Bylaws Recommendation to the 2007 House of Delegates
Regarding Installation of Chapter Officers
submitted by the AMTA-Georgia Chapter

Whereas:

The bylaws on chapters asserts that officers must be installed at the time they are elected unless they were elected by mail ballot, and

Not every chapter elects their officers by mail ballot, and

Bylaws permit a delay in the installation of officers only if the election was by mail ballot, and

Some chapters may wish to have the same start date every year for their officers to assume their duties, and

It is difficult if not impossible to hold elections on the same date every year, and

Chapters that elect their officers at their annual meeting may also want to delay their terms to begin at a different time, and

Chapters may wish to orient or train their elected officers before they assume their duties, and

Chapters may wish to pass on the knowledge of the outgoing officers while they are still in office, and

National officers assume their duties on the same date each year, and

There is no known financial impact,

Therefore, the House of Delegates recommends the following bylaws change:

BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION
OCTOBER 2006 REVISION

ARTICLE XVI. CHAPTERS

Section 5. Chapter Officers

D. Installation

1. The newly elected officers shall be installed during the Chapter Annual Meeting or Convention in which they are elected, or at a later date, unless election is by mail ballot.

Approved: February 25, 2007 by unanimous vote at the Chapter Annual Meeting
Authors: Dana Whitfield and Toni Roberts (), Georgia
Delegate: Toni Roberts, Georgia
Date Submitted to delegate: March 13, 2007
Date Submitted to the HODOC: March 13, 2007

Bylaws Recommendation to the 2007 House of Delegates
Regarding Chapter Nominating Committees
submitted by the AMTA-Georgia Chapter

Whereas:

The National Commission on Candidacy verifies candidates rather than recommends a single candidate for each position, and

Chapter Nominating Committees are only allowed to recommend one candidate for each office, and

Chapters may wish to add any and all candidates that are qualified to the official slate, and

Sometimes elections are controversial, making choices by the nominating committee very difficult, and

Sometimes multiple candidates may be equally qualified, and

Sometimes nominating committees ignore the bylaws and slate more than one candidate, and

The possibility of slating multiple candidates may encourage the nominating committee to seek out multiple candidates, and

Members may prefer to choose their own officers from a list of qualified candidates without the influence of preferential slating of candidates by the nominating committee,

Therefore, the House of Delegates recommends the following bylaws change:

BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION

OCTOBER 2006 REVISION

ARTICLE XVI. CHAPTERS

Section 8. Nominations and Elections

A. Nominations

2. The duties of the Nominating Committee shall include the following:

a. Consider the qualifications of all proposed candidates;

b. Nominate only candidates who satisfy the qualifications specified by the Bylaws for the office for which they are candidates;

c. Submit one (1) or more names name for each elective office to be filled;

d. Read the Nominating Committee report at the Chapter Annual Meeting.

Approved: February 25, 2007 by unanimous vote at the Chapter Annual Meeting
Authors: Toni Roberts (), and Dana Whitfield, Georgia
Delegate: Toni Roberts, Georgia
Date Submitted to Delegate: March 13, 2007
Date Submitted to the HODOC: March 13, 2007

Bylaws Recommendation to the 2007 House of Delegates
Concerning Requirements for AMTA Professional Active Membership
Proposed by the Illinois Chapter

With the substantial support and backing of AMTA and its chapters and volunteers, 38 states and the District of Columbia have statewide regulation of massage (as of March 1, 2006). We celebrate with great pride each new state to join that field. Bills were pending in another half dozen states, and work is underway in all of the remaining states to move toward statewide regulation. AMTA funds are provided to chapters via Law and Legislation Assistance Program grants to help organize efforts draft bills and move those bills to passage. Yet the AMTA makes it optional for an applicant for membership to have a state-issued professional license (or certificate or registration) and does not require it for membership renewal. The current membership requirement is inherently contradictory to AMTA's Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice, Core Values, Future Vision and Strategic Goals.

Whereas, in April 2005 the AMTA Board of Directors adopted a Strategic Goal to "proactively pursue licensure in every state."

Whereas, the fifth principle in the AMTA Code of Ethics states that "Massage therapists shall... conduct all business and professional activities within their scope of practice, the law of the land, and project a professional image."

Whereas, the AMTA Standards of Practice, under provision #7 (Legal Practice) requires that "members practice or collaborate with all others practicing professional massage/bodywork in a manner that is in compliance with national, state or local municipal law(s) pertaining to the practice of professional massage/bodywork."

Whereas, one of AMTA's Core Values is "We... support fair regulation of massage therapy."

Whereas, AMTA's 10- to 30-Year Vivid Descriptions include the following statement: "All states will have regulation and scope of practice; there is licensure in all 50 states and portability of the credential across state lines."

Whereas, another Vivid Description says, "Being an AMTA member reflects the highest standard of ethical behavior and the public sees the value and benefit of AMTA. Members are seen as trusted professionals at the forefront of a changing and complex world. Membership in the AMTA is seen as critical to employers and clients as an indicator of commitment to values."

Whereas, elsewhere on the AMTA website, the public face of the AMTA, the Vivid Description of the Envisioned Future says, "AMTA is instrumental in Š assisting all states with regulation and scope of practice, with an emphasis on portability across state lines."

Whereas, neither renewal of Professional Active membership nor initial application for Professional Active membership requires evidence of compliance with state regulation, yet the form for new members asks the applicant to attest they will abide by the AMTA Code of Ethics.

Whereas, chapters comparing a list of massage therapists regulated in their state with AMTA chapter membership rolls for purposes of planning member recruitment actions may encounter evidence that some members are not licensed, which, if acted upon, would have the effect of losing members.

Whereas, those chapters discovering such problems may be ethically bound to initiate AMTA disciplinary procedures through the national association, and if not all chapters in regulated states act consistently, there may be a perception of inequity. Whereas, in this computer age such verifications of regulatory compliance are more feasible than in the past.

Whereas, Healthcare Providers Service Organization, the AMTA¹s liability insurance administrator, will not honor a claim against its policy by an AMTA member who is not in compliance with state or local regulations.

Whereas, the current membership structure includes sufficient categories for other than Professional Active status to allow someone to be a member if they do not need to be regulated because they are not actively practicing massage.

Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates recommends to the National Board of Directors that the AMTA bylaws be changed at Article III, Section 2(A)(1) pertaining to Professional Active membership, to add the following new requirement for applicants: If practicing massage in a state or territory or the District of Columbia in which the practice of massage is regulated, must hold a valid license, registration or certification issued by the state, territory or District of Columbia.

Jane Neumann, jlnsrb@ameritech.net
Illinois Chapter

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. General Eligibility
AMTA may grant membership to any individual or entity who:

A. Meets the qualifications set forth for each classification of membership in AMTA;

B. Shares interest in and supports the purposes of AMTA;

C. Abides by these Bylaws, AMTA's Code of Ethics, and other policies, rules and regulations that AMTA may adopt;

D. Meets additional criteria for each category of membership that the National Board of Directors may establish.

Section 2. Membership Classifications and Qualifications
Membership in the Association shall be divided as follows: Professional, Associate, Student, School, Supporting, and Honorary. An individual or legal entity may hold only one (1) classification of membership.

A. Professional Classification

1. Professional Active

a. Must graduate from any supervised 500 in-class hour minimum entry level program, or must pass an exam recognized by AMTA as identified in AMTA policy or must have an AMTA-accepted state license, certification, or registration.

b. If practicing massage in a state or territory or the District of Columbia in which the practice of massage is regulated, must hold a valid license, registration or certification issued by the state, territory or District of Columbia.

c. In order to remain qualified for Professional Active membership, a member must complete continuing education in accordance with AMTA Policy.

2. Professional Inactive

a. Must have been a Professional Active member and be temporarily not practicing massage therapy.

3. Professional Retired

a. Must have been a Professional Active member and be retired from the massage profession by choice or disability.

B. Associate Classification

Proviso: Associate classification terminated on 12/31/2004. Current Associate members upgrade to Professional Active at the end of their third year, until 12/31/2007.

1. Must be enrolled as a student in any supervised 500 in-class hour minimum entry-level program in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

2. Must be actively working toward meeting AMTA Professional membership qualifications in accordance with AMTA Policy.

3. May hold membership in this classification for no more than three (3) years thru 12/31/2007

4. Must not have previously held AMTA Professional Active, Inactive or Retired membership.

C. Student Classification

1. Must be enrolled as a student in any 500 supervised in-class hour minimum entry-level program in the United States, its territories, or Canada.

2. May hold membership in this classification for no more than two (2) years.

3. Must not have previously held AMTA Professional Active, Inactive or Retired membership.

D. School Classification

1. Must be school administering an entry level massage therapy program consisting of a minimum of 500 supervised in-class hours and operating legally within its jurisdiction.

E. Supporting Classification

1. Must be an individual or a legal entity, not practicing massage but wishing to support and advance the profession of massage therapy through AMTA in accordance with the AMTA core purpose and goals.

F. Honorary Classification

1. Honorary membership is a special honor bestowed upon a person who has contributed exemplary service and/or knowledge that has benefited massage.

New Jersey Recommendation to the 2007 House of Delegates

Whereas:

·The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is the preeminent   international association advancing the profession of massage therapy   through ethics and standards, certification, school accreditation,   continuing education, professional publications, legislative efforts, public   education, and fostering the development of members, and

· AMTA requires members to take continuing education courses to retain their professional active status, and

· The AMTA works to represent the mark of professionalism to the public and

· The AMTA members are professional massage therapists and

· The field of massage therapy is a Hands on Profession and

· The continued learning of hands on is the premiere method of skilled learning within our Profession and

· It is important to continue to train with the supervision of other experienced massage professionals and

· The AMTA does not in anyway want to be perceived as a less than Professional Association with Standards and strong education.

Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates recommends to the National Board of Directors to supply only Business, Ethics and Theory type continuing educational units in the On-Line Learn Site.

Submitted by Susan Ring, NCTMB (sring@amtanj.org)

Authorized by unanimous vote of the AMTA NJ Chapter Board of Directors at the January 14, 2007 Board meeting.

New Jersey Bylaw Amendment Recommendation to the 2007 House of Delegates

Whereas:

· More and more AMTA members are working and living near state lines and

· AMTA members are living and working in multiple states and

· Each state¹s chapter fees allow its chapter members the access of information through Emails, Newsletters, and mail about that State¹s Chapter and

· State chapter supply dues and state legislative updates to its members and

· If a member wants to stay abreast of the states they feel are important to their professional growth and

· Members are willing to pay each state¹s chapter fee to receive information from those states and

· The advancement of technology makes it easy to register those members and the chapters they choose to belong to

Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates recommends to the National Board of Directors to change the membership¹s ability to include multiple state memberships. As stated in the suggested Bylaws change.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 4. Membership in Chapters
A. All members, other than schools, shall be assigned to a Chapter having territorial jurisdiction of the area where the member practices, resides, or attends school, or in the case of a legal entity where it is located provided such Chapter exists.

B. Each member will be assigned to only one Chapter as many State Chapters as they choose with the payment of each required State Chapter fee.

Submitted by Susan Ring, NCTMB (sring@amtanj.org)

Authorized by unanimous vote of the AMTA NJ Chapter Board of Directors at the January 14, 2007 Board meeting.