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The Massage Therapy Alliance of America - A New Alliance For Therapists!
We are so excited for Massage Therapists!!! But, instead of re-explaining it here, go to the source at http://www.mtaamassage.org
Some of the debate that will take place on this topic will be heated. If opposing sides discussing issues is not your cup of tea, just visit the website. FYI!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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I wasn't trying to make an issue of anything, just trying to offer my years of experience in marketing as well as web marketing.
AMTA's logo, I agree, would not tell someone they are about massage. However, their home page clearly represents massage with an imagery of massage. so at a quick glance you know immediately what the site is about.
http://www.amtamassage.org/index.html
The same thing holds true with ABMP.
If an organization is being created FOR therapists, it should have therapist input no? that's all I'm doing here.
In addition, I would still like to know what this organization will do/or offer that will be different than the other two. It seems to me that MTs are tired of organizations and politics (based on what the site says on how it came to be). However, with any organization there will ALWAYS be politics. How will this organization be different? I would imagine it will be difficult to "represent all therapists" when we all think differently. Where some are bothered by the constant sexual undertone in tv commercials, others are not. Can an organization really represent all of us?
Just trying to open the discussion.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Lisa,
I am the "someone". And I'm glad you asked. I can give you four quick items that I would like to see addressed by the Alliance when they are elected and that I have written into the by-laws as things the BOD should address.
1. Therapists lack sales skills.
2. Legislation information to therapists is slow and lacks much detail.
3. Central location for Continuing Education around the US. Therapists should be able to easily find education wherever they are.
4. A new approach to how we deal with the public. (Details will be shown to the new board first, as they are my ideas.)
There are are over 100,000 therapists that have no voice right now. We will accept their help and be inclusive. There are hundreds of ways we are going top make things better. We are taking from no one. We will add much. If you are happy. I am glad. Some still wish to expend their efforts to make improvements and this, will enable them to do so.
Lisa said:also...just another thought...
i understand the need for financial support in creating a new organization, however, with many MTs already signed up for AMTA and ABMP, so unless this organization offers something the other two don't, I believe it will be difficult to get people to sign up with costs involved.
can someone explain to me the difference this organization will offer versus the other two that are already established? Relax & Rejuvenate
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When they rebuild the page with the funds the will have, I'll make sure to mention they have this on the front page. I built the page for free. I love dialogue. I was initially asking everyone, about the idea of the Alliance, not for a website critique that's all.
This is in the beginning stages. The BOD election is when the Alliance starts. It isn't open to debate, if it will happen.I am trying to get the word out about it. I would like other's ideas about what they would like to see improved. I will add these to the growing list. Therapists have many issues they would like to see addressed, including state to state reciprocity. I see no one trying to champion this cause. This was a huge factor in the formulation of the NCB and the reason many have stayed NCB. Yet the issue languishes.
Do you have any issues? This group may try to accomplish it for you. I think there is plenty of room for anyone wanting to make things better. And we welcome them to the Alliance!
Lisa said:I wasn't trying to make an issue of anything, just trying to offer my years of experience in marketing as well as web marketing.
AMTA's logo, I agree, would not tell someone they are about massage. However, their home page clearly represents massage with an imagery of massage. so at a quick glance you know immediately what the site is about.
http://www.amtamassage.org/index.html
The same thing holds true with ABMP.
If an organization is being created FOR therapists, it should have therapist input no? that's all I'm doing here.
In addition, I would still like to know what this organization will do/or offer that will be different than the other two. It seems to me that MTs are tired of organizations and politics (based on what the site says on how it came to be). However, with any organization there will ALWAYS be politics. How will this organization be different? I would imagine it will be difficult to "represent all therapists" when we all think differently. Where some are bothered by the constant sexual undertone in tv commercials, others are not. Can an organization really represent all of us?
Just trying to open the discussion.
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"The startup phase is being guided by a Leadership Team of veteran therapists."
is it possible to get a list of names of the Leadership Team? before I sign up I'd like to know who the people are that are guiding this and what their credentials are.
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It is a huge undertaking. But as with all I do, it will not be like any other. Thank you for your openess. I promise not to create another federal gov. lol! There are calls coming in from around the country wanting to get on the board and help grow the profession. The Alliance will do much in the next few years.
Samantha J. Bennett said:It sounds like a blend of the NCBTMB and the AMTA. Those topics are taking on some big challanges Mike, but it sounds a little like the USA Government. We elect the president which in turn promises to do this and that, but in the end can't or is slow to or has to make back room deals because of Congress and The House of Rep.s, etc. Therefore pushing out the peoples views as a whole and sometimes just having to settle for good, instead of great. Lots of in's and out's to stay true to values and beliefs once at it. I'll be interested in knowing more once you all get this thing up and going more! And seeing what your time-line might look like concerning these topics and others you all will have in implementation and follow through! A big good luck goes out to ya!
Mike Hinkle said:
Lisa,
I am the "someone". And I'm glad you asked. I can give you four quick items that I would like to see addressed by the Alliance when they are elected and that I have written into the by-laws as things the BOD should address.
1. Therapists lack sales skills.
2. Legislation information to therapists is slow and lacks much detail.
3. Central location for Continuing Education around the US. Therapists should be able to easily find education wherever they are.
4. A new approach to how we deal with the public. (Details will be shown to the new board first, as they are my ideas.)
There are are over 100,000 therapists that have no voice right now. We will accept their help and be inclusive. There are hundreds of ways we are going top make things better. We are taking from no one. We will add much. If you are happy. I am glad. Some still wish to expend their efforts to make improvements and this, will enable them to do so.
Lisa said:also...just another thought...
i understand the need for financial support in creating a new organization, however, with many MTs already signed up for AMTA and ABMP, so unless this organization offers something the other two don't, I believe it will be difficult to get people to sign up with costs involved.
can someone explain to me the difference this organization will offer versus the other two that are already established? Relax & Rejuvenate
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Another question I have is what is the difference between this new association and the NCBTMB? Isn't that suppose to be "our voice"?
Lisa said:
"The startup phase is being guided by a Leadership Team of veteran therapists."
is it possible to get a list of names of the Leadership Team? before I sign up I'd like to know who the people are that are guiding this and what their credentials are.
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I promise we will not start a test for massage, accreditation or any of those aspects. http://www.ncbtmb.org/
Lisa said:Another question I have is what is the difference between this new association and the NCBTMB? Isn't that suppose to be "our voice"?
Lisa said:"The startup phase is being guided by a Leadership Team of veteran therapists."
is it possible to get a list of names of the Leadership Team? before I sign up I'd like to know who the people are that are guiding this and what their credentials are.
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Permalink Reply by Bianca Berrios on
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I noticed on your site that in order to vote for the board of directors who will lead this "alliance" for all of us therapists, you have to physically be at your festival to vote. If I join for free now but may not be able to get to your festival (considering the economy), how is my voice being represented in the "alliance"? In addition, I don't seem to be getting to the "bottom-line" if you will, in regards to what this "alliance" will do for myself and all the other therapists across America....
(btw I'm curious with all these different ventures you have; festival, "alliance", "I am massage directory", etc.; how many massages do you actually do during a 7 day week?)
Just for the record it will take a whole lot more info for me to pay into another association. As I will not speak for others, but for myself alone between insurance, state license, ceu's and nctmb renewal; I find I am overloaded with fees to just stay in practice. In addition for someone such as myself who was in corporate for 9 years I'm done with meetings and prefer to spend my time giving my full attention to builting my practice and to my clients.
Look forward to hearing your reply. As always be well...
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Hi Bianca,
Yeah, it's kinda hard to tell you what a group that hasn't been identified yet or voted upon are going to do.
Any initial vote almost always takes place physically in a location. Once the Alliance is up and running, they may have a secure website and funding that will allow online voting, I hope. Or they could do mail or whatever method they decide. The Festival is the biggest event I have to be able to gather the largest amount of therapists. And provide a location for free to the Alliance for the initial election. You do not have to register for the Festival or take classes to vote. I have created the opportunity, I cannot control the economy or people savings. All I can do is not charge people to join. That is the most money I can save you. I could have added a fee, but it wasn't needed.
How many massages I do a week is irrelevant. I owned the 7 room Pensacola Massage Center in FL. I am licensed in FL. NCB AMTA MTAA and I still work 18-20 hours a day for the profession.
You apparently will have to wait to see what they can do for you until after the election. I understand. I can not tell you what they will do for you. However, I think those that join and express their concerns will probably set the direction that the Alliance takes.
You be well too. Thanks... have a great evening!
Bianca Berrios said:I noticed on your site that in order to vote for the board of directors who will lead this "alliance" for all of us therapists, you have to physically be at your festival to vote. If I join for free now but may not be able to get to your festival (considering the economy), how is my voice being represented in the "alliance"? In addition, I don't seem to be getting to the "bottom-line" if you will, in regards to what this "alliance" will do for myself and all the other therapists across America....
(btw I'm curious with all these different ventures you have; festival, "alliance", "I am massage directory", etc.; how many massages do you actually do during a 7 day week?)
Just for the record it will take a whole lot more info for me to pay into another association. As I will not speak for others, but for myself alone between insurance, state license, ceu's and nctmb renewal; I find I am overloaded with fees to just stay in practice. In addition for someone such as myself who was in corporate for 9 years I'm done with meetings and prefer to spend my time giving my full attention to builting my practice and to my clients.
Look forward to hearing your reply. As always be well...
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Mike....how can you expect us to sign up and give our personal information that's required in the registration form (name, address, phone number, license no., business name, etc.) if you can't tell us what the group is going to do? I, for one, do not join associations just based on a friendly network. I base it on what the association will do for both myself and the industry. I have read everything on your Alliance site and still can not figure out the why's in joining. I am not trying to give you a hard time, however I AM an educated professional and as such expect more information before joining an organization.
I also have to agree with Bianca regarding the voting. The BODs are an important factor in any organization. And if this organization is suppose to speak for ALL therapists, but is only elected by the ones that can physically go to YOUR festival, I don't see how that is not political or representative of all OUR voices. Such an organization should have it's BODs voted by ALL members of the Alliance, not just the ones that can afford to make it to NC.
Mike Hinkle said:Hi Bianca,
Yeah, it's kinda hard to tell you what a group that hasn't been identified yet or voted upon are going to do.
Any initial vote almost always takes place physically in a location. Once the Alliance is up and running, they may have a secure website and funding that will allow online voting, I hope. Or they could do mail or whatever method they decide. The Festival is the biggest event I have to be able to gather the largest amount of therapists. And provide a location for free to the Alliance for the initial election. You do not have to register for the Festival or take classes to vote. I have created the opportunity, I cannot control the economy or people savings. All I can do is not charge people to join. That is the most money I can save you. I could have added a fee, but it wasn't needed.
How many massages I do a week is irrelevant. I owned the 7 room Pensacola Massage Center in FL. I am licensed in FL. NCB AMTA MTAA and I still work 18-20 hours a day for the profession.
You apparently will have to wait to see what they can do for you until after the election. I understand. I can not tell you what they will do for you. However, I think those that join and express their concerns will probably set the direction that the Alliance takes.
You be well too. Thanks... have a great evening!
Bianca Berrios said:I noticed on your site that in order to vote for the board of directors who will lead this "alliance" for all of us therapists, you have to physically be at your festival to vote. If I join for free now but may not be able to get to your festival (considering the economy), how is my voice being represented in the "alliance"? In addition, I don't seem to be getting to the "bottom-line" if you will, in regards to what this "alliance" will do for myself and all the other therapists across America....
(btw I'm curious with all these different ventures you have; festival, "alliance", "I am massage directory", etc.; how many massages do you actually do during a 7 day week?)
Just for the record it will take a whole lot more info for me to pay into another association. As I will not speak for others, but for myself alone between insurance, state license, ceu's and nctmb renewal; I find I am overloaded with fees to just stay in practice. In addition for someone such as myself who was in corporate for 9 years I'm done with meetings and prefer to spend my time giving my full attention to builting my practice and to my clients.
Look forward to hearing your reply. As always be well...
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Many are Lisa. Whether you do or not is your choice, Night!
Lisa said:Mike....how can you expect us to sign up and give our personal information that's required in the registration form (name, address, phone number, license no., business name, etc.) if you can't tell us what the group is going to do? I, for one, do not join associations just based on a friendly network. I base it on what the association will do for both myself and the industry. I have read everything on your Alliance site and still can not figure out the why's in joining. I am not trying to give you a hard time, however I AM an educated professional and as such expect more information before joining an organization.
I also have to agree with Bianca regarding the voting. The BODs are an important factor in any organization. And if this organization is suppose to speak for ALL therapists, but is only elected by the ones that can physically go to YOUR festival, I don't see how that is not political or representative of all OUR voices. Such an organization should have it's BODs voted by ALL members of the Alliance, not just the ones that can afford to make it to NC.
Mike Hinkle said:Hi Bianca,
Yeah, it's kinda hard to tell you what a group that hasn't been identified yet or voted upon are going to do.
Any initial vote almost always takes place physically in a location. Once the Alliance is up and running, they may have a secure website and funding that will allow online voting, I hope. Or they could do mail or whatever method they decide. The Festival is the biggest event I have to be able to gather the largest amount of therapists. And provide a location for free to the Alliance for the initial election. You do not have to register for the Festival or take classes to vote. I have created the opportunity, I cannot control the economy or people savings. All I can do is not charge people to join. That is the most money I can save you. I could have added a fee, but it wasn't needed.
How many massages I do a week is irrelevant. I owned the 7 room Pensacola Massage Center in FL. I am licensed in FL. NCB AMTA MTAA and I still work 18-20 hours a day for the profession.
You apparently will have to wait to see what they can do for you until after the election. I understand. I can not tell you what they will do for you. However, I think those that join and express their concerns will probably set the direction that the Alliance takes.
You be well too. Thanks... have a great evening!
Bianca Berrios said:I noticed on your site that in order to vote for the board of directors who will lead this "alliance" for all of us therapists, you have to physically be at your festival to vote. If I join for free now but may not be able to get to your festival (considering the economy), how is my voice being represented in the "alliance"? In addition, I don't seem to be getting to the "bottom-line" if you will, in regards to what this "alliance" will do for myself and all the other therapists across America....
(btw I'm curious with all these different ventures you have; festival, "alliance", "I am massage directory", etc.; how many massages do you actually do during a 7 day week?)
Just for the record it will take a whole lot more info for me to pay into another association. As I will not speak for others, but for myself alone between insurance, state license, ceu's and nctmb renewal; I find I am overloaded with fees to just stay in practice. In addition for someone such as myself who was in corporate for 9 years I'm done with meetings and prefer to spend my time giving my full attention to builting my practice and to my clients.
Look forward to hearing your reply. As always be well...
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Permalink Reply by Travis Alligood on
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Is this exciting or what, Massage Therapy Alliance of America. Now we have a voice and someone who will always be there for us regardless of affiliation. Mike Hinkle has invited us to this organization because he recognizes the dedication that we carry as Massage Therapist. Im totality excited because as a new therapist (2 yrs), Ill have questions and this organization will help to find an answer.
As we grow in our field we will need this organization to help us during the growing phase as well as our growth as Massage Therapist, and as students coming out of school. Speaking of coming out of school I have had the pleasure myself of working with high school students in helping them make important decisions in their lives and what they would like to do upon graduation. It was very complementary to me for my administrator to call me to take this opportunity, Id love to continue make a difference in a students life and hopefully there will come a day when this organization will have a mentoring program that will find other therapist that will help students in other towns to make decisions to make this a career that they will prosper from.
I do realize that now the AMTA has this program intact but every little bit helps, as I have signed up to be a volunteer for this task.
With all that goes on in this world with differences of opinions of what Massage Therapy is all about, there needs to be more educational expeirences. I plan to become more motivated to share more time in my community. Im not afraid to say that I have a lot to learn and which ever association I choose to become a part of, I will do my part to the best of my ability. Great work !
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