Best Chapter Website (tie)
California Chapter
Florida Chapter
Chapter Growth
Massachusetts Chapter
Distinguished Service
Judith Aston - Nevada Chapter
Fundraising Project of the Year
Connecticut Chapter - CSMT
Government Relations Activist
Richard Wedegartner - Massachusetts Chapter
Government Relations Committee Achievement
Massachusetts Chapter
Humanitarian
Paula Kochanek - Rhode Island Chapter
Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year
Carol Osborne
National Meritorious
Shirley Cooper - Connecticut Chapter
Outstanding Newsletter
Georgia Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Achiever
Esteban Ruvalcaba - Missouri Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Team (3-way tie)
Connecticut Chapter
Ohio Chapter
Rhode Island Chapter
Outstanding Volunteer Group Chair
Terry Hirth-Caldwell - Planning Committee
Outstanding Volunteer Group (tie)
Chapter President's Council
Election Revision Operational Committee
President's Award
Trish Dryden
President’s Certificate of Appreciation
Shirley Cooper, Connecticut Chapter
President’s Certificate of Appreciation
Sally Hacking
Best Chapter Website (tie)
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California Chapter
Best Chapter Website (tie): Accepted by Terri Mongait, Chapter President.
After many years of a chapter website that frequently had outdated and sometimes erroneous information, our new chapter president made the re-design a top priority. For the newer, more technologically adept members, we felt we must provide a site that meets (and perhaps exceeds) their needs.
Our Chapter President spent many hours (in addition to the expected duties of running the chapter) learning how to update and maintain the website. We are very proud of our current website and feel that the California Chapter is well deserving of this award.
Website: www.amta-ca.org
Best Chapter Website (tie)
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Florida Chapter
Best Chapter Website (tie): Accepted by Karen Roth, Chapter Vice President. <br><br>Karen Roth has demonstrated to the Florida Chapter her willingness to grow; not only as a massage professional but also in learning new skills and taking on challenges. Karen has developed a user friendly website for our chapter. As she took on this charge, she wanted to make it fit the demands of the members. Karen also saw needs for the BOD to get word out to members by email blasts in a quick, efficient way. Karen discovered problems in this area, so she redesigned the email blast communicator. As of today, usage and response rate is overwhelmingly up with over 7% return on an Education survey.
Karen’s open-minded, always willing to learn attitude is wonderful for growth. She has demonstrated her dedication to the AMTA FL chapter. Karen knows that knowledge is power; our website has empowered our members and the public. Thank you Karen for all your volunteer work on our website!
Website: www.amtaflorida.org.
Chapter Growth
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Massachusetts Chapter
Chapter Growth: Accepted by Richard Wedegartner, Chapter President.
The Massachusetts Chapter increased its membership by 19.6%. That’s an increase of 573 members!
Distinguished Service
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Judith Aston - Nevada Chapter
Distinguished Service
Judith Aston is the Creator of Aston-Patterning and has been honored as a somatic pioneer. Judith’s mission is to assist in the integration of body, mind, spirit and environment by developing concepts and practices that challenge the traditional viewpoint of the body as linear, constrained and uni-dimensional.
In need of rehabilitation following a serious auto accident, Judith sought out Dr. Ida Rolf for myofascial treatment in 1968. This assisted Judith in her recovery and expanded her understanding of how bodies can change through hands-on bodywork. Dr. Rolf trained Judith in Structural Integration. In 1968 he asked her to develop a movement education counterpart to the myofascial release bodywork. Judith developed and taught the movement education curriculum from 1971-1977. Rolfing students learned how to work with minimal effort and maximum precision. Clients gained awareness of beneficial changes and were taught how to maintain their "line." These contributions to the Structural Integration movement became known as Rolf-Aston Structural Patterning and were integrated into the training requirements. Her forms of spiraling massage, Myo-Kinetics and Arthro-Kinetics have helped numerous therapists be more accurate and specific in their treatments.
Fundraising Project of the Year
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Connecticut Chapter - CSMT
Fundraising Project of the Year: Accepted by Scott Raymond and Deborah Van Ohlen <br><br>The Connecticut Chapter instituted a new “Team”; The Community Service Massage Team (CSMT). The Team has a two-fold purpose separated into two divisions: Charity Division and Emergency Response Division. The Emergency Response Division is our former ‘MERT’ program. The Charity Division is a brand new concept. Our Chapter chose a charity; CT FoodShare and started our first joint venture: promote massage and raise money for a great cause. <br><br>Our CSMT: Charity division began with a simple food drive at a chapter meeting where we gathered over 400 pounds of food that was taken to the FoodShare warehouse. Within the year we have raised over $7000.00 to help fight hunger in CT. Fundraising came in a variety of forms: chair massage at the women’s health expo, chapter events, participating in the annual ‘Walk Against Hunger” by providing chair massage at the event, selling autographs at our booth from UCONN and WNBA star Kara Wolters, and finally by having a walking team. The walking team wore shirts that said “Follow Me to the Massage Tent”. We also supported the FoodShare staff and volunteers throughout their busy time between Thanksgiving and Christmas by giving chair massage at their office, warehouse and at ‘turkey drive’ locations.
Government Relations Activist
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Richard Wedegartner - Massachusetts Chapter
Government Relations Activist
Richard first served the Massachusetts Chapter 12 years ago when he led an effort to achieve a state massage license. A bill was passed by both the House and Senate. He has continued to work tirelessly lobbying for state licensing. In 2006, a state massage license bill passed due to his efforts. By 2007 a mandated regulatory board was not appointed, yet our members were dealing with municipalities no longer regulating massage therapists. Richard encouraged the Governor to create the board. A month later, 5 people were appointed. We now hold 2 of the 5 positions. Richard communicates with lobbyists who, upon Richard’s request, are able to attend the regulatory board meetings. This allows him to direct the lobbyists when to express our concerns; thus insuring that our bill serves to protect the field of massage therapy and the consumer without undue over regulation.
In 2008, when the state began the grandfathering process for existing licensed therapists, Richard sent an email that generated an insurmountable amount of responses from concerned members needing clarification on the new process. Richard answered them all with sincerity. As the deadline grew closer, he asked the Chapter for a bulk mailing to insure that members without online capability would receive the necessary information. Richard invited the chairman of the state regulatory board to attend our annual meeting to explain the process to our members.
The MA Chapter is fortunate to have a person so committed to the licensing process.
Government Relations Committee Achievement
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Massachusetts Chapter
Government Relations Committee Achievement: Accepted by Richard Wedegartner, Chapter President.
The Governance Committee of the Massachusetts Chapter has worked long and hard in its efforts to secure state licensure. The grassroots of this committee date back into the 1980’s. The current Governance Committee has been working on licensure for over 12 years. Having worked in coalition with over 30 other interested groups/modalities for an intense 18 months prior to filing their bill, the MA Chapter refiled legislation governing the statewide licensure of massage therapists in the 2005-2006 legislative session. <br><br>For the next 2 years the MA Chapter worked on many drafts hand in hand with their lobbyists. They followed their bill through House and Senate committees, through the Ways and Means Committees and wrote amendments. When the last amendment was adopted in May 2006 and the bill was engrossed, this Committee flooded the phone lines of our representatives and senators, imploring them with reasons to vote in favor of this bill. Their efforts were not in vain as the bill was enacted by the House in May of 2006 before being laid in front of the Governor for his signature. Then Governor “Mitt Romney” returned the bill with amendments which the House and Senate denied. On June 22, 2006 the Senate overrode the Governors veto. On June 29, 2006 the House overrode the Governors veto and on June 29, 2006 the bill became law without the Governors signature. <br><br>This Committee is being nominated for the Governance Relations Committee Achievement for a job well done by a committee who stayed the course despite adversity.
Humanitarian
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Paula Kochanek - Rhode Island Chapter
Humanitarian <br><br>Paula Kochanek, the Chapter’s video librarian, loves being with people and connecting with them, and she really cares about the chapter. She never takes her RIAMTA roles lightly, always on the ball and doing things the way they should be done. She’s been there for us. And she’s been there for others too.
Accompanied by a 20 member team of volunteers, Paula traveled to a poor village in Los Delicios, El Salvador, in late 2007. She spent eight days ministering to the impoverished people of this village, one of the most violent and dangerous areas in South America. The country is still recovering from its civil war of the 1980’s and the disastrous earthquake of 2001. The rows of cement houses with tin roofs and lack of electricity were a norm - the smell of burning trash, exhaust fumes, and no sewers were enough to cause long term respiratory issues. Their supply of water consisted of only 50 gallon drums, which needed to be used for cooking, bathing, and clothes washing: all things that we take for granted, yet, the residents of this village were grateful for what they had. Although Paula spoke little Spanish, her gift of touch was all the language these grateful people needed, especially the children. Each day, more and more children would come for aid. Paula bonded with a little 10 year old girl named Nahome, a child so bright and happy, living in such a deplorable place! For Paula, it was an awesome privilege to serve… to touch… to care… to make a difference one person at a time.
Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year
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Carol Osborne
AMTA Council of Schools, Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year <br><br>This year, for the first time, the AMTA President has the privilege to present the AMTA Council of Schools, Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year Award. The recipient of this award, which honors the memory of much-loved educator, Jerome Perlinski, is selected by the AMTA Council of Schools Nominating Committee from among a group of the finest massage therapy educators nominated by their peers. Carole Osborne, one of the co-founders of the International Professional School of Bodywork in San Diego, California, has been a long-time advocate for students and the massage therapy profession. She has been teaching and practicing massage therapy since 1974, and has authored two books.
National Meritorious
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Shirley Cooper - Connecticut Chapter
Shirley epitomizes what it is to be a volunteer. She has been actively involved in the AMTA at both the Chapter and National level for over 25 years. Part of this work was done on the ethics committee looking into behavioral guidelines for the massage therapist. Equally important are the roles she assumes that have no real designated positions. She mentors, she encourages, she is friendly, she is an educator, and she is a doer: everyone knows her at the national, regional and state level. Shirl, as she prefers, not only talks the talk of the AMTA but she walks the walk. She leads by example and has been instrumental in facilitating the member from being a quiet member to being an involved member. It has been through her nurturing and guidance that many CT Chapter volunteers have sprouted. She constantly talks about the benefits not only of the AMTA but of being involved at the state and national level that it becomes contagious; you want to become involved at the National level!
One of the great things about Shirley Cooper is her willingness to try new things. She has seen the massage field grow and change. It would be easy for someone that has been with the organization for a long time to become complacent and not want to change. She has never been one to simply do things the same way because “we always have”. She has been willing and eager to rock the boat and try new and creative ways to meet the needs of our membership. She is a motivator. She has the natural ability to make people feel comfortable and to feel a part of something bigger than themselves.
Outstanding Newsletter
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Georgia Chapter
Outstanding Newsletter: Accepted by Joan Nicols, Chapter Newsletter Editor.
The Georgia Chapter has really worked hard on our new Hands On Georgia newsletter. With the newsletter being one of our deliverables we wanted it to give the members as much information as possible with an attractive read. The newsletter has a fresh new look, colorful, informative and easy to read. <br><br>Newsletter: http://k.b5z.net/i/u/6080438/i/January_2008.pdf
Outstanding Sports Massage Achiever
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Esteban Ruvalcaba - Missouri Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Achiever
There is not a more humble, yet more talented man in the field of sports massage than Esteban Ruvalcaba. His knowledge of anatomy, his ability to apply that knowledge to the arena of sports massage to restore health to the injured and prevent injury for the healthy, and his ability to teach that information to others, are perhaps some of the biggest secrets the Show Me State holds, and one of its greatest treasures. Yet any of the world class athletes he has worked with (you'd have to go to his office to find their pictures, because you never hear him bragging) will tell you about the inches they gained or the seconds they lost because of working with Esteban. People travel for miles (the farthest came from Germany) to be treated by him. Yet he still finds time to remain as past president on th MO Board, and teach for the chapter whenever asked, usually without remuneration because he is also on our BOD. He continues to chair the Governance Committee and write the newsletter in his "free" time. He will always be Missouri’s Outstanding Massage Achiever!
Esteban Ruvalcaba has worked with the University of Missouri track team since 2000. He has worked with high school, college, and professional athletes since 1983. He earned a BA from the University of San Diego in 1982, and an MA from the University of Wyoming in 1972. He trained in massage at the Swedish Massage Center in Columbia, MO in1982. He has been a member of AMTA and NCTMB since 1994. He is a Missouri licensed massage therapist. He has been the Immediate past president of the Missouri Chapter of the AMTA since 2002 and served the MOAMTA as its president from 1998 to 2002. As the MOAMTA’s First Vice President, and as a member of its Law and Legislation Committee, he was one of the authors of the law which licenses massage therapy in Missouri. He has presented numerous workshops and papers at meetings of medical, nursing, and massage associations, on the use of massage to treat various clinical situations, ranging from critical care nursing to injury recovery, as well as presented workshops on sports massage. He served on the faculty of The Professional Massage Training Center in Springfield from 1997 to 2003, where he taught its sports massage curriculum. In 1996, he co-founded The Massage Therapy Institute of Missouri, a massage school that offered 100 hours of instruction in sports massage. He continues as a member of the Missouri Sports Massage Team (MSMT) which he joined in1990. He served as the Director of the MSMT from 1994 to 1998. Currently he mentors sports massage therapists in mid-Missouri, offering them the opportunity to work on colligate and world class athletes at track and field events. He has been a member of the Sports Medicine Team with the University of Missouri Track and Field Team since the 2000-2001 season. Additionally, his practice focuses on serious amateur athletes (marathon runners, triathletes, swimmers, etc), a few professionals, as well as individuals seeking to avoid surgery or recovering from surgery. On a monthly basis, he appears on a local TV variety/interview show to talk about and demonstrate massage techniques to educate the public about the variety of massage practiced in mid-Missouri.
Outstanding Sports Massage Team (3-way tie)
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Connecticut Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Team: Accepted by Scott Raymond, Chapter President
The CT Sports Massage Team participated in 14 event days completing 2616 massages. We had 136 CT licensed massage therapists and 221 students participate with our team. Our team is professional in all they do from appearance in their red team shirts to how they answer questions from the public. They are ambassadors for not only the profession but for the AMTA as well. <br><br> The CT Sports Massage Team is a cornerstone of our public relations and recruitment program. It has proven year after year that it has a key role in educating the public on the many benefits of massage and in providing a means for massage students to participate in real life situations with licensed therapists. Consistently high in both events participated in, numbers of therapists in attendance and numbers of students getting involved with the AMTA the 2007 season was no exception. It is worthy of consideration of the National outstanding sports massage team award.
Outstanding Sports Massage Team (3-way tie)
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Ohio Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Team: Accepted by Buford Mills and Patricia Ann Aicher
The genuine dedication and selfless effort of the Ohio Chapter Sports Massage Team showcases the heart of this award. The time and talents of this extraordinary group of sports massage therapists are respected by, and have a positive impact and influence on those in our sports community. The team continues to grow in its membership, finding and developing leadership qualities among many of its participants. The success of all the sports-related events for which this team provides services is fully dependent on the cooperation and team play of all its members throughout the year. The team sets goals, plans a full schedule of events, and has demonstrated a continual increase in the number of events served and the number of actual massage treatments provided. This team, both as a team and as independent massage therapists, truly does all can to enhance the visibility, prestige and acceptance of sports massage. <br><br> The OH team exemplifies all the qualities proving the AMTA to be a vibrant and productive organization of dynamic and dedicated volunteers. Membership longevity is not atypical for this team, with three of its members active for 11 years and two others for 10 years. The team’s leadership, efficiency, cooperation, and team play can be no better demonstrated than by a three day event successfully coordinated with less than seven days notice. Four team members have each contributed over 1000 minutes of massage, and four others have each contributed over 500 minutes this past year. Team member contributions, support and enthusiasm to make this team outstanding and effective are endless.
The team participated in 14 events during the past season, providing 766 fifteen minute sport massages, representing an increase of 166 massages over the previous year. 19 events have already been scheduled for the 2008 season with an increase in membership to 34 members from last year's roster of 28 members. Although most of the team’s events are small, having two to five therapists available for 5 to 25 massages, they work three major events. First is the Tour of the Scioto River Valley (TOSRV), the nation's largest bicycle touring weekend with riders from across the country in a 200 mile bicycle tour. We had 15 therapists working the event to provide 275 massages. Second is the USAF Marathon, the only USAF sanctioned marathon and having runners representing 50 states and 6 foreign countries. The team sent 11 therapists who provided 126 massages. The third major event is the American Triple-T, America's only team triathlon in which five therapists provided 203 massages during this three day event. This quote from the event’s promoter affirms the character of our team, "Your therapists were amazing at Triple T - so professional, and provided much needed help because of all the cramping and other issues. We were truly impressed." To further prove the altruistic nature of this team, they donated all the proceeds earned from the CARE Tennis Challenge they worked, back to the event, which supports breast cancer research, in the name of the AMTA Ohio Sports Massage Team.
Ohio Sports Massage Team: Ann Steiner, Leslie Snow, Terri Stigers, Julie Hall, Pat Aicher, Melissa Anderson, Donna Armentrout, Charlotte Brewer, Denise Cattley, Dave Charter, Gabriel Ciani, Keith Clay, Donald Crone, Linda Duncan, Yvonne Fey, Jody Fi
Outstanding Sports Massage Team (3-way tie)
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Rhode Island Chapter
Outstanding Sports Massage Team: Accepted by Patricia Bachus, Chapter President
The team of Frank Rapone, Dorry Renquist, Lou Ann Botsford, along with students and massage therapy volunteers, work to represent massage therapists at every possible event—they are everywhere!! <br><br>From National Massage Therapy Awareness Week through the use of press releases and a governor’s proclamation, they met in schools, hospitals, and libraries to bring massage to the public. You see these volunteers on the beaches, in the fields, on the road, at the finish lines—all for the quest to meet the needs of the dedicated, tired, and sore participants! There are many events that they are a part of, but just to name a few, here goes – MS150, Ocean State American Diabetes Association, Pan Mass Challenge, Boston Marathon, Blessing of the Fleet, Save The Bay, bike-a-thons, races, Special Olympics, and Lou Ann’s special event, Operation Standdown for homeless and at-risk Veterans.
All events are important, but I would like to bring attention to Operation Standdown. Under the guidance of Lou Ann Botsford and a team of massage therapists, they provided the gift of massage to approximately 200 homeless and at-risk veterans at the 14th annual Operation Standdown at Diamond Hill Park, where these veterans received aid and much-needed therapeutic touch. The letters of appreciation and gratitude from the veterans signified that they were truly touched by the therapists’ compassion, sincerity, and gentle kindness.
Outstanding Volunteer Group Chair
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Terry Hirth-Caldwell - Planning Committee
Outstanding Volunteer Group Chair <br><br>The Executive Committee of the AMTA Board of Directors gives this award to honor a National Volunteer Group Chair who has demonstrated outstanding achievements and is deserving of recognition. Her dedication and service to AMTA are appreciated. This year’s recipient is Terry Hirth-Caldwell of the National Planning Committee.
Outstanding Volunteer Group (tie)
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Chapter President's Council
Outstanding Volunteer Group: Award accepted by Nancy Porambo and Ed Sansbury.
The Outstanding Volunteer Group Award honors a National Volunteer Group that has demonstrated outstanding quality and service to AMTA. <br><br>Congratulations to the Chapter President’s Council: Nancy Porambo and Ed Sansbury have worked hard over the past year to make certain that this year’s meeting is what our Chapter Presidents want! <br><br>
Outstanding Volunteer Group (tie)
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Election Revision Operational Committee
Outstanding Volunteer Group: Accepted by Dan Barrow <br><br>The Outstanding Volunteer Group Award honors a National Volunteer Group that has demonstrated outstanding quality and service to AMTA.
Congratulations to the Election Revision Operational Committee: Robert Dean Andersen, Dan R. Barrow, and Josh Grant have moved our election process into the technology age!
President's Award
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Trish Dryden
Each year, the AMTA President presents a special President’s Award to openly honor someone who has contributed to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. Trish Dryden, Director of the Applied Research Centre at Centennial College in Toronto, is the recipient of the 2008 President’s Award. <br><br>Trish has a special interest in fostering research literacy and capacity. She acts as a resource to assist potential and active researchers at the college through all stages of the research process and is also responsible for the overall administration, development, growth and maintenance of the Applied Research and Innovation Centre. As a researcher, clinician and educator, Trish is a recognized leader in evidence-based complementary and alternative healthcare research and in inter-professional education and evaluation. She received her massage therapy diploma from Sutherland-Chan School and Teaching Clinic in 1981and her Masters degree in Adult Education from the University of Toronto in 1993. <br><br>Her current research includes the development and evaluation of an inter-professional undergraduate curriculum involving medicine, nursing, allied health and first responders in disaster and emergency preparedness, and the creation and evaluation of an open access database for complementary and alternative healthcare outcomes research instruments. Her clinical research also includes a national study on parent-delivered massage in pediatric oncology. <br><br>Trish serves, or has served, on numerous massage-related committees and boards, and has many peer-reviewed publications to her credit. She lectures and conducts workshops internationally. As an educator and researcher, she has helped pave the way for our future and has lived out part of our mission: to advance the art, science, and practice of massage therapy. It is an honor to award her with the President's Award.
President’s Certificate of Appreciation
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Shirley Cooper, Connecticut Chapter
President’s Certificates of Appreciation <br><br>This year’s Certificate of Appreciation goes to a special person in Recognition of her years of service, dedication and passion to the American Massage Therapy Association House of Delegates. Thank you Shirley Cooper.
President’s Certificate of Appreciation
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Sally Hacking
President’s Certificates of Appreciation <br><br>This year’s Certificate of Appreciation goes to a special friend of AMTA in recognition of her years of service, dedication and passion to advance the standards of licensure for the Massage Profession. Thank you Sally Hacking.