Chapter Growth
Washington Chapter
Distinguished Service
Diana Lynn Thompson—Washington Chapter
Government Relations Activist (TIE)
Beverly May—California Chapter
Nancy Porambo—Pennsylvania Chapter
Humanitarian
Jeffrey Myers—Massachusetts Chapter
Jerome Perlinski Teacher of the Year
Carey Elizabeth Smith
National Meritorious
Virginia H. Anthony-Barrow—New Mexico Chapter
Outstanding Volunteer Group Chair
Brenda L. Griffith—2008 Governance Committee
Outstanding Volunteer Group
2008 Finance Committee
President's Award
Sally S. Hacking
Sports Massage Achiever
Clifford A. Dewitt—Virginia Chapter
Recipient Profiles
Washington Chapter
Accepted by Tianne Carrigan, Chapter President
The Washington Chapter increased its membership the most according to National Membership statistics.
Diana Lynn Thompson—Washington Chapter
Diana Lynn Thompson of the AMTA Washington Chapter has been a massage therapist since 1983. She has studied human beings since her undergraduate days at Grinnell College where she majored in Anthropology. Throughout Diana’s career, she has always sought to answer important questions and, in the answering, discover new and more interesting questions. Her curiosity and drive to improve the quality of life for her clients, indeed for all with whom she comes in contact, has made and continues to make our world a better place. Whether teaching at some of the finest massage schools in the northwest, providing therapy to world class athletes, or writing her Hands Heal series of publications which include a system of professional documentation, SOAP notes, utilized by massage professionals throughout the country, Diana has produced an outstanding and varied body of work. She has many other roles at which she excels including daughter, partner, and friend.
Diana is now at the pinnacle of her career to date in her role as President of the Massage Therapy Foundation. She has held this position since 2006 and in her tenure has worked tirelessly to advocate for research on massage therapy, supporting access to massage therapy to the four corners of the world, and increasing our status among health care professionals and researchers through the connections she continues to make representing the best of massage therapy. Diana will complete her tenure as the Foundation’s President next year and, as she steps down, the Foundation will be in good shape and capable hands.
Diana Lynn Thompson will continue to be a force for good in our profession and our world for as long as she desires. We hope that is a very long time. We are blessed to have her as an AMTA member. It is my great privilege and honor to award the AMTA 2009 Distinguished Service Award to my colleague and friend, Diana L. Thompson.
Beverly May—California Chapter
Beverly May has been a dedicated volunteer for over 25 years. Most of that time has been spent at the Chapter and National level doing Government Relations work. She has fought for the fair and equitable regulation of our profession throughout the state, monitoring different bills at the National level and within the many cities and municipalities in California. She has not always been in favor of state licensing, preferring to try and work within the cities; however, she has always kept a fair and objective perspective, taking us forward toward state licensing at just the right time. She is one of those people with the kind of memory that boggles the mind, remembering with amazing clarity names, dates, times and places that built the massage therapy profession that we see today.
She has developed a network and reputation throughout the massage therapy profession that is unparalleled and she has been a practicing massage therapist for over 30 years. She is a successful small business person, community activist, talented massage therapist and is compassionate and passionate about everything she does.
She is the one person that I know who had the ability and patience to work collaboratively with all of the stakeholders involved in bringing legislation to California, including developing an open and honest working relationship with ABMP. Our Chapter had the unique opportunity to work directly with Bob Benson who took a personal interest in legislation within California. Beverly was able to work with Bob while protecting the interests of both the AMTA-CA members and the profession, always focused on the ultimate goal. I personally don’t know anyone else who could have done this and am both grateful and in awe of her ability to manage this relationship to the benefit of all.
Bev has been a mentor and provided counsel to many. She is knowledgeable, fair, and diligent and serves with perseverance and grace. She has been instrumental in the success of the California Chapter in its efforts to attain legislation, and exemplifies the true meaning of the word volunteer. Thanks to her, we defied the odds and the suspicions of many that we would be the last Chapter to achieve some form of regulation/legislation/certification!
She dedicated at least the last 15 years to obtain some sort of State Certification for all California Massage Therapists. She is knowledgeable, can hold her own with both politicians and lay people and knows when to talk and when to listen. It is because of Beverly that California now has a sign law recognizing a certification agency - the California Massage Therapy Council.
Nancy Porambo—Pennsylvania Chapter
Nancy Porambo was elected AMTA Pennsylvania Chapter President in 2006, and has dedicated most of her adult life to our profession and the AMTA. Nancy holds multiple degrees including a Master’s Degree in Clinical Health Psychology, a BS in Business Management, and is a Certified Neuromuscular Therapist, NCBTMB Certified, and a licensed Cosmetologist. She teaches various Psychology related courses at Schuylkill and Carbon County Campuses of Lehigh County Community College. She also developed a 16 hour NCBTMB Category A practice building program presenting Marketing, Advertising, Bookkeeping, Ethics and Executive Skills for the novice and established therapists. Nancy instructs students throughout the United States on the Theory and Application of Neuromuscular Therapy Pain Management Techniques. She developed a 16 hour program (NCBTMB) that reviews current research on the Development and Maintenance of Fibromyalgia. Nancy also developed an NCTMB approved 8 hour program for students in the application of Facial Massage Procedures that aids in toning the skin and enhancing appearance. She authored “Professional Practice Concepts” in 1995.
She spearheaded the first monumental “Rally at the Capitol” in Harrisburg, PA promoting the importance and need for licensure. She also established the first Political Action Committee (PAC Fund) in Pennsylvania for licensure. Nancy has served as liaison to the Massage Profession at the State Capitol in Harrisburg for the past 15 years. She served as primary organizer and witness during 3 public hearings for licensure in Pennsylvania while seeking sponsors from the House of Representatives and Senate for all four drafts of the PA legislation. Nancy has facilitated meetings with varying Body Therapy organizations throughout Pennsylvania over a 10 year period to work with the Coalition on Legislative language for Massage Therapists. Finally all of Nancy’s hard work came to fruition when Governor Rendell signed the long awaited licensure bill on October 9, 2008. Nancy has spent countless hours organizing and volunteering for numerous fundraising events on behalf of the AMTA profession, so I feel she is overdue for an Award and proudly nominate her for the AMTA Pennsylvania Chapter Government Activist Award for 2009.
Jeffrey Myers—Massachusetts Chapter
Accepted by Richard Wedegartner, Chapter President
Massachusetts awarded its 2009 Humanitarian Award to Jeff Myers because of the work he does with our Veterans. We received a letter from the director of Veteran Outreach Center in Marlboro, MA. Citing the work Jeff has done.
Here is an excerpt from it: “I was approached by Jeff Myers who wanted to offer complimentary massage therapy at our center hoping to ease the pain of the Veterans’ disabilities. He shared with me that studies have shown massage therapy may ‘do wonders’ for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) sufferers. The Veterans who come here, come not because things are going well for them. Many of them have returned from combat with multiple physical or emotional disabilities. Many of them have lost jobs, families, friends due to their struggles. Many have PTSD. Sadly at this point they are very untrusting and feel that family or society has little time or respect for them.
When Jeff first came some of the sessions were a little strained. The Soldiers were definitely ‘stand offish’... but Jeff kept returning to offer his massage therapy. I remember one time a Soldier wasn’t comfortable being in the massage room with a stranger. Jeff invited me in to ease the situation. This Soldier who had served both in Iraq and Afghanistan had come to several sessions and was finally ready to trust. The comfort Jeff made him feel was unbelievable. Comfort and trust are two of the most important aspects leading to a Soldier’s recovery.
The Soldiers are so touched when I tell them that these massages are Jeff’s way of saying: “Thank you for serving.” It touches them deeper that I could ever explain to you... the men all rave about ‘how well they feel’ after their massage treatments... they have been treated with the utmost dignity and respect they so deserve.
This is an outreach center for Veterans and yet many do not tell others they are coming for fear of a stigma. One blessing that has come from these Massage Days is that Soldiers who have served together in the grips of war and lost contact with each other as their struggles worsen have been reunited in the waiting room enjoying pizza....these Massage Days have brought combat buddies back together. Some drive over an hour to come to Massage Day!
The third Wednesday of the month has become sacred. In August, one of our Soldiers will be returning to Iraq he has told me that he would give up his cot in the barracks if Jeff could shoot over to Iraq every now and then to give him a massage!’”
Jeff brings the “heart of massage” to these Veterans. His professionalism, understanding, compassion and gift of touch is so deeply appreciated at the Veterans’ Outreach Center. When asked why he volunteers, he smiles and says” “It just feels like the right thing to do.” The satisfaction of serving these Soldiers is pay enough.
Massachusetts is honored and proud to have Jeff in our ranks and AMTA is a better organization because of therapist like him!
Carey Elizabeth Smith
A Leader and Pioneer in the Field of Massage Therapy Education
Since her graduation from college in 1976, Carey has devoted her adult life to teaching. Her experience as Montessori teacher, and eventually teacher trainer, gave her a solid foundation in presentation skills, classroom management, learning styles, curriculum design, and the process of teacher education. “Maria Montessori’s most moving quote is: ‘The primary task of the teacher is to serve the spirit of the student.’ I realized that I have trained for years to be able to serve another,” Carey said.
Carey graduated from of the Body Therapy Institute 17 years ago. While observing the entire program from the point of view as a teacher trainer, she discovered that few instructors at BTI had been trained to teach. As eventual Co-director of the school, she worked with the faculty to increase their knowledge and skill base, and these efforts evolved into a comprehensive massage therapy teacher training. The Spirit of Learning, which began in 1997, was one of the first programs of its kind in the massage therapy profession and is unique in its focus on somatic education. Over the past decade, Carey has offered this training on an annual basis to massage educators, administrators and school owners from across the U.S.
She has been an inspirational presenter at AMTA Council of Schools conferences, and in-service massage therapy schools trainings.
In 2008, Carey was awarded the designation of Master Somatic Coach after attending the Strozzi Institute’s Embodied Leadership training program in 2005. She is contributing author to the 2008 textbook, Teaching Massage: Foundational Principles in Adult Education for Massage Program Instructors.
Carey is currently BTI’s Director of Education, mentoring both instructors and staff.
Anyone who has been in the classroom with Carey knows that she cares deeply about the experience of each student, and that she will do everything she can to empower them to achieve their highest potential. More than anyone else in the massage therapy field, she has put teacher training on the map.
Virginia H. Anthony-Barrow—New Mexico Chapter
Virginia Anthony Barrow has generously volunteered her services to the New Mexico Chapter since moving to New Mexico in 1995. She has consistently volunteered at least one day each year to do complimentary massage on State Legislators during our Legislative Massage Event, coordinating volunteers for that event for the past ten years. Additionally she has been Government Relations Chair for these past ten years, attending NM Massage Therapy Licensing Board meetings on behalf of the chapter, testifying when needed and always reporting back to the Chapter. Because of her our Chapter enjoys a healthy relationship with both the Licensing Board and many of our Senators and Representatives, who recognize her and express appreciation for her openly. For the past five years Virginia has also served as Treasurer, organizing our finances in Quickbooks and managing our bank accounts to maximize our non-dues revenues while keeping a watchful eye on expenses.
Virginia has now taken on yet another new job in the Chapter as Secretary, one she has been doing temporarily for the past year. She is planning on compiling all Chapter minutes into digital format for ease of passing on this information to current and future board members, as well as for archiving purposes. While doing the above Virginia has also compiled a Board Book for each new board member, complete with all the documents and forms needed to be a successful officer.
Virginia has a most unique way of making everyone with whom she works feel appreciated and acknowledged. Her generosity is boundless, her smile ever-present. She is always the one to bring little gifts for other board members or for attendants at Chapter events. Her warmth and compassion are felt by every person she contacts. And, perhaps most important, she is fun to be around and work with.
Virginia has been part of the AMTA National Sports Massage Team since 1989, participating in the 1990 Goodwill Games and the 1996 Olympics as part of the medical teams. She was instrumental, as National President, in establishing the relationship between AMTA and Dr. David Eisenberg of Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health and Dr. Eisenberg’s pilot pain study. Virginia participated in the beginning of the Massage Therapy Foundation, COMTA, and NCBTMB. She was also there to help foster their moves to independent status.
While National President Virginia gave a week of her time in Oklahoma City to volunteer as a member of the AMTA Massage Emergency Response Team, even working with the Red Cross to establish credentialing of the MERT for entry into the area. She has volunteered numerous times at sporting events and legislative events and fundraising events both for AMTA National and her local Chapter. She has, in fact, been one of the organizers of these events on many occasions. Virginia and her husband and their standard poodle Alex volunteer time at nursing homes and hospitals doing Therapy Dog visits.
Brenda L. Griffith—2008 Governance Committee
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.
2008 Finance Committee
Accepted by Cynthia M. Ribeiro, Judy Stahl, and William J. Greenberg
The Outstanding Volunteer Group Award honors a National Volunteer Group that has demonstrated outstanding quality and service to AMTA.
Congratulations to the 2008 Finance Committee: Cynthia M. Ribeiro, Judy Stahl, William J. Greenberg, Nathan J. Nordstrom (Chair), and Gregory Donald Schroen
Sally S. Hacking
The recipient of the 2009 President’s Award, Sally S. Hacking, is one of the most accomplished individuals I ever hope to meet. Her accomplishments are legendary in the world of government relations at the Chapter level for the AMTA, having played an important—even a critical—role in the passage of legislation for 17 AMTA chapters.
She is a native of Great Britain. Her gifts were honed through her early training as a nurse midwife and a Master’s level nurse in Glascow, Scotland. She came to the United States in her 20’s to work in cardiac intensive care in Texas and on her way here met the love of her life, a gentleman who sets the standard for me as far as what a man can be. She became a United States citizen and an elected state legislator in Maryland for ten years. She is a survivor of both kidney and breast cancer. She was my greatest support, besides my family, when I went through my challenge with breast cancer five years ago. She was an aerobics instructor for many years and to this day sets the standard for healthy lifestyle, eating right, exercising, and living joyously./p>
She is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, business consultant, advocate, comedienne, and all around beautiful human being. She is one of the very quickest, brightest, most intelligent human beings I have ever met. And along with all of her accomplishments, she has demonstrated a level of humility and lack of ego, an ability to stay in the background while others receive the credit and the glory, that is hard to fully grasp considering the world in which she works. Finally, if you look in the dictionary under the word, fun, you will see Sally’s picture!/p>
It is my greatest pleasure to grant the AMTA 2009 President’s Award to a woman who continues to dedicate herself to advocating on behalf of the massage therapy profession, my dear friend and mentor, Sally S. Hacking.
Clifford A. Dewitt—Virginia Chapter
Accepted by Lucia Kaestner
For 18 years, Cliff has spearheaded sports massage in the Mid Atlantic area. He started assisting Elliot Greene in teaching sports massage at the Washington, D.C. massage school, Potomac Massage Therapy Institute and has been teaching it ever since. Currently he teaches at Applied Kinesthetic School in Herndon, Virginia.
In 1991 he joined the National Capital Sports Massage Team which was established in 1986 under the leadership of Cary Bland, Elliot Greene, Arch Harrison and Curt Millar. This is a non-profit organization. The NCASMT is the only organization in the area to facilitate the integration of massage practitioners in the training programs of local athletes. Team members live in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, southern Pennsylvania and southern Delaware.
He served as director of the Team for three years, and currently serves on the Board in an advisory capacity. For 15 years he has been the coordinator of events. He has been, and still is the driving force behind the NCSMT.
In 2009, he put together team of therapists that provided 180 massages for the three day National Masters Meet Championship in PG county, Maryland. This was the first time that therapists provided massage for pay, at the prevailing rate.
The team has worked at events such as The Marine Corps Marathon, The Oxford Triathlon, The National Capital Open Bicycle Race, The Chesapeake Bay Swim Race, The Mobil Invitational Track and Field Meet, The Multiple Sclerosis 150K Bike Ride, The Reston Triathlon, The Army 10 Miler, The Tyson’s 10K Run for the Vienna Women’s Shelter, The National Wheelchair Games, The American Cancer Relay, The Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run and The National Arm Wrestling Championships. Some of our members have been on the Sports Massage Teams for the Summer and Winter Olympics and the Paralympics.
Cliff is the eminent grist behind the continued promotion of sports massage for all athletes. He is talented, caring and unassuming. He has given of his talents for 18 years. He fully believes in the ethicality of volunteerism.
He has participated in more events than anyone in the Mid-Atlantic region.
At 74, Cliff is just as enthusiastic and dedicated to the concept that sports massage is a necessary and beneficial modality for athletes as he was 18 years ago when he first studied under Benny Vaughan. He trains and encourages young and older therapists to volunteer at most of the sports events in the Mid-Atlantic region. He has given more to promote our profession in the sports world than any one I know, and for the longest time. He is a credit to our organization and lives and breathes sports massage. He is a true professional.
He holds the following credentials: AMTA Event Massage Certification 1999 (Defunct since 2000), Advanced Sports Massage Certification 1994, Sports Massage Certification 1992, and Professional Massage Training Certification 1992