Your Communicator 2023 IN TOUCH AMTA-KY Summer Newsletter

Summer 2023 Volume 30, Issue 1

In Touch

The Newsletter of the

American Massage Therapy Association

Kentucky Chapter

A Message from Your

AMTA-KY Chapter President

Jo Ann Klein, BSIBS, AASMM, LMT

I hope everyone is well and enjoying the longer days of Summer. Allow me to tell you about my journey as an AMTA volunteer. I'm Jo Ann Klein, the new Kentucky Chapter President. I am honored to have been elected to the office in the recent elections. I'm finishing out the term Jeff Butler held until he needed to take a leave of absence.

I have volunteered, in various capacities, with AMTA for over a dozen years. It all started with wanting to show our students the importance of giving back to our community. Initially, I came to Student/Teacher Day during Spring Conference and stayed on to do whatever was needed: being a gopher, taking meal tickets, being a class monitor, etc. Eventually, I was elected to be a Delegate for the Assembly of Delegates. This showed me that our voices mattered on the National level.

My next step was being asked to be on the Board of Directors. I learned that every member has the ability to add value to our organization, even if they only have a few hours to volunteer. I remembered why I chose AMTA over the other organizations: community, comradery, and support.

In this current role, I am extremely honored and grateful to be entrusted to the President of the Kentucky Chapter. I look forward to serving you.

We have a lot of exciting things planned for the coming year. The National Conference is being held in Phoenix, AZ, August 24-26. In addition, the KY Board has agreed that we want to continue having a fun Fall Event. These will rotate around the state to showcase the various regions. Keep checking Facebook, the newsletter or your email for information as we put this event together. We would love to see you there.

We are already planning the 2024 Spring Conference. Thank you to everyone who filled out a Conference Survey this past March. There's still time to have a say in what classes we may be having. Now is the time to make your opinion known for classes and speakers to make 2024 a memorable conference. The Board will be meeting at the end of July to solidify the next Spring Conference. We listened to your request for more vendors in the vendor hall. If you know of anyone who would be a good fit as a vendor, please let our Vendor Hall Coordinator know at marketplace@amtaky.org.

My hope is that you will join us by volunteering to make the Kentucky Chapter even better. We need you, your experience, and expertise. If you are interested in joining our volunteer fun, check out the positions available, listed below, and contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Ann Philips at volunteercoorchair@amtaky.org.

Thank you, again, for trusting me to lead our Chapter.

Jo Ann Klein, BSIBS, AASMM, LMT

AMTA-KY President

Election Results from March 2023

Congratulations to our Newly Elected Board Members and Delegate

Jo Ann Klein - President

Karen Frazier - Board Member Odd Year

Lori Barnes - Financial Administrator

Shawanna Turner - Delegate 2023-2024

Karen Frazier, LMT

Member Spotlight

AMTA-KY Chapter

My personal life, like most, is easily intertwined with my professional life. I am first and foremost an advocate for the betterment of humanity. I feel as caregivers and providers we are always seeking a kinder path offering and encouraging grace in every way possible. I am a lover of music, nature (with all loyalties lying west of the Mississippi River), and an avid San Francisco 49ers fan, attending any NFL game I can, regardless of the teams competing.

I began full time private practice in 1998 and continued through 2017, specializing in deep tissue, repetitive motion disorders, and injury rehabilitation, until our move to Kentucky. In 2010, I founded the TM program for Southside Virginia Community College. In 2016, I founded my second TM program for John Tyler Community College, now Brightpoint). Upon arrival to the area, I began teaching for Ivy Tech Community College in their established program. I have graduates working in 11 different states, two of which work with professional baseball teams. Nationally certified in 1998, I have continued a lifelong study of consumer health, wellness, and advocacy for those and education. I became a wellness consultant in 2012 and have worked with companies such as Nucor Steel and others to improve the workplace practices and safety of teammates while on the job and at leisure. Education is my passion, for my industry and in its entirety. Knowledge is truly power. Creating pathways for better governmental understanding and oversight of our profession shares the spotlight with education in my rankings of importance.

I first learned of the AMTA as a student in 1998. My desire to become involved and served stemmed from relocating to Kentucky. The relocation opened my schedule allowing me to devote more time to volunteer work and to pursue my career long goal of improving the quality of education for our industry, and achieving legislature to support our professionals in the most advantageous pathway possible.

I think the most unusual thing about me is my multifaceted life. I have been so fortunate to navigate this life through countless experiences that have deviated from a singular path. I am a professional baker (and caterer), I do interior design, website design, am an educator, a therapist, a mentor, and consumer healthcare advocate. Probably the most surprising characteristic is my fanaticism for football. During football season I become a totally different individual. It is surprising to most, especially the opposite sex when conversations arise about the game, players, and history. I know my stuff. I am also a bit of a classic rock and old school country (think Waylon Jennings), there is very little music made beyond the 1970's I get excited about.

Covid changed humanity globally. It crippled us socially, economically, and professionally. As I was not in private practice at the time, I was not impacted in that way socially. What I have discovered and continue to experience post Covid, is we communicate differently as a race, and not for the better. Our patience and grace with fellow humans are more lacking than ever before. It has had a devastating effect on all populations from our youngest school age children to our geriatric population, which by far was impacted the most.

Thank You so much for your service Karen!

2023 Fall Fling - October 15, 2023

Attention: AMTA Members and Non-Members

Gather your friends, loved ones and colleagues and Save the Date. AMTA-KY is promoting a meet up at Shaker Village on October 15th. This event is open to all LMT's and their families! Come take a hayride, tour the buildings, and enjoy all of the things Shaker Village has to offer. If you'd like to end the day at The Trustee's Table, Shaker Village's very own restaurant, please be sure to make reservations for your party as soon as possible. We will send out an email with meet up times and full information in August. We hope to see as many of you as possible and get to meet your loved ones in the process!

Government Relations Report:

Update June, 2023

Ann Boone, LMT

Government Relations Chair

Here are some of the legislative issues affecting the Massage Therapy profession in the Commonwealth that the AMTA-KY Government Relations team is continuing to track.

With regards to HB8, which went to effect on 1/1/2023 requiring Kentucky sales tax on many services including Massage Therapy; we’ve been receiving questions regarding what type of referral/prescription will be accepted by the Kentucky Department of Revenue (DOR) to satisfy the “medically necessary” exemption from this tax on Massage Therapy services...

To Read Ann's Full Report Click Here