February 7, 2012 - Bonnie Kassam - Feldenkrais Method - Freeing the Neck and Shoulders

March 6, 2012 - Scott Kingsbury - Reflexology Fundamentals

April 3, 2012 - Daniel Towey - Access Consciousness

May 1, 2012 - Pilar Hook - Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy

June 2012 - No meeting: FSMTA Convention June 27 - July 1st. We are currently holding June 3rd for a special "Big 4 Mandatories" class - More information closer to the time

July 2012 - No meeting

August 7, 2012 - Wolfgang Luckmann - Chinese Medical Massage (Tui-Na) [or Shiatsu]

September 4, 2012 - Cathy Cohen - TBA

October 2, 2012 - Jack Ryan - Positional Release Therapy - Assessment and Treatment of Musculoskeletal Dysfunction

November 6, 2012 - Scott Kingsbury - Introduction to Orthoflexology

December 4, 2012 - No regular meeting - Holiday event



Welcome new members!
We welcome the  new members who signed up recently.  We are delighted to have you join  The Southwest Florida Chapter of FSMTA. Check this site often for updates.  We suggest also that a fast way to get to know people personally is to volunteer for some little task. We always need volunteers. We are all volunteers who keep the chapter running. At the next meeting be sure to introduce yourself at the check-in table so we can identify you. We wish you success in your new field of healing and body work. 

                      
       
Chapter Meeting Minutes -January 3 , 2012
FSMTA-SW Chapter Meeting

FSMTA-SW Chapter Membership Meeting Minutes
January 3, 2012

Location: Bass Pro- Shop, 10040 Gulf Center Dr., Ft. Myers, FL 33913

Times:    5:30 PM Room Set-up
               6:00 PM Sign-in and dialogue with other massage professionals
               6:30 PM Call to Order, Business Meeting

Roll Call
o Sherrie Easterly, President
o Teo Nikolov, 1st Vice President (absent)
o John Graham, 2nd Vice President
o Robyn Berry, Treasurer
o Judy Johnson, Secretary
o Terry Lowder, Immediate Past President and Education Chair
o Sydney Scheaffer, By-Laws Chair
o Ron Stephens, Legislative Chair

President Sherrie Easterly opened the monthly FSMTA-SW Chapter meeting at 6:31PM by welcoming 49 members and guests. There were 4 new members introduced. They were Gary Norris, Lucille Bancroft, Trudy Lowery, and Erika Tanczos.

2nd Vice President John Graham talked about  a request from the Bass Pro-Shop to offer massage to their employees on January 27th between the hours of 2:00 to 6:00 PM Pro-Bass Shop will pay 500.00 to the SW Chapter and 500.00 to the massage professionals who work the event. The compensation for the massage professionals who work will be in the form of gift cards to be used in the store. The Bass Pro-Shop was very pleased when we did the employee recognition event last June and is thinking if this goes well we might be able to offer it on a more regular basis. FSMTA-SW will have 5 chairs available and the first 5 people who commit to working the event will be the chosen therapists. Contact John Graham if there are any questions or if you would like to be notified in case someone can not make it.

Sydney Scheaffer reported on the January 15th 1/2 marathon in Naples. We need certified Sports Massage Therapists to participate in the event offering sports massage to the runners when they are done with their race. Contact Micheal Schmetterer or Teo Nikolov if you want additional information. The Massage therapists should arrive at Cambier Park in Naples around 7:30 AM with the first runners arriving around 8:45AM. There is always a traffic/parking issue so get there the earlier the better. 

The CEU certificates for Debbie Rays Insurance Billing Procedures Laws and Rules class will be sent to Terry Lowder and passed out to attending members at the February 7th Membership meeting. Those persons who are unable to attend the February meeting will have their certificates mailed after the meeting to their home address. Make sure we have your correct addresses.

Terry Lowder reported on a Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Walk on February 25th at Lowdermilk Park in Naples. The registration begins earlier but the walkers start at 9:00AM. Everyone is encouraged to attend.

State elections are coming up this year with the new Board members sworn in at this years convention. The convention is June 27 to July 1, 2012 at the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions Gate. Information will be forthcoming in the FSMTA Massage Message magazine and on the website for both of these future events.

John Graham reminded folks to start thinking of this years massage therapist awareness week (MTAW) coming up in the third quarter of the year. This last one in October was a huge success and we hope to build on it for this years event. It was at the Flamingo Flea Market in Bonita.

Robyn Berry, Treasurer reported the bank balance of $6,195.38 as of the end of December 2011. She will be making deposits from the 50/50 drawing and the new membership income this month. Robyn also reported on the Holiday event held on December 6, 2011. There were 44 people who attended and we were entertained by great music and our meal.

The membership was asked what kind of classes they would be interested in seeing offered by the Chapter and some suggestions were: Oncology massage; elder massage; Aaron Mattes, Active Isolated Stretching (Sydney Scheaffer volunteered to talk to Aaron about coming to a meeting); information on cupping classes; maybe something regarding diseases and contraindications for certain things like polio. There were many good suggestions and ideas for future classes.

Terry Lowder gave an update on future classes  and those will be posted on the website soon. Call Terry with any topic you think members would benefit from and when you go to the convention, make sure to get names of good presenters that we can invite to the Chapter.

Terry also talked about the nominations for our annual Chapter awards. Those awards include LMT of the Year, Sports Team Award and Special Services to the Chapter Award. He passed out forms for members to offer their nominees. The Board will take all nominees and forward the winners to State Headquarters by the due date of March 1, 2012.

At 7:04PM Debra Ray was introduced by Terry as our CEU presenter of the evening. She spoke on Insurance Billing and it was a very comprehensive, informative and interactive presentation. Everyone in attendance realized the great potential of utilizing insurance billing as an additional source of revenue. It was clear if you are going to bill the insurance companies, you need to document accurately, properly, timely and ethically as well as following all of the rules all of the time. It was very informative.

One member also spoke on how the Canadian government, through their national insurance pays many claims. You need to give your clients your SOAP notes, how much the service was (receipt), a copy of your massage (MA) license, and your establishment (MM) license. They felt the Canadian government was very easy to work with.

Break at 8:05 PM, with Marguerite Fillion-Demos winning the 50/50 drawing for $46.50) and other lucky winners getting various lotions, bottles and belt holders.

Legislative Committee Chair Ron Stephens gave a report on legislative issues from last year and the anticipation we will have some of the same issues discussed this up-coming session. He would still like 2 or 3 people to help him on the Legislative Committee. Session starts earlier than normal this year beginning in early January 2012.

Debra Ray resumed the continuation of her CEU Presentation at 8:18 PM for the remainder of the evening.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:59 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Judy Johnson
FSMTA-SW Chapter Secretary



  Membership Meeting Dates                                                   Board Meeting Dates
     January 3                                                                              January 19
     February 7                                                                            February 16
     March 6                                                                                March 15
     April 3                                                                                  April 19
     May 1                                                                                   May 17
     June (alternate date and time to be determined)                          June 21 (Conv. June 27 - 1)
     August 7                                                                               August 16
     September 4                                                                          September 20
     October 2                                                                              October 18
     November 6                                                                           November 15
     December 4 (Holiday event)                                                     December (no meeting)


Please send in your ideas, wishes, wants and desires for our website and the newsletter. It can be formatting types of comments, content comments, suggestions and/or helpful hints. The Board is very interested in making the newsletter and website a tool to help you. What kinds of information do you want to see on our website? We want to hear from you! Contact Judy at massagebyjudy@gmail.com


Thank you to our Sponsors!

Bruce Ham - master of Qi Gong and several Martial Arts, operates a holistic health practice in Munich, Germany. Born in Korea, he has studied traditional Shiatsu there and in the U.S. for over 25 years. He entered the healing profession to learn how to heal bruises caused by practicing martial arts. Periodically Master Ham, an LMT, travels to SW Florida to present CE classes in Qi Shiatsu, a unique combination of traditional Shiatsu and Qi Gong. For more information, contact Teo Nikolov, 239-450-4325, representative for Bruce Ham in Naples. Send email to teofilnikolov@gmail.com. Bruce is a frequent presenter at the FSMTA convention and lived and practiced in Naples. (Expires 2/26/12)

Dan Rioux - a protege of Aaron Mattes in Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) and the Mattes Method. Mr. Rioux has been working regularly with Aaron at the AIS Clinic in Sarasota, FL since 2007, where he has been refining his skills and learning from the founder and master of AIS Stretching. At Aaron's urging, Dan now teaches AIS Stretching to professionals, patients, and practitioners across the country. In addition to being a skilled AIS practitioiner, Dan is also an accomplished instructor, having won numerous awards for both excellence in speaking and for an engaging, student-centered teaching style. Conducting AIS Workshops enables Dan to blend his gift for teaching with his passion for bodywork. Dan's mission and sincere wish for his students and clients is a relaxed mind, a rejuvenated body and a refreshed spirit, that each may be inspired to live with ease, grace and joy. Contact Dan Rioux, 207-251-0976; email: DanRioux@GMail.com. Provider #: 451066-09 (NCBTMB) 50-13080 (Florida Massage). (Expires 4/14/12)

www.BassProShop.com - Bass Pro Shop at Gulf Coast Town Center provides their conference room for chapter meetings.

www.ContourBodyworks.com - Debra Florio. Earn CEU's at sea on a 7-day luxury cruise. Contour Body Works invites you to earn all your Florida CEUs on the Norwegian Pearl visiting gret destinations. Cruise and renew all 25 Florida CEUs. (expires 1/11/12)

www.famsc.com - Florida Academy of Massage and Skin Care, 4387 Colonial Blvd., Suite 100, Ft. Myers, FL 33966. Career training in massage therapy and skin care specialists. A Florida CE provider. (1/4/12)

www.fsmta.org - FSMTA Central Office, Board and Staff

www.HealthandHarmonyOnline.com - Kandy Love, owner/director, LMT and Iyengar Yoga Teacher. Alternative healing center, massage, yoga, holistic programs. (expires 2/1/12)

www.HolisticHealingArts.info - Alvina Quatrano, Naples, also practitioner of www.ZeroBalancing.com (expires 5/14/12)

www.MassageInsuranceBilling.com - Vivian Madison Mahoney, massage insurance billing and marketing consultant and FSMTA's insurance chair. After building a highly successful massage practice and learning the in's and out's of insurance billing for massage patients, she has much knowledge and wisdom to share with others. (Expires 4/14/12)

www.Oil-Lady.com- Candace Newman MAT, LMT, The Oil Lady® is owner of Oil Lady Aromatherapy®. She offers a free monthly educational e-newsletter, a subscription to her Aromatherapy Guides, classes on DVD, and CEU Classes for Massage Therapists. There is a Professional and Wholesale Plan for purchasing pure essential oils and formulas developed over her 20 year practice. All info available on the website. Phone: 866-304-3451. (Expires 3/23/12)

www.NaturesCycles.com  - Dolores Gozzi, Aromatherapy Workshops, CE classes, Massage, Ft. Myers  Healing Thru Bodywork & Nature's Cycles "Creating Inner Peace & Harmony To Your Life" www.naturescycles.com   Call (239) 826-6960  Check out this new offering in the Continuing education section of the website.  Also, check out the information section below for a New Year's message from Delores.    (Expires 7/17/11) 


www.SoulLightening.com - Alvina Quatrano, Naples, practioner.  Teaches Process Acupressure and Clinical Acupressure to health care practitioners (Expires 5/14/12)

www.WellKneadedMassageTherapy.net - Ellie Sandler, CE provider for face-lifting massage "LuminEssence" (expires 11/1/11)

How to become a sponsor
The cost is $100 a year to be listed as a sponsor on this website (see Sponsor page) and also listed in this newsletter every month. Have your website linked to ours. In addition sponsors are invited to publish one article a year. Contact Robyn at:  rbinstitute@comcast.net.  If you do not have a website, you may take out a short-term ad, such as 30-day, 60-day or 90-day ad for $30 a month, or $100 a year. Send check to Robyn Berry at RB Institute, 13601 McGregor Blvd #13, Fort Myers, FL 33919.

Where to send news for website posting
To help our chapter become more user-friendly, we ask all members to be journalists and report what you know. Write to us. If you have photos to post in the photo gallery, send them in .jpg format to: massagebyjudy@gmail.com. If you know a sports event coming up, send date and details. Other members want to know what's happening. The exception is: We do not list classes or workshops of non-sponsors, since we do not want to undercut our sponsors who pay for their promotion and listings. But other news is valuable. If in doubt, just ask.

Legislative update: January 24, 2012

Great news! The LAD Resolution has been sponsored by Senator Dennis Jones. Janet & Allison were successful in getting this done in short order.

Unfortunately, the actual bill is not yet signed. As soon as it is, you will be notified. This does not prevent us from participating in LAD.

This resolution, Senate Bill 2034, recognizes February 14 and 15, 2012, as “Massage Therapy Legislative Awareness Days” in Florida.

As many of you know, the Florida State Massage Therapy Association and the Florida Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association have been holding Massage Therapy Legislative Awareness Days since 1988 for the purpose of educating the Legislature and the public concerning the many health benefits of massage therapy.

As you plan your Chapter LAD events, please consider these thoughts:

· 24 years of Massage Therapy Legislative Awareness Days

· Our purpose of educating the Legislature and the public concerning the many health benefits of massage therapy

· Massage therapists have been licensed and regulated in this state since 1943 (69 years)

· More than 30,000 massage therapists are regulated by the Board of Massage Therapy within the Department of Health

· Massage therapy is a low-cost, high-quality means of enhancing and restoring health, and increased awareness of the benefits of massage therapy will lead to improved health and vitality of the residents of this state

· Massage therapy for wellness and preventive health measures

As shared previously, many bills are in the House and Senate. Now is an awesome time to connect with your local Legislators and thank them for their help, support and influence in helping to shape our profession. Many Legislators have helped to support Human Trafficking, prevention of Temporary Permits and a host of other bills throughout the years.

EVENT PLANNING

To help celebrate this great occasion, I offer these suggestions in your local communities.

þ Mail thank you letters to each House Representative and Senators in your area only. With every Chapter doing this, each Legislator will receive a letter. Include many business cards that are “massage related” in the envelope. We are promoting massage. This, too, allows each member in your Chapter to participate.

þ Visit your local Legislators.

þ Consider your local City Council and coordinate [chair] massage in their public facility.

þ Hand out literature / flyers about Massage Therapy (e.g., 500 hours of education, Anatomy & Physiology, Ethics, HIV, etc.).

þ Purchase visible advertising space (e.g., billboards, yard-signs, etc.)

þ Facebook.

þ Tax places (after all, it is tax season).

þ Be creative with Valentine’s Day on February 14.

þ Offer [chair] massage at busy places like shopping malls, Starbucks, etc.

þ Consider chair massage at bookstore chains (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, etc.) and refer people to the massage-related book section.

Naturally, these are just my suggestions.

Our goal is to educate the Legislature and the public concerning the many health benefits of massage therapy.

Enjoy, have fun and be an awesome ambassador of who we are and what we do! Be that messenger of massage!

Please feel free to call me personally. I would be happy to help you design a plan that is perfect for you, your Chapter and your community.

If you have other ideas for Massage Therapy Legislative Awareness Days, please pass them on!

Thank you for making this a great event!

R. Scott Hartsfield, LMT, CPT
FSMTA, Legislative chair
MassageJax@aol.com
(904) 463-7268


Happy New Year!
        New Year, New You, New Choices

Another year has passed; and a new one awaits. Every year as the clock strikes midnight; people from all over the world begin to think about the New Year; with hope, dreams and desires. The word "Resolution" is in everyone's mind and this can be very overwhelming at times; with promises made to oneself and wondering "Can I actually do this"?

Here is some insight as to how I work through the New Year.

Every year as the old year ends I use this time to de-clutter my house. As I put away the holiday decorations; I also will start to give my house a good cleaning; sort through files; get paperwork in order for the new "Tax Season". I find by doing this it helps me to sort through the year and wash away the old year; at the same time de-cluttering to make room for the new.  I then proceed to set up goals and choices for my "New Year".  I  establish this by using the season of "winter"which is reflection time to sort through what did not work in the previous year and consciously make the choice of "letting go" so I can create new ways to let go for new things to develop. It can be as simple as " This year I will create more harmony and balance in my life". Just by this statement you can consciously make the choice of creating harmony and balance and set a daily, weekly or monthly goal for this.

So think of the New Year as making "Choices" to establish a better you!

                                     Delores J Gozzi - Nature Based Programs and Season Practitioner


People Interested in research:

Debra Ziebell is looking for people who are interested in treating and doing research with various groups of people suffering from some of the following ailments: HIV/AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), war veterans diagnosed with post-tramatic stress syndrome, etc.

The commission split is very attractive where an individual and personalized Independant Contractor contract spelling out the terms and conditions will be provided. This will be an excellent opportunity for recently graduated students and those who are already established who wish to expand their practice via referrals.

Please contact her directly via email or directly:  Debra L. Ziebell, LMT, NCTMB Cell:  239-244-7599 or www.mobilmassageandspa.us 

Job Possibility

1)  Job opening for LMT in a Christian Medical Practice specializing in the care of acute auto injuries. 16 - 32 hours per week in our Fort Myers and Port Charlotte offices. Call 239-939-3303 for information.

                                                           or

2)  A physical therapy clinic on Sanibel Island who offers massage therapy is looking for another one or two therapists on a prn basis. They pay well ( up to $45/hour) but they have high standards for the therapists they will bring on to work with their clients. They are looking for at least 5 years experience, preferably in private practice/physical therapy or chiropractic practices, with professional appearance, excellent reliability and excellent skills.
Hours would vary and they will be flexible if the therapist is only available for certain days or portions of the day.

Contact Rachel Tritaik PT, CLT
Island Therapy Center
2242  Periwinkle Way, Suite 2
Sanibel, FL 33957
tel:  239-395-5858
fax:  239-395-5857
cell:  239-297-4997
info@islandtherapycenter.com
www.islandtherapycenter.com
www.facebook.com/islandtherapycenter



Contact Alvina Quatrano at 732-2666-5276 at Holistic Healing Arts for information on upcoming classes.


From the Officers of FSMTA Southwest Florida Chapter. 
Sherrie Easterly, President
Teo Nikolov, 1st Vice President
John Graham, 2nd Vice President
Robyn Berry, Treasurer
Judy Johnson, Secretary
Terry Lowder, Immediate Past President