| Licensing Bill
From Gina Washlaski, President
Update October 9, 2008
Our licensure is now official! The PA governor has signed our bill and it is now law. We have been asked
many questions regarding grandfathering and requirements for licensure. We are in the process of
updating our web site info to answer many of these questions. Please be patient while we go through
the process. We are all very excited to share this wonderful time and information with you!
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Update October 8, 2008
Victory! HB2499, our Massage Therapy Licensing Bill had successfully made it through the Senate Professional Licensure
Committee with a vote of 12 to 2 on September 17, 2008. Next stop, made it through the Appropriations Committee with a
unanimous vote 26 to 0, on October 7, then sailed through the Senate with a vote of 47 to 3 on October 8th, then signed
by the House for concurrence 191 to 8 later that day, then traveling right to our Governor's office to be signed into law.
I want to send a special Thank You to all of you who have made phone calls, sent e-mails and supported us in our quest.
Without everyone's help this would not have been possible! Yes, we have waited 16 long years for this moment in Massage
Therapy history in Pennsylvania to take place. HB 2499 has received tremendous support from AMTA members and from
members of other National organizations alike, as we now have closure to our 16 year endeavor.
AMTA PA will continue to keep you informed and updated by enhancing our website www.AMTAPA.org ,creating
a "question and answer" format for you in order to answer questions that you may have regarding the meaning of the
language in our bill, i.e. grandfathering, continuing education, testing, etc. HB2499 was a carefully crafted compromise
between numerous health care organizations and will now launch us into a higher level of Massage Therapy practice.
It is time to celebrate. We have made history in
Pennsylvania!
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Past President’s Message
by Nancy M. Porambo, MS
As I prepare to leave the PA Chapter
Board of Directors after many years, I find
myself reflecting upon the many incredible
experiences that serving in this volunteer
position has presented to me. I had the
wonderful opportunity to meet a vast array
of dedicated and compassionate people
that has made me humble and proud to be
part of this great profession.
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”
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