Alliance to hold First Annual Conference – June 3-5, 2010 in Park City, Utah

The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education, a new independent organization for massage schools and educators, is pleased to announce that it has selected Park City, Utah as the location for its First Annual Conference. This meeting will be held June 3-5, 2010 at the very popular Grand Summit Hotel, which is part of The Canyons Resort. The theme for this inaugural event is Shaping the Future of Massage Therapy Education.

Just a 35-minute ride from the Salt Lake City Airport, Park City is a world-class vacation destination nestled amidst the beauty and splendor of the Wasatch Mountains. The area was home to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and also offers a wealth of outdoor activities for summertime visitors. This venue will provide an inspiring and healthful setting for what will be a historic meeting of the massage education community. The Alliance has secured a group rate of just $119/night for this AAA Four-Diamond hotel, to help make this meeting affordable for participants.

The Conference will bring together directors and administrators from massage therapy schools, along with massage school teachers and those who provide continuing education seminars and advanced trainings to the field. There will be general interest sessions for all participants, as well as specialized workshop topics for each of the three groups that make up the Alliance. Some of the leading companies that offer essential products and services to the education community will be exhibiting at this meeting.

In addition to educational workshops, there will be a special “visioning” session where participants will have the opportunity to identify the key issues and needs they see in massage education in general, and in their own work in particular. Input will also be gathered on what services and initiatives the Alliance will establish for its members. There will also be open elections for the Alliance’s Board of Directors – the body that will guide and oversee the ongoing work of the organization. In these ways, the people who attend the First Annual Conference will play a direct and important role in shaping the Alliance and its future evolution.

Registration and program details on the Conference will be available on the Alliance’s website in early December, along with information on how to become an Alliance member. There will be significant discounts for early registration, as well as a super-special package that combines first-year dues with conference registration fees.

The Alliance is in the final weeks of its FOUNDING MEMBER CAMPAIGN, which will run until November 30. It is an opportunity to support this historic effort, and become one of the pioneers who step forward to help launch this organization and give it a dynamic start. Founding Memberships are available for massage schools, teachers, and continuing education providers, as well as vendors that work with the education community. Complete details are available on the Alliance’s website, at www.afmte.org. Note that the General Membership Drive will begin on December 1 for the 2010 calendar year.

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About the Alliance:
The Alliance for Massage Therapy Education is the voice, advocate and resource for the community of massage therapy schools and educators. It has been created to serve the entire education sector – from entry-level training programs through post-graduate studies. The Alliance will strengthen and improve massage education by providing information and educational opportunities to institutions, administrators, teachers and continuing education providers; provide forums for learning, fellowship and mutual support; and represent the interests of members. For more information, email Executive Director Rick Rosen at rrosen@afmte.org.