North Carolina Rocks the AMTA National Convention!
My husband Champ and I attended the AMTA National Convention in Raleigh this week, and a good time was had by all! Congratulations to all our colleagues in the North Carolina Chapter for pulling off a...
View ArticleMassage Envy: I’ll take an order of wings with that massage, please.
What do chicken wings, magnetic signs, garbage collection, pet food and massage all have in common? They are all products or services offered by franchises that are owned by Roark Capital Group of...
View ArticleThe Exploitation of Massage Therapists
Ever since my last post about Massage Envy being sold to a giant conglomerate, I’ve been sent dozens of links to message boards and discussions about ME, and many of them contain references to other...
View ArticleMy Thoughts on the Election 2012
I’m taking a break from talking about massage this week. I’ve always hated election time. All the constant television ads, telemarketing phone calls from political action committees, and all the rest...
View ArticleThe Financial Health of Our Organizations: NCBTMB
Note: For the past few years I have done a series of reports on the financial status of the non-profit organizations that represent the massage therapy profession. I obtain this information from...
View ArticleCaught Between Hubris and The Grudge
All the talk in recent weeks of the “fiscal cliff” and the refusal of the Republicans and the Democrats to play nice together in the interest of the highest common good reminds me of the current...
View ArticleAn Alternative to CE Regulation (just in the nick of time)
As I’ve written about on this blog, the NCBTMB has been trying to roll out an “upgraded” scheme to regulate the entire world of continuing education. After all, their stated mission is “To define and...
View ArticleBlowin’ in the Wind
Whether you prefer the Bob Dylan original version, or the popular treatment by Peter, Paul & Mary, we have our own version of Blowin’ in the Wind being sung by the leaders of FSMTB and NCBTMB. My...
View ArticleNCBTMB Call for Comments: 911 for Approved Providers
The NCBTMB has decided to call for comments on their latest revisions for the CE/Approved Provider program–something they should have done before they ever unrolled the plan to start with–and I can...
View ArticleConfusion Reigns
I’d like to just steal Sandy Fritz’s blog this week, but instead I’ll post the link to it. She expressed many of the same things I have been feeling in “Beyond Frustration.” Confusion reigns. I get at...
View ArticleReport from the International Massage Therapy Research Conference
This past week I was blessed to attend the International Massage Therapy Research Conference. This event is only held every three years and it was my first time attending. It was held at the Seaport in...
View ArticleA Change for the Better at the Massage Therapy Foundation and AMTA
This past week the Massage Therapy Foundation announced that Gini S. Ohlson will become the new Executive Director of the organization, effective July 1. Ohlson has been the AMTA’s staff director for...
View ArticleFederation of State Massage Therapy Boards: All Talk and No Action?
I hear through the grapevine that the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapists has voted to terminate their agency’s membership in the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards. Why the big thumbs...
View ArticleAn Interview with Bill Brown, New Executive Director of AMTA
Bill Brown became the new Executive Director of the American Massage Therapy Association on May 17, following the retirement of former ED Shelly Johnson. Brown has been with the American Massage...
View ArticleELAP First Draft and Call for Comments Released
The first draft of the ELAP (Entry-Level Analysis Project) has finally been released. It’s been more than a year since I first blogged about it. This research project proposal was introduced by ABMP...
View ArticleELAP: Stop Insulting Our Intelligence!
I spent a big part of last week responding to the first draft of the Entry Level Analysis Project (ELAP). I shared it on my social media several times and encouraged everyone in the massage profession...
View ArticleAMTA: Supporting Massage Therapists for the Affordable Care Act (or Not?)
The Affordable Care Act goes into effect on January 1, 2014. This stands to have a major impact on the ability of massage therapists to be reimbursed by insurance. The 1300+ page document includes...
View ArticleReport from the AFMTE 2013 Annual Meeting
I just returned from attending the fourth annual meeting of the Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, held this year in St. Charles, MO. I’m a founding member of this organization, and once again, it...
View ArticleAn Interview with Steve Kirin, New CEO of the NCBTMB
I recently had the opportunity to meet with Steve Kirin, the new CEO of the NCBTMB. This is the interview I did with him. 1. You were just appointed CEO in May, but you’ve been on board for a year and...
View ArticleReport from the World Massage Festival
Champ and I attended the World Massage Festival this past week, held on the Queen Mary. This grand old boat is permanently docked in Long Beach, CA. On our last day there, we got a glimpse of the...
View Article
