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Reposting: Exciting News About Pizza Discounts! (More on the Shenanigans of the NCBTMB)
This is a repost of my June 25 blog, from my primary blog that originates on the Massage Magazine website. It is on RSS feed on my page on this site for those who are interested in my previous posts. Although I occasionally write about other subjects, my main focus is writing on the politics of massage. I will definitely be posting original blogs in this spot. Thanks to Les Sweeney and the rest of the ABMP staff for offering us this great site.
Yes, it’s true! Soon the certificants of the NCBTMB will be entitled to a discount on everything from a pizza pie to an oil change at the Jiffy Lube!
On June 9, Paul Lindamood, CEO, registered the domain name www.usamra.org (usaMassageResourceAssociation). This new professional association will be partnering with companies to provide “member benefits” in the form of discounts. Although the website isn’t up yet, according to my sources the list of potential discount offers would include those from massage-related companies and what the NCB’s memo referred to as “quality of life/enhancement.” While I enjoy a good pizza, I don’t know that I would go so far as to say it enhances the quality of my life.
Before I get carried away about pizza or discounts at the Jiffy Lube, I should explain that this appears to be part of the master plan to turn the NCB from a certifying body to a membership organization, like our other major professional organizations, AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals). What’s the point here? How will the services be different or better than those professional organizations that already exist (and incidentally, they co-exist peacefully)? Why do we need another professional association? I have no idea.
I only know that in spite of rumblings about forthcoming advanced certifications, which myself and numerous other people think the NCB should be focusing their efforts on, this little project seems to be taking precedence. One reason, and this is only my opinion, is that with 91,000 certificants, they will automatically give “membership” to certificants, allowing them to make the claim of the “largest massage association in the country.” Look for that statement to be the resounding cry on all upcoming publicity. “Largest” doesn’t automatically mean “best,” but it appears the leadership of the NCB is looking at it that way.
Speaking of advanced certifications, the NCB just lost a very valuable staff member with the departure of Paul Parker after 12 years of service. Parker was Director of Examination Development, known for his professionalism and staying above the fray. I’m sure he’ll be missed, particularly if development of advanced certifications is indeed on the horizon. And in another about-face, Betty Ward, who was announced as the new Director of School Outreach in a press release dated April 27, has already left the position, a short two months later. No official word on why that happened.
Another observation: The June 8 press release sent out by the NCB announcing that their certification programs have received accreditation from the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) contains reference to a remark made by US Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare (HEW), Elliott Richardson, recommending that states adopt certification exams for licensure purposes.
What is wrong with this picture? Nothing, except that Elliott Richardson was Secretary of HEW in 1971 during the Nixon administration when he made that comment.
Times have changed. The profession has changed. The political atmosphere of the profession has changed. The needs of massage therapists have changed. We need advanced certifications. We need cooperation between state boards, such as the cooperation that is happening with the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards). It is my opinion that this latest move is in direct response to both AMTA and ABMP endorsing the MBLEx as the path to licensure.
I don’t really think we need another professional association, especially one that is being created just to try and trump the other two. However, I am a certificant myself, so I’m really looking forward to my pizza discount, and I’ll let you know what the other benefits are as they are revealed.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
Yes, it’s true! Soon the certificants of the NCBTMB will be entitled to a discount on everything from a pizza pie to an oil change at the Jiffy Lube!
On June 9, Paul Lindamood, CEO, registered the domain name www.usamra.org (usaMassageResourceAssociation). This new professional association will be partnering with companies to provide “member benefits” in the form of discounts. Although the website isn’t up yet, according to my sources the list of potential discount offers would include those from massage-related companies and what the NCB’s memo referred to as “quality of life/enhancement.” While I enjoy a good pizza, I don’t know that I would go so far as to say it enhances the quality of my life.
Before I get carried away about pizza or discounts at the Jiffy Lube, I should explain that this appears to be part of the master plan to turn the NCB from a certifying body to a membership organization, like our other major professional organizations, AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals). What’s the point here? How will the services be different or better than those professional organizations that already exist (and incidentally, they co-exist peacefully)? Why do we need another professional association? I have no idea.
I only know that in spite of rumblings about forthcoming advanced certifications, which myself and numerous other people think the NCB should be focusing their efforts on, this little project seems to be taking precedence. One reason, and this is only my opinion, is that with 91,000 certificants, they will automatically give “membership” to certificants, allowing them to make the claim of the “largest massage association in the country.” Look for that statement to be the resounding cry on all upcoming publicity. “Largest” doesn’t automatically mean “best,” but it appears the leadership of the NCB is looking at it that way.
Speaking of advanced certifications, the NCB just lost a very valuable staff member with the departure of Paul Parker after 12 years of service. Parker was Director of Examination Development, known for his professionalism and staying above the fray. I’m sure he’ll be missed, particularly if development of advanced certifications is indeed on the horizon. And in another about-face, Betty Ward, who was announced as the new Director of School Outreach in a press release dated April 27, has already left the position, a short two months later. No official word on why that happened.
Another observation: The June 8 press release sent out by the NCB announcing that their certification programs have received accreditation from the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) contains reference to a remark made by US Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare (HEW), Elliott Richardson, recommending that states adopt certification exams for licensure purposes.
What is wrong with this picture? Nothing, except that Elliott Richardson was Secretary of HEW in 1971 during the Nixon administration when he made that comment.
Times have changed. The profession has changed. The political atmosphere of the profession has changed. The needs of massage therapists have changed. We need advanced certifications. We need cooperation between state boards, such as the cooperation that is happening with the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards). It is my opinion that this latest move is in direct response to both AMTA and ABMP endorsing the MBLEx as the path to licensure.
I don’t really think we need another professional association, especially one that is being created just to try and trump the other two. However, I am a certificant myself, so I’m really looking forward to my pizza discount, and I’ll let you know what the other benefits are as they are revealed.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
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