) or if you need to obtain the card; and (c) residency requirements, hours of operation, and cost.

Regardless of the method you choose, you will need the following information:

Employer and Address	Reason Fingerprinted	OCA	ORI (if not already completed as follows)
Massage Therapist Registration 1560 Broadway, Suite 1350 Denver, CO 80202 Box #4 on fingerprint form FD258	Massage Therapist Registration CRS 12-35.5-101 Box #5 on form FD258	CONCJ9300 Box #10 on form FD258	COCBI0000 COLO B of I Denver, CO

You will then send your completed fingerprint cards, along with a $39.50 background check fee, to:

Colorado Bureau of Investigation
690 Kipling
Lakewood, CO 80215
Phone: 303-239-4208

CBI accepts cash, money order, cashiers check, company check or credit card. They do not accept personal checks. Note that CBI will return the card and payment requiring re-submittal for an additional fee if: (1) fingerprints are not readable, due to low quality of print characteristics; (2) payment is not made in the exact amount ($39.50); or (3) the wrong fingerprint card is used (you must use Form FD 258).

CBI will complete the background check and submit it directly to DORA. Please do not call DORA repeatedly to check on the status. This part of the process may take up to 12 weeks. DORA will hold the background check on file (for up to a year) until the rest of your application is received.

Registration application
The application for state registration will be available December 1, 2008 at:
http://www.dora.state.co.us/massage-therapists/index.htm

An application is considered complete by DORA when:

• The original application form (no photocopies, no fax), and all questions are filled out completely and accurately;
• The appropriate fee ($90) has been remitted;
• Fingerprint card has been submitted to CBI and the background check has been received;
• The original (no photocopies) Affidavit of Eligibility form is complete;
• Any additional information requested by the director (i.e. explanation addressing screening questions) has been received;
• Any additional requirements listed in the application’s instructions and checklist are complete, including an affidavit stating that you have, and will maintain, professional liability insurance. ABMP Professional, Practitioner, and Certified levels of membership include professional liability insurance and meet this qualification.

DORA expects to issue registration within 14 days of receipt of completed applications. You will be able to check the progress of your application on the DORA website. It has been reported that up to 40% of applicants to the Division of Registration submit incomplete applications. This only causes a delay in processing. Check your application twice before sending it in. DORA has made this process extremely easy by not requiring applicant to document eligibility by providing transcripts or test scores. If everyone double-checks their applications prior to sending them in, there should be no problem receiving your registration by 4/1/2009.
Avoid common mistakes:

• If you have changed your name because of a marriage or divorce and the name on the application is different than the name you used in school, send a copy of your marriage or divorce documentation along with your application.
• Don’t lie on the screening questions. An arrest, criminal conviction, or disciplinary action will not automatically disqualify a candidate for registration. Lying on the application will not help your cause and could be considered a violation of ABMP’s Code of Ethics.
• Don’t skip any lines on the application.

Qualifications for Registration
Registration will begin 12/1/08 and the grandfathering period will end 12/31/09. Until 12/31/2009, applicants can meet EITHER the education or exam requirement or demonstrate that they have practiced for 5 years and have had 300 hours massage education. DORA will accept an attestation for proof of education or experience during the initial registration process.

Anyone applying after 12/31/2009 will need to meet both the entry-level education requirements (500 hours) and exam requirement (MBLEX or NCBTMB exam). Future applicants will have to submit their transcripts and exam scores.

Renewal
This initial state registration will be effective for two years. The renewal date will be 1/31/11. There is no background check or continuing education required for renewal and a fee has not been set at this time. Renewal notices will be sent by DORA as a courtesy. However, it is the responsibility of the massage therapist to renew. You are also required to keep your address current with DORA.

Contact information
All information related to the registration of massage therapists can be found at:
Department of Regulatory Agencies
Division of Registrations
Office of Licensing – Massage Therapists Registration
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303.894.7800

Website: http://www.dora.state.co.us/massage-therapists/index.htm

Exempt professions
Professions exempt from obtaining state registration, as long as practitioners do not practice or advertise that they practice massage therapy, include: reflexology, movement educators (Feldenkrais, Trager, and Body-Mind Centering), energy work (reiki, shiatsu, asian bodywork, polarity), structural integrators (Rolfing and Hellerwork), and the process of muscle activation techniques.

Local Licenses
You must comply with your city’s requirements since they have regulatory jurisdiction until 3/31/09. The State has sent a notice to the municipal clerks regarding the change in jurisdiction but has no authority to compel cities or local jurisdictions to waive the renewal fee if you are required to renew your license before April 1, 2009.

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ABMP members, log in to access your BizFit materials for getting your practice in shape.

 

Dear Valued Member,

The headlines regarding the economy are unsettling, and likely leaving you wondering how the recession will affect your practice. Maybe some of you are already feeling the effects. Consequently, we don’t think there’s a moment to waste and are moving quickly to put ideas and solutions in your hands. To that end, ABMP introduces its new “BizFit: Get Your Practice in Shape” business management series to help you navigate these changing economic times. To access the following tools, log in to the ABMP.com Members section and click on the ABMP BizFit headline.

• Video Tips: Practitioners Share Their Business Advice
  1. Getting New Clients
  2. Re-booking Strategies
  3. Ten Things to Do Today to Build Your Practice
  4. Ten Ways to Use an Hour When You Don’t Have an Appointment
• Toolkits: Strategies for Practice Management
  1. Retaining Clients
  2. Quick Fixes
  3. Getting Comfortable with Money
  4. Getting Started
  5. Insurance Billing
• Webinars
  Lock in Your Massage Business for 2009
• Marketing Materials
  Customizable Client Education Brochures: Topics include Invest In Your Health and The Benefits of Frequently Scheduled Massage
  
  Customizable Client Newsletter: Choose from a variety of articles including The Benefits of Massage and A Cornerstone of Health
  
• Consumer Awareness Initiative through Massagetherapy.com, ABMP’s public education resource. Massagetherapy.com’s monthly topics and associated e-newsletters champion the benefits of massage as a relaxation necessity in stressful times, a vital wellness measure, and an important healthcare modality. All ABMP members will soon be added to the monthly e-newsletter distribution list from this public education website.
• And more. We will continue to build regularly on the ABMP BizFit series. Look for additional video tips, toolkits, podcasts, marketing materials, and upcoming articles in Massage & Bodywork magazine and Different Strokes.

It’s hard to know what exactly the economy has in store and how it will affect the business of massage. But be assured, we are committed to working with you for the benefit of your clients’ health and the health of your practice.

E-mail us at expectmore@abmp.com with your ideas and feedback. We’d love to hear from you. We are hopeful the massage profession will continue to build, but no matter the path, know that we are with you every step of the way.

Sincerely,

Les Sweeney, NCTM
President, ABMP

Log in to the ABMP Members section now to access ABMP BizFit Practice Management Series.

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October 31, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Nora Brunner
800-458-2267, ext. 647

ABMP’S DIGITAL MASSAGE & BODYWORK
MAGAZINE TAKES GOLD MARCOM AWARD

(Evergreen, Colo., Oct. 31) – Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP)
today announced its digital Massage & Bodywork magazine has won a gold award from the international MarCom Awards, sponsored by the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals (AMCP). The digital Massage & Bodywork was one of 5,000 entries in the competition. ABMP rolled out the September/October inaugural e-zine Aug. 11. Massage & Bodywork is the first U.S. massage therapy journal to be offered online by a leading massage membership association.

MarCom’s gold winners were judged to “exceed the high standards of the industry norm,” and the gold is “a tremendous achievement,” according to the Arlington, Texas-based AMCP.

The digital Massage & Bodywork features links to ads, streaming videos and websites, along with video sidebars to help deepen readers’ knowledge of a technique or treatment. Subscribers can easily locate specific issues, articles and pages using the table of contents and search function. Those who prefer to read exclusively online can go green by notifying ABMP they want only the digital version. Subscribers to the award-winning print magazine receive the digital magazine free.

A Readex survey released last summer shows Massage &Bodywork is the top professional magazine choice among massage therapist survey respondents not affiliated with either of the two major membership associations. It was named the first choice by 37 percent of unaffiliated readers, demonstrating leadership over MTJ, Massage Magazine and Massage Today. Massage & Bodywork recently won prestigious gold and silver EXCEL awards from the nation’s leading association publishing organization.

Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals is a national professional membership association serving the massage therapy profession. Founded in 1987 and headquartered in Evergreen, Colo., ABMP is the largest massage membership association in the United States with more than 65,000 members.

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House Bill 2499, a legislative proposal to license massage therapists, was signed into law by Governor Rendell yesterday. The law requires the governor to appoint a regulatory board to implement the law. The board will consist of six massage therapists, two members of the public, and three representatives from different government departments. ABMP will inform members when the governor begins accepting applications to be appointed to the board. The board will have the responsibility of writing rules and regulations to implement the law, including an application process.

As previously reported, the law will allow existing practitioners to qualify for a license without obtaining additional education or taking an exam. To qualify for a license under the grandfathering provision an applicant will be required to demonstrate they have actively practiced massage therapy and meet ONE of the following requirements:

1. Has been in active, continuous practice for a minimum of 5 years; OR
2. Has passed a massage therapy exam that is part of a certification program accredited by the National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA); OR
3. Has completed a minimum of 500 hours of massage education; OR
4. Has completed at least 100 hours of massage education and passed the National Exam for State Licensure (NESL) offered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB); OR
5. Has completed at least 100 hours of massage education and passed the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Exam (MBLEx) offered by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB).

Once a massage therapist obtains a license through the grandfathering provision, the only requirement for maintenance of his or her license would be to complete 24 hours continuing education for renewal every two years.

To qualify for licensure after the grandfathering provision expires, an applicant must have completed a minimum 600 hour massage therapy program and pass an exam approved or administered by the board.

Professions exempt from massage therapy licensure would include energy work, movement education, and reflexology.

There is no action to take at this time. It can take up to a year for the board to be appointed and an application process to be put in place. ABMP will keep members informed as progress is made.

Read the entire law.

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On Saturday, September 27, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 731 into law. When fully implemented, the new law makes available regulatory relief for the nearly 40,000 individuals practicing massage therapy in California.

Today is not the end of a now six year process – creation of a governing board, hiring a staff, developing policies, advertising the availability of applications for state-level certification, processing applications, and finally issuing certifications all lie ahead. Indeed, language in the bill states that no certifications may be issued prior to September 1, 2009.

Neither does this bill mandate anything for individual massage practitioners. It is a voluntary certification bill. Those who qualify, elect to seek, and secure a certification from the yet to be formed California Massage Therapy Organization will gain the right to practice anywhere in the state without having to secure massage therapy licenses from individual cities or counties. Potentially, the cost of a state-level certification will be meaningfully less than what many individuals are paying now for local permits.

I understand that not every ABMP California member will cheer SB 731 becoming law. While the latest California member survey we conducted (July 2008) found 83% support for the bill, I respect the contrary views of the other 17% and hope the voluntary nature of the law assuages their disagreement.

Having offered these caveats, some celebration seems in order. While highly imperfect, and some distance from the original legislative draft, SB 731 appears to solve a huge problem with the practice of massage within California. This law looks at bona fide massage therapists as professionals, not as suspect providers of illicit services. Those electing to become certified will be able to have their qualifications vetted by a knowledgeable massage organization rather than by local police departments. Discriminatory zoning rules singling out massage therapists could no longer be enforced against individuals certified by this new massage organization.

Over time the new law raises educational requirements to enter the profession, but up front it provides avenues for experienced practitioners to qualify for certification with fewer formal education hours.

View a copy of the complete bill. ABMP will soon be sending to each California member via regular mail information on the bill and the standards for becoming certified under its provisions. As the new Massage Organization is formed and begins shaping rules and practices in 2009, ABMP will again send specific guidance about becoming certified to all members. While I am certain numerous recipients of this electronic communication have interpretation questions about how the law will apply to apply to your individual situation, please hold off those inquiries until after receiving the first of those future letters.

The governing structure for the Massage Therapy Organization is described in the bill. Because it will be a private organization outside of state government, board members are not selected by the Governor. Rather, organizations of varying types may qualify to appoint one or more board members. Once we present our credentials, ABMP will be entitled to two seats on the founding board. If you feel qualified and are interested in serving on that body, please by October 20 send a resume and a cover letter expressing interest to: rsb@abmp.com. ABMP’s President will make the selections. Weight will be given to involvement and contributions to this legislative effort over the past six years, but there may well be other individuals who possess some useful combination of massage work experience, insights about massage education, knowledge about consumer needs, and participation in government processes.

Our colleagues in this legislative effort, the California chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, will also have two seats on the board and should be acknowledged for their perseverance and commitment of resources in this effort. This six-year road started as a conversation among colleagues, required compromise among varying viewpoints within the profession, and ended with a largely shared vision to pass a law that will improve the regulatory structure for massage therapists who choose to be certified. Over the past two years, Massage Envy has also been strongly supportive of these legislative efforts – testifying, writing support letters, and contributing financially.

After a rocky relationship start, I am pleased to report that in the end the California Chiropractic Association not only supported the bill, but also actively lobbied on its behalf. That support helped meaningfully, and we appreciate that. We wish that we had also had support of the California Physical Therapy Association, but that did not come to pass.

ABMP owes genuine gratitude to three individuals. State Senator Jenny Oropeza agreed to serve as author of and advocate for SB 731, stepping up to the plate two years ago when many of her colleagues were wary or simply had other priorities.

Kathryn Scott and Judy Wolen, our government relations representatives with the firm of Capital Partners in Sacramento made huge contributions. They have been ABMP’s strategists and implementing point persons in this effort for five years. Yes, ABMP paid them for their services, but their creative, persistent efforts moved beyond executing an assignment into the realm of genuine caring about helping the massage therapy profession. What started as an assignment became a personal mission.

On a personal note, I am proud to have lent some combination of Swedish stubbornness and skill at mediating diverse ABMP member views to this effort. Several ABMP staff colleagues and a so-called “kitchen cabinet” of about two-dozen ABMP California members also uncomplainingly and repeatedly put shoulder to the wheel to make this effort ultimately successful. This journey has been lengthy already and certainly has had its full share of disappointments along the way. It has required considerable ABMP senior management time along with dollar outlays for outside services. We kept at it because many of our 12,000+ California members face every day an unjust and intolerable regulatory burden. We have consistently described SB 731 as an imperfect solution, but it does comprise an important step forward in enabling ABMP members to be recognized as professionals and to be regulated in a time and cost-effective manner.

Bob Benson
Chairman

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Produced twice a year, Body Sense is a vital, attractive tool to boost your client education efforts and a way to say thanks while encouraging healthy living behavior. Make Body Sense a cornerstone to your marketing plan and place your order for additional copies, available to ABMP members for $1 a copy, with free shipping. To place your order or learn more, visit www.bodysensemagazine.com.

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ABMP Members, if you’re seeking volunteers for an event you’re organizing, log in to the ABMP Members section and under Marketing Center select “Outreach and Volunteer Opportunities – Do you have an event you would like posted?”

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Haiti Relief Efforts: Call to Arms Hands and Heart
Date: 1-30-10 TBD
Location: Palm Beach, Broward and Dade Counties; Florida
Sponsor: My Massage Company Inc
Contact Name: Rich Haslam
Contact Phone: 954-234-5144
Contact Email: rich.haslam@gmail.com
Website: www.CalltoArmsandHands.org

We’re hosting a chair massage-a-thon, co-sponsored with Whole Foods Market, to raise funds for the Haiti relief efforts. All monies collected will be donated to a qualified nonprofit providing direct relief in Haiti.

We need LMTs to help give chair massages, and contact their clients, family, and friends come receive massages for the cause.

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Volunteer Massage Work in Nepal
Date: 10/11/2010
Location: Pokhara, Nepal
Contact: Krishna Timilsina
Phone: 009779846029758
Email: krishna_25@hotmail.com
Website: www.volunteerventure.org

Massage is one of the oldest healing arts: Chinese records dating back 3,000 years document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems. Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And, as many millions will attest, massage also helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.

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Fairview Home Care and Hospice

Location: Twin Cities metro area

Contact: Anne Myers-Richards

Phone: 612-728-2408

Email:

Website: www.fairview.org/hospice

 

Description: Fairview Home Care and Hospice seeks volunteer massage therapists to supplement the care provided by our massage therapy staff. Volunteers provide comforting massage to our 160+ patients who are located throughout the Twin Cities area. Patients live in private homes as well as skilled care facilities.

Commitment: May be as much as 2-4 hours per week or as little as 2-4 hours per month. Hours are flexible. You will work with the same patient, in your area, on an ongoing basis.

Requirements: Complete hospice volunteer training, health screening including two TB tests (at no cost to you), criminal background check (at no cost to you), and provide two references.

For more information, please contact:

Anne Myers-Richards, Volunteer Supervisor

612-728-2408

 

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The Indianapolis office of the Visiting Nurse Service (VNS), which services several central Indiana counties, is looking for volunteer massage therapists. Volunteers will bring comfort and relief to patients by providing palliative massage care to homebound patients who would otherwise not be able to receive massage. The massage will be done with professionalism and care to provide a safe, dignified, and respectable environment for ill/terminally ill patients.

Volunteers, who are asked to provide one to two visits to patients per month, will need to complete an application, be interviewed, submit references, go through an orientation process, and get a TB test, provided by VNS; all of this is at no cost to the therapist. Therapists will be matched with patients in the area they are interested in.

ABMP members interested in participating are invited to contact the volunteer coordinator at VNS:

Emily Gage

Visiting Nurse Service, Inc.

4701 N. Keystone Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46205

317-722-8299 x293

EGage@vnsi.org

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The Heart Touch Project is a non-profit, educational, and service organization devoted to the delivery of compassionate and healing touch to homebound or hospitalized men, women, and children. Founded by ABMP Member Shawnee Isaac Smith, the organization was created ten years ago in response to her friend and fellow bodyworker’s struggle with AIDS. She saw that he was being ostracized and deprived of touch and began to offer him her support through free massage.

To date, the Heart Touch Project has trained over 1,000 massage therapists and other professionals, who have provided more than 23,000 free massage sessions to more than 1,200 of the most ill and untouched members of our community. In addition, the project has educated thousands of physicians, nurses, parents, and other caregivers through hands-on demonstrations, workshops, and international presentations. This service has been called upon by many of the region’s most prominent healthcare, home-health, and hospice organizations.

The Heart Touch Project is looking for compassionate volunteers in order to meet community needs. Interested members are invited to contact:

Debbie LeVine

Director of Volunteer & Client Services

The Heart Touch Project

3400 Airport Avenue #42

Santa Monica, CA 90405

310-391-2558 phone

debbie@hearttouch.org

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Classified ads are posted in the ABMP.com Members section. Non-members and employers will be invoiced for $50 per posting. ABMP members can submit classifieds free of charge. Response information is included in the listing. ABMP performs this service for its members and makes no guarantee as to the validity of the listings. Listings will be removed after 60 days unless we are notified.

Post a classified in the ABMP.com Members section.

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