AMTA-MA Chapter Sets the Bar High

This past weekend I was fortunate to be invited to teach at the 50th anniversary celebration of the MA Chapter of AMTA. Let me tell you, these people know how to throw a party!

To begin with, in honor of hitting the 50-year mark, the members got to attend this magnanimous occasion for the paltry sum of 50 bucks–and that included their education and meals. The food and service at the Crowne Plaza in Worcester was excellent. The folks in this chapter are excellent.

The Chapter made a $10,000 donation to the Massage Therapy Foundation. MTF President Ruth Werner and IPP Diana Thompson were both in attendance and said it was the biggest chapter donation in the history of the organization. They also raised another $800 by raffling off a quilt made by Ruth Werner, that was matched by the NCBTMB for a total of $1600, that was also donated to the MTF.

The vendors were great, lots of giveaways, and Massage Today and Massage Warehouse went a little crazy giving away all kinds of goodies, including a massage table and several chairs.

The NCBTMB was one of the sponsors of the event and I spent time with their CEO, Paul Lindamood and the Director of Exam Development, Elizabeth Langston chatting about the forthcoming Advanced Certification Exam. Even the BOD Chair, Neal Delaporta, was very gracious to me, which is nice since I’ve been quite nasty to him in my blog over the years.

I shared a shuttle to the airport with Diana Thompson. She’s not old enough for me to refer to her as one of the grandmothers of massage, but I found out massage has been her one and only career since the age of 19. After rising to the position of leading the Massage Therapy Foundation, and is now the IPP, she still does 10-15 massages every week. I think that’s amazing.

Mary White, Richard Wedegartner, Allissa Haines, Lisa Curran Parenteau, Sister Pat and all the rest of the chapter members bent over backwards to make me feel welcome. The people who attended my classes in Using Research to Market Your Practice were great.

The theme of this gathering was promoting research in massage therapy, and I don’t think it could have been any better. I also enjoyed seeing so many friends and FB friends–met quite a few people who have been on my FB page and that’s always fun. I also had dinner with Chris Alvarado and Angie Palmier, who were there teaching “Research Rocks.”

I encourage every AMTA chapter in the world to shamelessly steal this theme for an upcoming meeting. We need to educate therapists about research so they can go out and educate the rest of the world.

Thanks so much to the fine massage therapists of MA!

Laura Allen

8 Replies to “AMTA-MA Chapter Sets the Bar High”

  1. This conference was amazing! The announcement of the Massage School Makeover, the incredible 10,000 donation by the AMTA-MASS Chapter, the inspiring speeches by the board members, Ruth Werner’s keynote—I could go on and on. I remember feeling so “cutting edge” in the Illinois Chapter by offering at least one research based class at our conventions, but an ENTIRE conference? We had so many fantastic comments from attendees with regard to the research classes and I was thrilled to be a part of it. Congratulations AMTA-MASS on a job well done!

  2. You are sooooooo right on! What a great reunion of old friends and an awesome opportunity to meet new ones! I am absolutely astonished at the level of professionalism set by this event.

    If I had one wish, it would be that all chapters take a minute to learn how THEY can drive a conference around Research. It CAN BE DONE, and it was! It was done with grace and hospitality, and ignited a fire for reasearch understanding and support I have not seen in any other event.

    I was moved to tears at the Saturday Dinner listening to the speakers convey with such passion their desire to educate on the importance of research.

    Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this momentous event.

  3. Not currently practicing Massage but love the profession and you are doing a terrific job at educating everyone! Take CAre

  4. Thanks for the recap Laura. I am still floating from the AMTA-MA meeting. The support our profession shows for massage therapy research is inspiring and tremendously energizing.
    It is impossible to make a comprehensive thank you in this forum, but please know that your contributions are deeply appreciated and will be used with great care and dedication.
    Blessings to all!

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