September 2020 AMTA IOWA Chapters newsletter

September 2020 AMTA IOWA Chapters newsletter #amtaiowa #iloveamtaiowa

Hello my fellow massage therapists. To say this has been a crazy year doesn’t begin to sum things up. As Covid 19 has crossed over our state, country and world, massage must adapt as well as us, the massage therapists. This pandemic has made a difference on our workings and many massage therapists have lost customers and have even closed their doors. As we try to develop new ways of doing business and how we handle our clients, lets remember why we chose Massage Therapy as a career. Like most of you I chose this as a way to help people. Don’t get me wrong making money was a benefit as well but helping my clients was always my priority. I’m sure most of you are tired of talking and hearing about Covid, but due to the nature of our industry we must remain vigilant in our practices. The AMTA has been at the forefront on how we can help our clients while remaining safe at the same time.

Working in a hospital has given me an unique perspective with Covid. I am a transporter and have been dealing with patients who have been infected with this virus. Seeing them in the ICCU, on the floor, and even transporting some to the morgue. But, by wearing proper PPE, I have been able to remain safe and protected.

On a more positive note I would like to congratulate Holly Rasmusson on being this years AMTA-IA’s Meritorious Awards recipient.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the board for the hard work they have done during this. As I stated earlier, I have been working every day and each person has steped up above and beyond what they normally do.

Please remember as we move forward to be safe and healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

Robert Campbell
AMTA-IA Chapter President

2020 September Newsletter

A time to heal:

It has just been a few short weeks since Iowa sustained category 4 hurricane winds. Not only are we watching the COVID-19 numbers climb in Iowa right now with the start of the school year, but Iowa is still clearing trees and debris from the derecho. Personally, the devastation from August 10 still is present on our block as the city has not picked up the first round of tree branches and debris yet. Our city, neighborhoods, streets, homes, yards and cars all continue to show the effects of those straight line winds. In time, broken windows, decks, roofs, and outdoor spaces can be cleaned up, repaired or replaced.

We continue to be deprived of lengthy face-to-face conversations, celebrations, and touch due to COVID-19; while at the same time rejoice in the helping hands that have shown up in the aftermath of the storm. I just long to give a hug to my neighbors and friends who have lost so much. So hopeful for better days!

While some LMTs continue to practice, both places that I rent rooms from still have not opened to holistic services due to COVID-19. I have not seen a client since mid March.

In the midst of it all, it is important to find balance. I try to keep with my exercise routine, talk with friends and family on the phone, take long baths, soak in the infrared heat and healing of my Biomat, watch funny movies, record my dreams, and take drives in the countryside. Quite honestly, I thought I would be seeing clients by now. I also thought I would be doing so many more creative things like painting, writing, sewing and baking this summer, but my energy and attention span are fickle with this new normal. I am learning a lot about resilience through prayer, patience, pausing, being in the moment, and respecting nature.

I think about my fellow LMTs often and hope that you are recovering from all of life’s storms. How is your mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well being? How are you coping? What are you currently doing for your self care in the quiet of your own home?

Looking forward to when we can meet again.

To your health,

Karen Sindelar
Board Member, Education Chair

On behalf of the American Massage Therapy Association’s Chapter, We would like to welcome you as a NEW member this quarter. Congratulations on choosing to join a select group of professionals who have access to the massage industries most current and comprehensive resources, designed to keep you on the cutting edge.
You are part of AMTA’s unique network of thriving chapters. Your Iowa chapter offers various opportunities for you to connect on a local level with other massage therapist, and we contribute financially on your behalf to legislative efforts on the national level. We would love for you to join us on Lobby day at the capitol if you are able, ask Rachel Brown for more details or visit out web page. As a chapter, we hope to be able to bring in the kind of continuing education classes that you will be excited to add toy your practice. Please consider joining us at our spring and fall state wide conventions.
Please remember that you can check out our website for the AMTA Iowa Chapter at ia.wp.amtamassage.org for any information, and event updates as well as our contact information. You can also email any questions at amtaiowa@gmail.com

~ Please find us on Facebook and like our page! [ AMTA Iowa Chapter ] ~ Instagram – [ amtaiowa ]

~use the hashtags #amtaiowa & #iloveamtaiowa

You can also contact the AMTA National Member Service Desk directly toll free at –
1-877-905-2700 with any questions about your membership and benefits. They are also available on
the web. www.amtamassage.org and info@amtamassage.org

We all look forward to meeting you in person so please try to attend all of our events year round in
different locations throughout the state. As a NEW member, the AMTA Iowa Chapter would like to give
both a welcome gift and a $50.00 credit towards your registration for the Iowa Chapter convention
spring or fall, to all of the new member names listed below. Please send me a direct email if you would
like to receive either one or both of the AMTA Iowa Chapter gifts. You may receive either or both within
a year of the date on this newsletter. We hope to see you soon!

Alisha Boles Thea Palmer Christina Stroupe  William Trudell Kaighcy MacRunnel Rachael Looney
Rebecca Jacobs Andrea Wofford Doug Dollison Erica Ostrem Bria Colyer Jennifer Wahl
Victoria Gress Morgan Vest Christine Mehmen James Dorland Karla Burgstahler Martina Ubochi
Tiffany Elmore Korrie Willaims Christy Hudson Jenna Detmer Nichole Prokop Miranda Wyckoff
Sara Lomelino Amanda Wignall DeLano Cain Courtney Burkett Kathleen Wefel Jacob Laughlin
Jessica Furnish Heather Klatt Emnie Peters Daniel Kristians Desmond Anderson Ysandril Morrigan
Alyssa Cline Amber Seye

ATTENTION:

STUDENTS AND NEW GRADUATES…

JUDY ROBUCK GIFT

THIS GIFT WILL BE AWARDED ANNUALY FOR PARTICIPATION AT THE SPRING CONVENTION (MARCH). THIS GIFT WILL COVER THE COST OF REGISTRATION. ALL OTHER COSTS WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARTICIPANT. APPLICANTS MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE AMTA IOWA CHAPTER IN GOOD STANDING AND HAVE GRADUATED FROM AN AMTA SCHOOL MEMBER, LOCATED IN THE STATE OF IOWA, WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM THE DATE OF SPRING CONVENTION OR BE A CURRENT STUDENT AT AN AMTA SCHOOL MEMBER PROGRAM.

APPLICANTS WILL BE QUALIFIED THROUGH MEMBERSHIP REPORTS RECEIVED FROM THE AMTA NATIONAL OFFICE. THIS QUALIFICATION WILL INCLUDE CURRENT, ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP WITH THE AMTA IOWA CHAPTER (AT THE TIME OF APPLYING FOR THE GIFT AND AT THE TIME OF CONVENTION) AS WELL AS VERIFICATION THAT THE APPLICANT ATTENDED OR IS CURRENTLY ATTENDING A SCHOOL WHICH IS AN AMTA SCHOOL MEMBER LOCATED WITHIN
THE STATE OF IOWA. ADDITIONALLY, APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHOW PROOF OF GRADUATION, INCLUDING THEIR NAME AND DATE OF GRADUATION, IN THE FORM OF A COPY OF THEIR DIPLOMA. IF THE APPLICANT IS A CURRENT STUDENT, A LETTER FROM THE SCHOOL’S ADMINISTRATION MUST BE INCLUDED TO VERIFY THEIR CURRENT STATUS AS A STUDENT.

THE JUDY ROBUCK GIFT WILL BE AWARDED BASED UPON A WRITTEN REQUEST (NOT TO EXCEED 500 WORDS) OUTLINING WHY THE APPLICANT SHOULD BE CHOSEN. SPECIAL CONSIDERATION MAY BE GIVEN TO APPLICANTS OUTLYING FINANCIAL NEEDS. THE BOARD MEMBERS WHICH WILL DETERMINE THE AWARD CONSIST OF THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT, MEMBERSHIP CHAIR AND EDUCATION CHAIR. APPLICANTS WILL SEND THEIR ENTRY FOR THE JUDY ROCK GIFT TO THE AMTA IOWA CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP CHAIR. ALL ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR NO LATER THAN 45 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SPRING CONVENTION DATE. THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR WILL THEN SHARE THE ENTRIES WITH THE CHAPTER PRESIDENT AND EDUCATION CHAIR AND A DECISION WILL BE MADE NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CONVENTION DATE. THE MEMBERSHIP CHAIR WILL NOTIFY THE RECIPIANT AND THE OTHER APPLICANTS OF THEIR STATUS REGARDING THE GIFT. SHOULD THERE BE NO APPLICANTS FOR THIS AWARD IN A GIVEN YEAR THEN THERE WILL BE NO JUDY ROBUCK GIFT GIVEN THAT YEAR. THE GIFT WILL THEN RESUME THE FOLLOWING YEAR (SPRING CONVENTION) AS OUTLINED ABOVE.

Hoping that we are able to have a Spring 2021 Convention, we will be honoring Chandal
Geerdes as the recipient of the 2020 Judy Robuck Gift. We are still accepting entries to award
our 2021 Judy Robuck Gift recipient as well. I hope that many will join in celebrating her
accomplishments and help welcome her to the Massage profession.

I would also like to take a quick moment to honor a few more for achieving a very honorable
milestone in the massage profession. The following therapists are celebrating their 25 years
with AMTA! If you know or see these faces please extend a warm congratulations and help
honor them.
Nancy Hoffman  Dena Jackson  Sharon Kelch   Joan Knockel   Linda Reicks

I cannot believe it is time to say goodbye to summer already. I am usually updating you with all the fun conventions we have planned for the next year. However, Covid-19 had made that change. As per nationals we do not have any convention booked for 2021. I am waiting to hear from Nationals on when I can resume those contracts. It breaks my heart to not be planning for next year! I am hoping and praying it will come soon. I hope everyone is healthy and staying safe with this crazy year Iowa has had. Know you are all on my mind and please follow us on Facebook to any updates on conventions we will have.

Stay healthy and safe. Holly Rasmusson

What a year this has been ! It seems like just one disaster after another and our work has been directly impacted with each one. But while many of us are not yet seeing clients or are doing so on a limited basis our National AMTA Association and our State AMTA Chapter have been very busy seeking ways to help us through this difficult time.

The National AMTA Association is working to keep us up to date with news articles, educational offerings and bulletins of interest to our members and profession. A recent example is the bulletin regarding our insurance coverage and answers to the questions that members have been asking. Because there will be no National AMTA in person Convention this year virtual meeting are being held. Last week a Leadership Training workshop for Volunteers was held and attended by our State Chapter Board members.

This week will be the virtual Assembly of Delegates meeting where topics put forward by AMTA members and Chapters will be discussed, debated and passed on to the National Board of Directors if approved by the Assembly.

Our AMTA Iowa Chapter Board of Directors has been busy via social media, Zoom calls and conference calls dealing with issues that affect our work and profession here in Iowa. The goal is always to make our State Chapter more responsive to the needs of our membership. Feel free to contact any of the Board members or committee chairpersons with your questions or concerns.

Respectfully submitted,

Ken Swenson, Delegate AMTA Iowa Chapter

Fall Greetings Everyone!!
This has been a WILD Spring and Summer…first the Corona Virus then the Derecho. Life has thrown a lot of “character building” to all of us! I pray you all are hanging in there. Remember…”This Too Shall Pass.”

With that said, quarantine has given me an opportunity to reflect on my life… I have been a massage therapist for 18 years serving the Cedar Valley area. For the past 10 years I have served on the AMTA Iowa Chapter Board in several different capacities. I have enjoyed serving on the board and serving our
Iowa members, however,

I feel it is time to step down after our Spring Convention and give our younger members an opportunity to bring some “fresh” ideas to the board. If anyone is interested in or has questions regarding the “Awards Chair” position, please contact me.

It has been a pleasure serving YOU…Our Chapter Members!!
Blessings to you All… Respectfully,
Cindy Haack
AMTA Iowa Chapter
Awards Chair

Nothing to report at this time for the AMTA IOWA chapter, just a few words to share.

The Covid Pandemic has impacted so many massage therapists during the shut down and the restarting our businesses. I hope that everyone’s business is still going strong as before.

I hope that friends and families have been safe during the Pandemic Crisis.

Finally, I just want to say, I can’t wait to see our fellow Iowa AMTA members smiling faces once again when we get through with this Pandemic Crisis.

God Bless
Bill McArtor, LMT

IOWA AMTA CHAPTER

~ Please find us on Facebook and like our page! [ AMTA Iowa Chapter ]

~ Instagram – [ amtaiowa ]

~use the hashtags #amtaiowa & #iloveamtaiowa

NATIONAL AMTA

You can also contact the AMTA National Member Service Desk directly toll free  1-877-905-2700 with any questions about your membership and benefits.

They are also available on
the web. www.amtamassage.org and info@amtamassage.org