Fall 2018 AMTA IOWA NEWSLETTER

FALL 2018 AMTA

IOWA NEWSLETTER

I wanted to share I had a great experience this year at the AMTA national convention in Washington DC. Opening ceremonies were really fun! We also had the opportunity to listen to Bert Jacobs talk about creating “life is good “ with his brother. He expressed going for your goal and never giving up.

On the first day in our chapter leadership class with the nationals Board of Director and many other Massage Therapists from many states (even Alaska and Hawaii!), it was amazing seeing everyone!

There were many people I had known including many new faces. In class, we talked about the state chapters: growing with change, being strong, flexible and embracing that change.

Friday, I took a Postural Analysis class, followed by a class for massage and headaches. Saturday, I took a class for knee and hip replacements. I greatly appreciated the experience in Washington DC and what it had to offer. I’m blessed and honored to be a part of the AMTA Iowa chapter.

Here are the meeting minutes:

AMTA-Iowa-Chapter-Board-Meeting-September-72018

It was nice to see you all at the AMTA Iowa Chapter Fall Convention. Lee Stang and her T.A.’s were amazing!! Hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!!

We have a couple of events coming up this fall that I would like to remind you of:

Dukie’s One Eye Open – Sept.28,2018

Prairie Links Golf Course and Country Club

19 Eagles Ridge Drive

Waverly, Iowa

Giving chair massages on the practice green/putting green – 8:30 A.M. – 10:00 A.M.

Outside veranda – 3:30 – 5:30P.M.

Purpose is to raise $100,000.00 for Stead Family Children’s Hospital

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Veteran’s Day Appreciation Event – Nov.11, 2018

Place: 1211 4th Street SW

Waverly, Iowa

Giving back to the veterans by giving chair massages – 8:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

Hope to see you all there! Thank you for being an AMTA – Iowa Chapter member! 

It is our members that make our chapter so great!!!

Respectfully, Cindy Haack, LMT

AMTA Iowa Awards Chair

National Convention Review By Robin Markus

Another fantastic National Convention!  It kicked off with Chapter Volunteer Orientation Program.  We learned about teamwork. How different personality types think and tips on working together.  Diversity makes a well-rounded board! A youtube video was shared about lollipop moments, a TED talk.  Every day you have countless moments. How interacting with a person can make a big difference, and can have ripple effects.  It’s worth looking up!

The high light of the AMTA National Board Meeting:  They celebrated AMTA’s 75th Anniversary with Cake! More importantly, they announced the position statement about massage as being a treatment for pain.  I’ll have to look at my notes for the specific wording.

Assembly of Delegates:  It was a little disheartening.  First off, the topics for discussion were sent to legal for approval before we could discuss them.  We didn’t get them back until a few weeks before convention. A statement on human trafficking that was wanted last year wasn’t even brought up for discussion.  It is affecting us in Iowa with the city ordinances’ and it would have been ice to try to come to a consensus. When we got to the Assembly of delegates, we just voiced our opinion on the topics chosen by the board.  Suggestions will be taken to the committee to finalize. It doesn’t come back to the assembly for final approval. So it appears to me we are less and less a grass roots organization. If you remember a few years back, the board is now pre-selected from nominations and as members, we just approve the panel.  I will have copies available on the AMTA-IA table for you to see.

Leadership Training:  Focused on the HUB and how to find information.  They had a nice flowchart to ensure everyone is using the resources to find information you need rather than calling AMTA National Staff.  They promised a newer, user friendlier version is coming soon. They didn’t want to change it before convention. They also reiterated how important it is to be positive, especially with all the changes on the National Level.  

Opening Session was awesome.  The Co-Founder of “Life Is Good” spoke.  They are reissuing a version of their massage shirt, available in two styles:  Jake on the massage table and the girl version of Jake on the massage table with AMTA logo on the sleeve of either shirt.  They could be ordered for a limited time. Check out their website for more information. Cervicogenic Headaches: Myofascial Techniques.  Class was about the different types of headaches. And a short sequence on releasing them.

Presence: Bringing Mindfulness to Massage.  Interesting.  It was about focusing your energy.  It doesn’t stop at the end of your fingers.  Imagine it extending out 6-12 inches from your fingertips.  There was a great slide of a man and a dog looking at trees and the sky.  In the dogs thought bubble was the same scene, trees and the sky with the title “mindful”.  The man’s bubble was totally full of chores and errands that need to be done, no scenery! The title by his bubble was “mind full”

Orthopedic Massage for Complicated Shoulder Conditions:  James Waslaski’s class!  Do I need to say more? Very in-depth!  Very good! He reiterated things are changing and evolving.  Things taught a few years ago have been tweaked, some not recommended.  

Working with Knee and Hip Replacements:  I loved this class.  This topic was near and dear to my heart, working at Southwest Health in Platteville with a physician that does hip and knee replacements.  The class was interesting. It was taught by the assistant to the surgeon. We watched videos of the replacement surgery. She had parts that are used in replacing joints.  

Closing Session Panel – Military Veterans & Massage Therapy  A veteran shared his story about his experience with massage and what it was like in the military and some of the struggles coming back and fitting in.   They spoke more about a study being conducted with veterans.

I highly recommend getting involved with board of the AMTA-IA.  There is a great benefit of getting continuing education at a really great price and some of your expenses covered!  So if you are thinking about it, Do it!  If you enjoy calling businesses for donations, and working with vendors to make our conferences more successful, please fill out the shinning stars!  

Sincerely,

Robin Markus  AMTA Iowa Convention Events Chair.

President’s Report of National Convention 2018

So I was asked to write a summary of the experience I had in Washington D.C. at the National Convention of the AMTA.  To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect because this was my first experience at a national convention. I had talked to previous attendees to try and get a feel of what to expect, and the overall consensus was to relax and just enjoy the experience.  With a side note of, Don’t try to do everything …aka take too many classes. So I decided to take just 1 class on Ethics, due to the recent happenings in the state and as an instructor this was a topic that seemed to be a hot topic.

Prior to the opening ceremonies was the Chapter Presidents Council Meeting.  This event was where the presidents from all of the state chapters got together for an introduction on how to improve the experience within our chapters and how to simplify the processes within the chapters.  This was a great experience for me to meet with other chapter presidents and how other individual chapters work. A wealth of knowledge was within that room that it was almost overwhelming. I got pinned as the new Iowa chapter president and met with our National AMTA President, Joan Nichols.  

I began to network and converse with other chapter presidents to find out what was working workin our chapter and what was working for other chapters. On of the main topics that came out of this meeting was that the chapters will start working on a Chapter Policy Manual. This will be on-line and a place where board members will be able to access anything to do with the chapter.  This will also be a place that the state members will be able to find things such as upcoming event and functions.

The next function that I experienced was the Leadership training that was presented by nationals to all of those attending.  This was an experience that was broke into two groups where the main focus was that Nationals will be making a “tour” of all the chapters on how to implement this new Chapter Policy Manual.  They will also be there to help with other topics that are going on around our state, i.e  illicit businesses, human trafficking, experience on the hub. The other hot topic was to start using the hub for both the members and the boards.

Opening Ceremonies was a very moving experience with Bert Jacobs, Co-Founder and CEO of Life is Good.  His story and experience definitely energized the crowd and prepared us all for an unbelievably convention.  After a moving day of going to all the vendors meeting with 100’s of fellow therapists from around the country and going to various functions such as the 1st time attendee’s meeting it was finally time to do a little sightseeing around our nation’s capital.

I also set in on the new Assembly of Delegates vs the House of Delegates from previous years.  This was definitely an eye opening experience as to the way things work at the national level. It was interesting to see how the Assembly worked and the process that was done. I had the privilege of going to the White House, Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Pentagon, and Arlington National Cemetery.  The board and I went to a variety of restaurants and experienced foods from around the world. My Ethics class was a very interesting class that was very informative.  The class was not what I was expecting but was a privilege to take a class at a national convention.

Finally, Closing Ceremonies was an electric vibe throughout the room as the 4 presenter talked about how massage was being used more and more in the military world.  The DOD (Department of Defense) has now approved the use of massage therapy as a viable option to help with a variety of veterans conditions including PTSD and amputees.  Closing ceremonies finished with Noah Galloway, a double amputee, and former contestant on Dancing with the Stars. He gave a very moving speech about his experience on how he lost his two limbs in an IED explosion and his recovery from that explosion. The convention finished with a dance and a great night of getting jiggy with it.

Happy fall everyone!  We were so excited to host Lee Stang’ class for our fall 2018 convention!  It was a great weekend!  It was wonderful to see you all.

We will be having our Spring Convention March 16-17, 2019 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona IA.

We will be hosting Bob McAtee, LMT, BCTMB, CSCS has maintained a full-time massage therapy practice for over 38 years, specializing in sports massage and soft tissue therapy, with significant clinically-oriented experience treating people with injuries and chronic pain. Since 1988, Bob has owned Pro-Active Massage Therapy, an active, international private practice in Colorado Springs, CO. In addition to his private practice, Bob is an NCBTMB Approved Provider and a sought-after presenter throughout the U.S. and internationally on the topics of facilitated stretching, sports massage, and soft-tissue injury care.

Bob is Board Certified in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and has been an active member of the AMTA since 1988. He is the co-author of the best-selling Human Kinetics book, Facilitated Stretching 4th edition, used by health and fitness professionals worldwide as the go-to resource for PNF stretching and strengthening techniques. His latest book, Sports Massage for Injury Care, will be released in 2019.

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Our Fall 2019 convention will be September 14-15^th 2019 at the Marriott in Coralvillie IA

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me through email @ boardmember1.amtaiowa@gmail.com

See you all in the Spring!!!

Holly Rasmusson Board Member/ Convention Coordinator

Live Generously

I believe in doing good things and building positive press for our profession. We need to promote massage therapy as a valued health care profession. One way for you to do this is to find ways to give back to the community and publicize what you did.

Imagine offering an educational event, community service activity, or fundraiser for your community.  Here’s one simple way to apply for $250 in seed money to get your event off the ground. Apply to be a Thrivent Financial Associate member for $20, build your volunteer action team and plan your event.  As an associate member, you can write one grant a year for three years – that’s $750 to gift to your community. Already a Thrivent Financial member? Terrific – you can write two grants a a year indefinitely. Imagine having $500 a year t

https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-action-teams/

If you were at the AMTA Iowa Fall Convention, you saw many members wearing aqua Live Generously t-shirts as part of our Thrivent Financial sponsored Passport to Success event.

https://thrivent.cotribute.co/events/154104/detail

During the convention, AMTA member Kathy Lutz asked for help to write another grant for AMTA Iowa. Kathy wrote and received a $250 grant for AMTA Iowa to do chair massage at the  Duke’s One Eye Open Golf Tournament on September 28 at 19 Eagles Ridge Drive, Waverly, Iowa. AMTA members will be doing chair massage before and after the golf tournament. If you would like to donate your time to do chair massage please come 8:30 am  – 10:00 on the putting/practice green and 3:30 – 5:30 outside on the veranda. Our AMTA chair massage proceeds will be donated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.  https://www.facebook.com/events/208902379811851/

I have been a Thrivent Financial Action Team Volunteer for years, and my family has written many seed money grants to promote health and wellness in our neighborhood.  Here are some examples of what we have done so far:
1) Education Event: giving a talk to a group of teachers about the power of touch and providing AMTA brochures, research roundups, and giveaways for them
2) Educational Event: developing educational handouts, advertising and purchasing the cleaning supplies for a free holistic services tent at a local festival so people can learn about and experience massage, reflexology, chiropractic and healing touch,  
3) Educational Event: printing AMTA educational fliers, purchasing food, prizes and advertising at an integrative wellness open house.
4) Service Activity: buying toys and coats for a homeless shelter in December.
5) Fundraising Event: organizing a chair massage event and donating the money to a non-profit.  6) Fundraising Event: purchasing food for a pancake breakfast for a non-profit fundraiser.
7) Service Activity: purchasing games for a Game Night for local teens to play at a non-profit youth organization.
8) Education Event: purchasing art supplies for a non-profit to host a free art class for children.

9) Service Activity: purchased rakes, gloves, garbage bags, and food to feed volunteers to help a community member clean up farm after a fire.

Does this get your imagination flowing with ideas you could do in your community? Live generously. There is a shift in your psyche when you live abundantly and give back. Contact me if you would like help to write your grant today!

Karen Sindelar  Board Member/Education Chair

CHAPTER VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION PROGRAM (CVOP) REPORT

AMTA NATIONAL CONVENTION 2018 WASHINGTON DC 

I was allowed the honor of attending the Chapter Volunteer Orientation Program training this year at the AMTA National Convention in Washington DC. For those that are unaware, CVOP is a program offered to volunteers with the intent of better acquainting them with the important what’s and why’s of the organization, as well as the impact of our role within the organization.

The category of What includes learning more about the AMTA Governing Documents. As an organization this details why we do certain things (Articles of Incorporation), what we do (Bylaws), and how we do them (Policy Manual). We also learn what it means to be a not-for-profit organization and exactly what type of not-for-profit organization we are. We are a type 501 (c)(6), which is a designation for organizations with the goal of advancing an industry and/or profession.

As Chapter volunteers we discuss the intended purpose of the Chapter, the value the Chapter can offer the Membership, and opportunities to serve the members of each chapter. We also cover the extent of our powers as a Chapter in relation to the National body. In other words, while we have the power to do certain things in each Chapter, it is the National Board that has the overall responsibility, authority, and liability for the conduct of the Chapters.

With this in mind, we cover the roles and responsibilities of the National Board of Directors, the Chapter Board of Directors, and Chapter Committee Chairs. We have a volunteer Code of Conduct that we are expected to understand and adhere to. And, as a volunteer force that needs to operate as a team, we need to work on how we communicate with one another as volunteers and with the Membership that we serve in the most effective way possible. This is another component of the CVOP training we attend.

This is a very brief overview of what was covered over the course of a day and a half, and one intended to relay basic facts, not my opinion. It is my intent to write more articles in the coming year that details more of the aspects touched on above.The CVOP manual is available on the AMTA Hub at www.amtamassage.org. Go to FORUMS on the tool bar and then to CVOP to access this information. As always, it is an honor and pleasure to serve the people of this Chapter and of our profession.

Keith Kowal, LMT, CMMT

AMTA-Iowa Delegate

ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES (AOD) REPORT AMTA NATIONAL CONVENTION 2018 WASHINGTON DC

My fellow delegate, Robin Markus, hit on some of the highlights that were meaningful to her during the AOD meeting – which also appears in this newsletter – so I will add some simple facts.

As your delegates, our roles have changed somewhat from the days when we were members of the House of Delegates (HOD); we still are presented with topics on which we vote, but our votes have a different meaning now. This is another subject which I will present to you in more detail in a future article.

Two proposed position statements were presented to us, which were:

1. It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association that massage therapy may help reduce pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

2. It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association that massage may be beneficial for pediatric populations within the hospital setting.

Both were passed with a majority vote.

There was also a topic of discussion presented to the Assembly, which constituted the remainder of our time in session. This topic had two parts, which were:

1. “Massage as a component of Integrative Healthcare” was accepted as a position statement last year. We know this is true because other professionals have been administering massage as a component of their healthcare delivery. How do we make certain that massage therapists are contributing to this comprehensive approach to care?”

2. How do we know that U.S. Massage therapists have the knowledge and skills to contribute to optimal patient outcomes?

Our roles as Delegates have also become more involved and require year-round engagement. With that in mind, I think it is important to report to you with more frequency. Look for e-blasts detailing various aspects of the AOD in upcoming months.

And, as always, if you have questions of us as your Delegates, please, do not hesitate to contact us.

In Your Service,

Keith Kowal, LMT, CMMT

AMTA-IA Delegate

National Massage Convention2018 with simply amazing. I traveled with a dear friend Jeanna, and we decided to start our trip a few days early so we could do some sightseeing. After arriving in Washington DC about noon on Sunday, we went to Ford’s theater to see where our president Lincoln was shot. We then did an amazing sight seeing night time trolley tour, to see all of the wonderful monuments lit up at night. On Monday we wandered through both the American History and  Natural History Smithsonian‘s. On Tuesday we decided to start at Arlington National Cemetery and pay our respects to the many who gave their lives to fight for our freedom. We then left for about an 8 mile walk that day. All the way across the bridge into DC, we decided to stop at the Lincoln Memorial again, Vietnam Memorial, enjoy the reflecting pool, WWII Memorial, around the Washington monument, walked a few more blocks and ended at the Holocaust Museum. All of the historical pictures, views, news, and articles we saw and read left us in awe, drained, and ready to begin our inspirational AMTA education that awaited us.

Wednesday we started with some education and networking that lasted until noon. It was wonderful to meet other board members and talk with them about not only their practice, life, but also their state wide AMTA board and members. Thursday we attended opening ceremonies and got the honor to listen to Bert Jacobs, creator of the Life Is Good shirt. He had an amazing and inspiring speech and message, a wonderful remind to all in my opinion to be thankful for each and every day we have. Friday we started with Balance and Postural Stability training for Massage Therapists in the morning. What a wonderful review on how we can extend our training to other modalities such as taping within our practices. We ended the day with A Dimensional Approach to Massage Therapy for Tension Headaches. Again it was a wonderful review for Jeanna and myself especially working hands on along side other therapists. Saturday morning’s class was probably my favorite! Working with Knee and Hip Replacements lecture. Absolutely phenomenal! A lot of the information I knew but a lot of the information was also brand new, and her delivery of the education was simply amazing. We all have so many clients that we touch, with both knee and hip replacements it was a fabulous learning experience.

I took so much information home with me and I’ve already applied it to many of my own clients. Taking home my education, and applying it directly to my clients is one of my favorite things to do with  the conventions I attend. Saturday afternoon we had our closing ceremony where we listened to many great speakers as well. Our last speaker was Noah Galloway. A Veteran who spoke of his past and his road to recovery. It was eye opening and again so important to realize how much of a role WE as therapist can play in THEIR road to recovery. If it’s one thing I hope each and everyone of you takes away from reading this, I hope you mark your calendars for Sunday November 11, Veterans Day. Come out to Waverly IA and help give back to these Veterans who need it. Last year was my first time I was able to attend the event and it was so moving. And then listening to Noah speak, really put it into perspective how much they do appreciate it.

National Massage Convention 2018 was simply amazing! As a first time attendee I would HIGHLY recommend anyone who has not attended to do so. It was such an eye opening experience not only for the education, but was soooooo rewarding being with hundreds of other therapists from around our nation. In a city where many can be divided, we were all there under one roof with open arms and open hearts to be united as one. To both learn and help educate one another with the common foundation of love and respect.

Soraya Wagner LMT LNT
Membership Chair

A few dates to reminder for 2019 are:

Spring Convention March 16-17th, 2019 at Prairie Meadows in Altoona IA.

Fall 2019 convention September 14-15^th 2019 at the Marriott in Coralvillie IA

We are looking for a Digital and OR Social Media person. IF you know of  a AMTA Iowa member who has WordPress (WP) experience and would like to volunteer.  email me at alex.amtaiowa@gmail.com

NEW WEBSITE ADDRESS IS    http://ia.wp.amtamassage.org