Let us welcome in the new year by stepping into the spectacular!
In this edition of our newsletter, we will highlight which projects we've been diligently working on and completed as a chapter and which projects we have in the works for 2019. As a board, we have asked ourselves countless times - How can we better support and engage our members? Our work leading into the new year aims to answer this question.
I believe we have one of the best chapters in the association. When I recently attended the AMTA National Presidents Council Meeting, our NJ AMTA Chapter was recognized as one of the most active chapters in the nation. There are several chapters in our association who are struggling with limited resources. Our membership is so eager to volunteer and to assist when necessary. We are truly blessed.
We encourage you to attend our NJ AMTA State Annual Meeting and Spring Retreat 2019 this year to learn more about how we plan to better engage our members. We need to start thinking outside of the box instead of going around it. We need your help to do so.
Last year, our NJ AMTA Chapter supported the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) with a donation for research and giving back to the community. By donating to the cause, we received an honorary award from the MTF at the 2018 AMTA National Convention. We could not have done this without you. We have sent volunteers to CVOP year after year compliments of our chapter. Our chapter has supported the Girl Scouts of America by donating their time to doctors and nurses who often cannot take the time to care for themselves with much needed massage. Again, we could not have done this without you.
Our Community Service Massage Team (CSMT) also gave of their time to First Responders and Brain Association members recently. One of our CSMT volunteers who gave of his time during these events was Jeff Swann, who recently passed away. Jeff drove two hours to get to the Brain Association event. He never complained once. We will feature Jeff Swann in a feature article in the next newsletter. Jeff loved this chapter. He told me so. We loved him back and miss him dearly.
The chapter also regrets the recent passing of Patricia Golden. Patricia was a dedicated and skilled member of our chapter. We will feature Patricia in another issue of the newsletter.
I would like to take this time to extend a special thank you to Marty Fitzgerald for holding down the forth for the Sports Team and for doing an excellent job until Bruce Spicer gets back to his team to continue the good work he has already started. Our Sports Team has volunteered for numerous events and received numerous awards. We are so grateful for their contributions.
Our Government Relations Chair Cynthia Sinicropi-Philibosian and her team continue to work tirelessly to get much needed legislation passed in our state which will grant massage therapists and receivers of massage therapy greater protection and safety. Cynthia and her team and other NJ AMTA Chapter members represented our chapter at The New Jersey League of Municipalities, in Atlantic City, late last year. This was a great networking and education-sharing opportunity, and an opportunity to share our mission with various companies, cities, and state officials.
Cynthia and her team educated those who frequented our booth about the importance of massage legislation and the work we continue to support and drive forward in state government to support bills that protect the greater NJ community and our therapists. Our booth was one of the busiest in the center.
We honor each of our members who dedicated their time to our mission last year and those who continue or step up to dedicate their time to our mission in 2019. Continue to help us to help you. We are here to serve our membership. Engage us. Educate us. Serve with us.
Wishing you all a healthy, prosperous, and abundant 2019!
