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Texas Chapter President & Interim Financial Administrator
- Brenda Padilla
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Hello and Happy Successful New Year to You!
It’s 2024- a year of new beginnings and a fresh start.
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I hope all of you are staying safe and warm while we get through this bit of cold weather that Mother Nature is trying to throw at us. I say bring it on – we are Texans and we are tough! Just do not make it last too long😉
The Texas State Convention will occur on April 19-21, 2024 in Grapevine Texas. I hope you all get registered for top notch education, great friendships, delicious food and one fun Honky Tonk! Don’t forget about the Meet & Greet on Thursday night before the convention starts. More details to follow about exact location but I think it will be Booming with fun!
Our classes include many hands-on classes but in a surprise this year we are offering a Laura Allen series that are not a hands-on class. Laura is a huge name in the massage world and has authored numerous books that can boost your business to become a complete success in 2024. Check them out on line and register for a successful advancing business in 2024.
More good news - Beginning this year, the mileage rates has increased to 67 cents a mile.
As you may or may not know we will have elections this year for various board positions. This even year positions will be:
- President
- Secretary
- Second Board Member
- Delegate
If you are interested in running for a position or just want to know what we do, please refer to our website. The job descriptions are there for your convenience and knowledge. Each position will be a 2 (two) year term with limits as stated in the job descriptions.
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Veronica Ortega
June 7, 1967 – December 11, 2023
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Financial Administrator’s Report:
As most of know by now, we have lost our beloved Veronica Ortega to Uterine Cancer on December 11, 2024. She was a joy and a great source of professionalism to work with as well as a real close friend. This loss devastated us (me personally too) but we shall go on. I will be looking to appoint a Financial Administrator to finish out the term. The election of a Financial Administrator will be on the odd years. Meaning in 2025 this position will be up for election. If you are thinking about joining the Texas Chapter board, please see the website for the job descriptions.
The Texas Chapter has approximately $130,000 cash on hand. The last chapter disbursement (money the chapter receives as portion of dues collected) was over $9,000 for the month of November. December reports will not be available until the end of January. We are a strong healthy chapter with a likewise budget. More details to follow in future newsletters.
As of December 2023 – we have 5,432 AMTA-Texas members!!!
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IN MEMORY OF
VERONICA ORTEGA
One thing that I want to share with y’all is the back of the prayer card from Veronica’s funeral mass. I went to this somber but extremely supportive event. The reception that I received from the El Paso members was second to none. I was welcomed and immediately felt at home. I so respect this – this is what we do for family – our family – the Texas Chapter AMTA family, in which I am an extreme proud member.
“Promise to yourself to be strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk of health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. To make all your friends feel that there is something in them. To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true. To think only of the best, to work only for the best and to expect only the best. To be enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile. To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others. To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.”
Copies of this will be available at the Texas State Convention in Grapevine. Please see me for a copy.
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Now go and get yourself registered for the State Convention in April!
I hope to see y’all there!!
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warmly welcomed with the SOAR to Success Summit and met fellow like-minded students and professionals.
Last year’s national convention was held in Phoenix and Texas did not disappoint as we had many members represent the lone star state. It was an honor to serve and collaborate with other state delegates at the annual Assembly of Delegates meeting (AOD). The energy was so strong with the wonderful speakers, events, vendor hall, and of course networking and exchanging stickers and state pins with therapist from all over the country. I know I met someone from each state and in one location!
Texan therapists from all over the state had a great year as local meet and greets were held monthly with opportunities to eat, collaborate, and expand skill sets. Additionally, one- and two-day continuing education classes were held in many regions and available to all members, students, and non-members. I personally enjoyed all the meet and greets that were held in my area (Southeast) and I attended several of my neighbor region (Northwest).
Although the last quarter was tough for our state chapter with the passing of our beloved Financial Administrator Veronica Ortega, we will continue to implement her ideas and work that she selflessly gave to the board in the planning phase for the 2024 State convention in Grapevine Texas. Here are some of the things you can expect to see and experience at this year’s convention:
- Top of the line education from instructors all over the country!
- Form long lasting new friendships by networking with fellow therapist.
- Phenomenal food from the local area!
- Vendor hall.
- Amazing swag!
- A student and professional class track.
- Loads of silly fun and Honky Tonk dancing!
- Soak in amazing travel, sightseeing, and most importantly.... get all your continuing education credits (CEU'S)!!!
- Second annual Soar to Success Summit.
And so much more!!!!!!!
As a Texas member and board member, I can testify that your Texas Chapter is healthy strong. Let’s continue to set the trend and make our Texas chapter stronger in 2024! You might be pondering ways you can make a difference or show support as you start the new year off. There are several ways including, but not limited to:
- Attending your local regions monthly meet and greets.
- Becoming a local mentor or through the AMTA mentorship program.
- Plan your time off and traveling routes to the Texas State convention (April 19th-21st) and National convention (September 12th-14th).
- Run for a chapter board member position.
- Stay up to date with regional, state, and national news by signing up for e-mails.
- Follow AMTA's various social media platforms and don't forget to like and share.
- Help spread AMTA news and events to fellow therapist via call, text, social media, and of course good old word of mouth! (Practicin' my Honky Tonk Texas talk!)
Lastly, the AMTA Texas Chapter wishes the best for you and your practice in 2024. We can't wait to say howdy in person. See ya'll in Grapevine.
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A Personal Message from Michaelle Fisher, LMT | |
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Howdy Fellow Therapists,
Sure hope to see everyone at convention! Have you signed up to get the classes you want most at early bird pricing? I am amazed at the line up of classes we have this year. Build and enhance your practice with the variety of business classes offered.
I love Aromatherapy, Craniosacral Therapy, Face massage and Lymphatic Drainage and have practiced them for years. So incredibly relaxing and therapeutic for your clients.
One of the classes which impacted me the most was Final Touch - End of Life. I'm so thankful I took this class before my father got cancer. Being prepared for the stages of dying, I was able to keep calm, help my family, and recognize when he was
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actively dying. I was honored to not only be in the room with him, but actually doing hands on as he passed.
Can we ever learn enough anatomy? I can also say it is amazing to study Sports massage with instructors who are experienced working with Olympic athletes! One technique I've had little exposure to is Polarity so I'm excited to learn more about it.
Your board and all volunteers are working hard to make this a great convention. Come to Grapevine, learn new skills, have fun, eat well and get lots of hugs. Starting with me!
Michaelle Fisher
2nd Board member
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Happy New Year! We are off to an exciting start in Education and in the Regions. | | |
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Michelle Burns
Education Chair
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Early registration for the Texas AMTA convention and Annual meeting ends soon and we are so excited at the line-up of instructors coming to teach.
- We have a leading Sports Massage Therapist and instructor who has worked at the Olympics, for the Ironman organization, and the University of Louisville and has taught sports massage around the world—Laura Boozer. She can teach you how to get sports massage gigs, set up event tents, and create treatment plans for each level of sports life. If you have wanted to get into sports massage, don’t miss this incredible opportunity.
- We have one of the foremost business teachers in the massage world—Laura Allen. If you haven’t read her book—One Year to a Successful Massage Therapy Practice—and even if you have, this opportunity to have face-to-face interactions with her is a can’t-be-missed opportunity. And, no massage table required
- For those working with hospice, end of life care, or just those very ill clients, Cindy Spence and Susan Gee with Final Touch Training will be doing their very popular and informative three day class, Clinical Skills for End-of-LIfe. What a treat to have that class locally!
- For those interested in incorporating, or focusing, on lymphatic drainage, we have an Introduction to Integrated Lymphatic Drainage taught by Jessica Johnson. Not only do you learn the lymphatic drainage techniques, but this class incorporates taping and cupping for lymphatic drainage for a versatile understanding of lymphatic drainage.
- For those interested in incorporating more spa techniques, we have 3 class options with European trained Sylvie Renault—Thai Herbal Ball Face Massage (you get your own Thai Herbal balls to keep), Aromatherapy (you get to keep your blends), and Face Massage (which includes a jade wand and other tools you keep). Being able to incorporate face work into a session is an incredibly popular and lucrative skill!
- Don’t want to bring a table? How about learning more in-depth anatomy with Dr. Mark Uridel in the Advanced Anatomy: Myofascial Meridians class? This information gives you a powerful assessment skill to identify problems and create an informed treatment plan.
- Want a technique that is easier on the hands and powerful for making a difference? How about Polarity Therapy with one of the few fully trained Polarity Therapists in Texas—Cynthia Pierro.
- Finally, there are many types of Craniosacral Therapy classes available but we have the original—The Upledger institute will be providing a 2 day Craniosacral Level I class taught by Darin Puppel.
With all these choices, at an incredibly low price, this is a don’t miss opportunity. And, while the price is low, right now (until the 31st of January), you can get an even lower price with the early bird pricing. We are so proud to be able to bring these instructors for you.
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REGIONAL NEWS
In regional news, we currently have 11 regions holding monthly meetings and education events – Austin, Coastal Bend (Corpus Christi), Dallas, Edge of Texas (El Paso), Ft. Worth, Golden Triangle (Beaumont), Heart of Texas (Waco), North/West Houston, San Antonio, and South/East Houston. And, welcome our newest!, who will begin holding meetings this spring!!! Brazos Valley (Bryan/College Station).
Many of the regions closed out the year with holiday parties or “Letting-Go” events and ceremonies. What a powerful community everyone of you is creating.
In the coming months, there will be a variety of activities in the regions, including tax specialists providing bookkeeping and tax information, a review of intake forms, demonstration of aromatherapy foot treatment, goal setting and vision board creation, presentation by James Waslaski on Upper and Lower Body Nerve release, a demonstration on Reiki, Integrating trauma-informed work into massage, a discussion of pelvic floor health for bodyworkers, fun dinners and get to know each other, and a presentation on Independent Contractor vs Employee.
Photos of events can be found in the gallery on the Texas AMTA website as well as a calendar of all coming events.
These meetings are always free, food is always provided, and all therapists are welcome (including students) to attend and help create a supportive community.
For additional information, watch for emails about events in your region or check out your Facebook group. You are also welcome to attend meetings not in your region—let’s build those connections and a support network across the state.
I am so excited we can offer all these opportunities for the community and profession and look forward to an incredible year ahead.
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