Hello members and friends of AMTA. The shift you notice in the weather is not your imagination; it’s your calendar. Yes, change is in the air. Of course, as I watch everything going on out there, I can’t help but think it’s not just the season that’s changing, but the whole world! We sure are living in interesting times. Whether you’re twittering, texting, befriending folks on Face book, or getting LinkedIn to MySpace, we’ve got lots of ways to talk about what’s on our minds. Let’s take healthcare. However the debate on policies and programs turn out, we’ve got our own connection to our family’s health and well being. Massage therapy plays a huge part in this. Massage Therapists combine one-on-one focused attention with intentional touch with specialized communication skills to help enhance quality of all our lives. We help our community discover the transformative effects of touch through massage.
AMTA PA Chapter’s mission is to serve our members and the massage therapy profession by proactively advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy. We are a welcoming and supportive grassroots community giving back to the profession and investing in its future. We do this by volunteering our skills and talents. AMTA PA has always participated in quite a few Outreach Volunteer experiences. This is one of our Chapter’s efforts to raise awareness of the benefits of massage therapy and its health benefits. As an outreach volunteer, you are a very visible representative of your association and, as such, are accountable for certain duties and responsibilities. You are a public extension of AMTA PA, and for that entire time you are at an outreach event, your performance, attitudes, and behavior reflect on our Chapter, association, and the profession as a whole. This volunteer opportunity contributes to the professional development of our members. I encourage you to get involved. We offer various ways for you to get involved. AMTA PA has Work Groups and Committees to facilitate ways to fulfill a short term goals for our Chapter as we grow and develop.
Some of our 2010 Strategic Goals are:
- To increase membership and membership involvement in our Chapter
- Increase member and non-member awareness of AMTA PA benefits, programs, products and services.
- Build strategic alliances with other healthcare professions and stakeholders in our State.
- Improve Chapter function, organization and direction
We would love for you to join us initiating school contacts and developing relationships by scheduling school visits and presenting facts about why students should join AMTA. Got energy; how about joining our Sports Massage Team or Ronald McDonald House Team. Do you love computers or writing; join our Website or Newsletter Committee. Love party planning; we now have an AMTA PA Conference Committee that would love to hear about your creative ways to celebrate our accomplishments. Education junkie; securing presenters to conduct educational workshops are always one of our priorities for personal and professional growth by volunteering on our Education Committee. Our Chapter has a lot of different ways to communicate change, informing our membership on the progress of our work. Get involved – join us- it’s the best way to promote massage and promote AMTA here in Pennsylvania. Please visit us here on our website @ www.amtapa.org to obtain more information and ways to get involved. No more excuses – Just do it!
Gina Washlaski
ATMA PA President
As most of you know, I have committed myself to the pursuit of licensure for the last 16 years and I stumbled many times over the hurdles that accompanied licensure. Becoming familiar with the infrastructure of governance, the political environment, establishing communication with legislators and understanding other stakeholders’ interests was both an education and a revelation. Through all the challenges that this monumental process presented, I never lost site of our common purpose, to represent the interests of all massage therapists across the state. I am confident that the current legislation will allow the practicing massage therapist to experience a seamless transition to a newly licensed environment. Although the pursuit of licensure has indeed consumed the vast majority of my tenure as President and member of the PA Chapter, AMTA, I look forward to promoting the profession of massage therapy in different ways. For instance, the 2009 PA Chapter Conference is shaping up to be a dynamic and exciting educational opportunity and I am honored to be a part of the planning. I will also continue to serve the National organization as the 2008 Chapter President’s Council Moderator and rest assured, I won’t be far away when legislative issues come up that affect the massage therapy profession in PA.
In closing, I would like to say thank you for allowing me to serve as your President. Your influences have helped to reshape my outlook on so many things and I have grown both professionally and personally through your support and participation.
As Bob Hope so eloquently said, ‘thanks for the memories.”
Nancy M. Porambo, MS
Past President
