Straw Poll Results on the 2007 Recommendations before the House of Delegates

as of September 23, 2007

Thank you for taking the straw poll on recommendations before the 2007 House of Delegates. Here are the results from the June 9^th Chapter Meeting as well as from those who have taken the survey on line. If you have just taken the survey on line, it will not yet reflect your comments, but you can check back in a couple of days to make sure your comments are included. Because of the timing of the publication of the recommendations, the June 9^th meeting was the only meeting where members and delegates could discuss the recommendations, but you can still contact any delegate (see below) or officer with any questions or comments you may have.

 

Here are the written comments:

Comments on Recommendation 1: That the bylaws be changed to allow chapter officers t assume their duties at a date later tha the date they are elected, even if hey were not elected by mail ballot.

 

• Officers should be prepared to accept responsibilities for position elected.

• This give chapters more options, giving them time to orient their new officers and begin their terms at the same time each year.

• The person running for the position should be prepared for the position and already have a full understanding of the job they are about to fulfill. You could give fimonth aand (sic)* some people still would never get the education need to take the position. Chapters could then hold up the person taking the position, not letting the elected candidate fulfill the job because the board prolongs the effective date.

• Don’t understand the rationale for this one???

Comments on Recommendation 2: That the bylaws be changed to allow chapter nominating committees recommend more than one candidate for each position.

 

• The AMTA chapters should be run by the members.

• Also keep recommendations opened to the floor.

• Let the members decide who is the best candidate.

• The job of the Nominating Committee is to do the research for the membership and give their educated decision on the best person for the job. You can not have three best people, they may all be great but one has to stand out in the committees eyes.

Comments on Recommendation 3: That the bylaws for membership be changed to require present proof of state license, certification, or registration for membership and membership renewal in states that regulate massage therapy.

 

• Until all 50 states require licensing, I believe we shouldn’t hold some members to a different level.

• AMTA should uphold the highest standards and be in compliance with state laws. Massage should have high standards as or(sic)* professions.

• This could adversely affect member numbers in states where state regulation is optional.

• Not all state laws read to benefit the members in the profession. This would force the membership of states to pay more money to the state when they are not "required" by the state. Some states have a choice for laws which do not mean you are not meeting the states regulations.

• Definitely, otherwise your (sic)* allowing violators to be members w/o obeying the law!

Comments on Recommendation 4: That the bylaws be changed to allow members to be members of more than one chapter if hey pay the chapter fees.

 

• This would throw off delegates. Rules would have to be made for voting/delegates for multi-chapter members. Peoplew

•  with multiple address can not vote in every district. More studies should be addressed.

• It dilutes the membership in chapters. Is there any cost associated with it? Ho does I affect the House of Delegates?

• Establish primary membership with voting privileges in primary membership organization only.

• This is great for those who live near state lines!

• Needs to have how one can determine the home group and that attendance only counts for home group.

• Very good idea for massage therapists who practice near state lines. Needs some logistical considerations.

• The membership list is protected by National yet if members live in two states they can not receive information to both those states. It cost money to produce deliverables for the state and the money comes from dues, so if a person is not a member they are costing the chapter more money to produce the deliverables as well as the chapter not knowing if the person is a member of the association or not.

Comments on Recommendation 5: That the AMTA offer only business, ethics, and theory type classes on line.

 

• Other classes should be on line only to therapists wh have had an education from an appropriate school for massage.

• I believe that technique classes should not be taught on line. Limit the on line classes to business, ethics, & theory.

• [Support this recommendation] only with a change in the wording. A member can only have a home state and secondary.

• Hands on training should be allowed with prerequisites of hours in hands on training roved to AMTA.

• Massage Therapists wishing to take these classes should be required to provide proof of being certified (having taken accredited classes.)

• There are other CE courses that can be taken on line that do not require hands-on bodywork.

• Strongly agree! Hands on need to stay hands on - unless roof can be given as to status of individual (i.e. MT, NMT, etc.)

• Research NJ recommendation as to benefit of change to small [cannot read] states.

• Some adept practitioners could become proficient from on line classes in technique with the right prerequisites and the right media presentation. Local mentors could also be available to check or certify the hands on portion. Give this a little more time and present it again later.

• We are a hands on profession. I would not like my surgeon to learn from a computer. The medical profession will not look to us as professionals if we do not have hands on standards.

Those of you who did not fill out a survey, or who would still like to comment, please either sent your survey, please fill out the survey at www.cumberlandmuscletherapy.com/delsurvey.html and let us know what you want us to do.

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 *sic. Thus; so. Used to indicate that a quoted passage, especially one containing an error or unconventional spelling, has been retained in its original form or written intentionally. From American Heritage Dictionary.

2007 Delegates for the AMTA-Georgia Chapter
Toni Roberts, Marietta (770) 984-8040 trobertslmt@cumberlandmuscletherapy.com	Jane Johnson, Marietta (404) 906-5146 janelmt@bellsouth.net	Loyce Kemp, Warner Robbins (478) 397-1839 loycekemp@yahoo.com