Greetings from AMTA-MD
Introducing New Board Members
David Madon, LMT
Monday May 18, 2020

Hello AMTA Maryland Members,
 
I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy during these unprecedented times. This is my first newsletter and I wanted to take the time to introduce myself as the new president and talk a little bit about the current time we are in and the year ahead.
 
Unfortunately, as I begin my term we are in difficult times, with difficult choices. Many of us are in the same boat you are. Our Government Relations committee will continue to speak for our members and keep you informed along the way – We know many of you have questions and concerns. With that being said, AMTA-MD has had to face the tough decision of not offering any continuing education classes in 2020 due to COVID 19 and the uncertainty of where we’ll be later this year. We anticipate and are hopeful to bring you some classes in 2021. On a positive note, I want to reiterate that the Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners has reduced the number of CEUs required for renewal (7 required classes – 3 Ethics, 3 Communicable Diseases and 1 Cultural Diversity). Please continue to check your e-mail and Facebook for any updates.
 
I look forward to working with our current board – Amelia Mitchell (Board Member), Mark Hamilton (Board Member), and Chelsea Adams (Secretary). I’d like to encourage you to consider becoming involved with the Chapter. Volunteers are an integral part of the AMTA and key to providing networking opportunities, Government Relations efforts and Continuing Education opportunities to our members. There are myriad of ways to volunteer; whether it’s a position on the board, as a delegate, on a committee, or just helping out at an event. If you have a little spare time and a heart for service to your profession, we would love to have you serve with us. 

Please let us know if you are interested in playing a part in volunteering with the chapter by e-mailing president.amta.maryland@gmail.com . In addition, if you ever have any questions, concerns or suggestions, do not hesitate to contact me.
 
Wishing everyone the best!
 
Sincerely,
 
David Madon

Thank You Sabrina
For Your Service As Chapter President
by Amelia Mitchell

Back in the Fall of 2015 I attended National Convention in Pittsburgh as a delegate. It was there that I met Sabrina and learned that she and I, along with a few other people who would soon be friends were going to become the new AMTA Maryland Board.

Sabrina was moving back to Maryland and had been an active AMTA volunteer and board member in other states, this gave her the experience to step up into the role of president. Over the past five years she has led us well. She is a natural at connecting and including people and has been a great force for Massage in Maryland.

In the photo to the right Sabrina is holding the award as the winner of the 2017 tUF Poker Game at the Pasadena Convention in 2017. I chose this photo for two reasons, first because everyone should know she's a darn good poker player. Secondly, it is nearly impossible to find a photo of Sabrina alone in the frame, she is always found in a happy smiling group of people, especially at national convention.

While it is time for Sabrina to retire from her position as President, we know she will be around and supporting the chapter and the massage community in general. We look forward to seeing where her gifts and wonderful personality will land next.

Thank you Sabrina for all your service to AMTA-MD!

~Amelia Mitchell for the AMTA-MD Board
Chapter Meritorious Award
Amelia Mitchell
Amelia has been instrumental with her work in Government Relations and Communications for the Maryland Chapter. 

This year she advocated on behalf of AMTA-MD to stop an unfair massage establishment bill in Montgomery County, in addition to ongoing collaborations with the the State Board of Massage Therapy Examiners. 

She also took charge during this difficult time to lobby the State Massage Board to reduce the number of continuing education hours and to discuss possible reduction of renewal fees.

Amelia has become the queen of communication. She has been quick and efficient in getting out updates from the Governor’s Office and other state agencies.   Amelia does not only volunteer with the chapter. She also spends time mentoring other therapist and small businesses. 

She continues to help many therapist and small businesses with questions on unemployment and small business resources. It has been my pleasure working with Amelia these past 5 years. I couldn’t have done it without her.

~Sabrina Lopez, immediate past Chapter President
The 2020-2021 Maryland Chapter Board
As announced at our annual meeting last week, there were a few open positions. Mark Hamilton who had been our Secretary expressed interest in the Board Member position and Chelsea Adams who has been the election coordinator for 2019 and 2020 expressed interest in the position of Secretary. They were voted onto the board last week by David and Amelia the two sitting members.

There remains one additional spot for a Financial Administrator on the board, and one open spot for Delegate - please email David if you are interested.
President
David Madon, LMT President

David began his education at Towson University and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and a Master of Science in Human Resources. Later, he fell in love with massage as he received sports massage as a competitive runner, and knew this was his dream career. In 2015, David attended the Baltimore School of Massage and became a Licensed Massage Therapist in 2016. Currently, he works at LifeBridge Health and Fitness in Pikesville as an LMT and specializes in Deep Tissue and Sports Massage.
 
In August 2016 David joined the AMTA-MD Board as Financial Administrator. Working with Sabrina and the rest of the AMTA MD Board, he worked to promote the profession. From working with our legislatures and Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners; to hosting our chapter event at National Convention in Washington, DC; to networking with other chapter leadership; to keeping our member informed of updates; and to the education we have brought you. Now as President, David will continue to support you and respond to you in a timely manner!
Board Member
Amelia Mitchell, LMT, LLCC, BCTMB

As a board member since 2015 Amelia has brought her focus to Government Relations and Communications for the chapter. She is a tireless advocate for the massage therapy profession and works to support and mentor individual therapists as well as us all. She has often been seen testifying or advocating on our behalf at a state and local levels and has been welcomed to a number of work groups with the Maryland Board of Massage Therapy Examiners. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic Amelia has devoted herself to helping therapists access relief via unemployment as well as state and federal grants and has really increased our level of communication to get information out to our members quickly.

Amelia received her LMT in 2006 and is the owner of Alchemy Healing Arts Center in Annapolis, she specializes in Lymph Drainage Therapy. She is a Continuing Education provider with NCBTMB teaching a variety of CE classes. A creative spirit, Amelia is a multimedia and web designer, artist, photographer, retired master gardener, quilter, and knitter who now makes a lot of face masks. Owning Alchemy gives her to opportunity to practice so many of her talents and passions.   Amelia brings a conscious presence, a sensitive, nurturing being, and her loving playful spirit to all her work. 
Board Member
Mark Hamilton, LMT

Mark has been in the massage therapy practice since February 2017, after graduating from Anne Arundel Community College’s Therapeutic Massage Program with an AAS. He has served on the AMTA Maryland Chapter board as a Delegate in 2018 and 2019, where he served in the Assembly of Delegates during the National Convention and as the chapter’s secretary in 2019. He has been a member of AMTA beginning with a Student Membership in 2016.
 
Mark is a retired Air Force veteran, with 20 years in the service of our country. Following his retirement in 2008, Mark continued supporting the security of our nation as a Department of Defense contractor until 2015, when he transferred over to civil service as a Department of Defense civilian.
 
During Mark’s time in the Air Force, he belonged to various private organizations, such as organization level booster clubs and the Air Force Sergeants Association. He held positions to include secretary, treasurer, vice president and president in these organizations. When his oldest son was in the high school band, Mark filled the role of treasurer for the band support organization.
 
Education:
Albemarle High School, Albemarle, NC, 1986
Community College of the Air Force, Gunter AFB, AL, Associate of Applied Science, Information Management Systems, 1995
Columbia College of Missouri, Aurora, CO, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, 2002
Capitol College, Laurel, MD, Master of Science, Network Security, 2004
Strayer University, Millersville, MD, Master of Business Administration, 2012
Anne Arundel Community College, Arnold, MD, Associate of Applied Science, Therapeutic Massage, 2016
 
Experience:
Licensed Massage Therapist, MD, 2017-present
Owner and Operator, Mark’s Massage Practice, 2017-present
2018 – MD Delegate to National Convention
2019 – MD Delegate to National Convention
2019 – MD Chapter Secretary


Secretary
Chelsea Adams
 
Chelsea Adams cook is a graduate of Anne Arundel community college. She’s been practicing massage since 2012.

Before working as a massage therapist she worked as a stage manager in the theater as well as for Walt Disney World. Over the last two years she’s been volunteering with AMTA as the election coordinator. She is looking forward to serving as the Maryland Chapter Secretary.