Deb Kilty, LMT
RI Chapter President
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Upcoming Meeting Dates
If you are interested in sitting in on any of the upcoming virtual meetings
please contact our Secretary
Kimberly Medeiros
at (860) 617-1546 or via email
prior to any meeting for
log in information.
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Hello Fellow AMTA Rhode Island Members,
2020 was a year no one of us could have ever foreseen coming. It was a year of worry, stress, and heartbreak but also a year of change and reflection. It was a difficult year to get through, but now that we are nearing the other side hopefully, we are looking forward to a brighter future. There are lessons to be learned with every hardship and I can only hope that humanity will take what it needs from this situation and be better for it. Because of Covid all in-person events were halted, we’ve missed seeing our members! We’ve missed being able to offer hands-on educational workshops in our state and we’ve missed offering the free CEs at our annual meeting. But we will be missing each other no more!! Your chapter leaders are hard at work organizing education workshops, a CPR class, and a member meeting which will take place October 17th (see meeting notice below).
I look forward to the rest of 2021 being a much better year, and to having the Rhode Island chapter running full steam ahead in the coming months! I want to thank the chapter board and chairs for remaining present and engaged during this pandemic year and thank them for their flexibility during changing times.
The Rhode Island Chapter elections were once again held online this year due to restrictions from the pandemic. I would like to thank all the members that participated in the election process. Congratulations to Kenji Omori, re-elected for a second term as board member and Cassie Rawcliffe on being elected to serve as the chapter representative to the Assembly of Delegates. The chapter Financial Administration position did not receive any applicants, therefore that position was left vacant, until our own Larry Gallagher stepped up and volunteered to take over that position. Larry resigned his current board member position and was voted in by the current board to fill that vacancy as our new Financial Administrator, thank you Larry! This in turn left a 1-year vacancy of the board member position that Larry held, please join me in welcoming Christopher Adamo (former chapter president) back to the AMTA RI board. Christopher expressed interest in rejoining the team and volunteering with the chapter again and so the board convened and voted in Christopher to take over the remaining 1-year term of board member. Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers, old and new, that mean so much to the chapter!
Two very special awards were presented during our virtual annual meeting this year which took place on April 13, 2021. Congratulations to Cassie Rawcliffe, the 2020 recipient of the Chapter President’s award, Cassie’s help during the onset of the covid crisis was invaluable to me. Cassie took on the process of researching many websites offering guidance in general and to our profession specifically, in dealing with this pandemic. She took that research and put together the protocols and guidance which was submitted to our Governors’ office when recommendations were sought from professions regarding reopening. Thank you, Cassie, for all you do for our chapter!!
And Congratulations to this years’ Chapter Meritorious Award Winner. This person has been a an AMTA member for 15 years, she had been volunteering for many of those years in so many ways. She is always the first person to volunteer to help at all of our annual meetings with registration and in these last few years when elections were held via floor nominations, she was always glad to volunteer to be sure all candidates signed their "code of Conduct" prior to elections. She is part of our chapters Communications Committee as our Twitter guru. She has attended CVOP and while in the midst of a global pandemic when all chapters had to convert to online elections, she volunteered to be our first ever Online Elections Coordinator and volunteered for that position once again this year. She’s always available for all the “small” things that need to get done. My heartfelt congratulations to Angela Perry-Place as the 2021 Rhode Island Chapter Meritorious Award Winner!!!
I’d like to take this opportunity to recognize Michaele Colizza on receiving the honor of becoming the AMTA National President elect! Congratulation Michaele!
And Kim Medeiros on becoming the newest volunteer on the National Chapter Relations Committee! Congratulations Kim!
I, myself have received the vote from my fellow chapter presidents to be this years Chapter President Council moderator! RI is well represented at the national level!
I would like to thank everyone for staying engaged with your chapter. It has been 2 years since the chapter has been able to hold an in-person meeting and I look forward to seeing many of you this October!
Deb Kilty
AMTA RI Chapter President
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Board of Directors
Debbie Kilty
President
401-339-1041
Roy Kenji Omori
Board Member
401-864-1258
Larry Gallagher
Financial Administrator
401-678-0215
Kimberly Medeiros (Gregorzek)
Secretary
860-617-1546
Christopher Adamo
Board Member
401-263-1640
AMTA Offers the Strongest Benefits in the Profession!
From education to award-winning publications to broad liability insurance, AMTA membership gives you the tools you need to grow and thrive in the massage therapy profession.
In fact, 100 percent of your membership dues are invested back into you in the form of benefits and advocacy for the profession.
Questions? Call 1-877-905-0577 during business hours.
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Committees
Cassie Rawcliffe
860-942-2364
Gov. Relations Chair
Delegate
Roy Kenji Omori
401-864-1258
Board Member, Social Media, Facebook Administrator
Larry Gallagher
401-678-0215
lgallagher22@verizon.net
Financial Administrator
CSMT-Outreach Div. Chair
Claudia Botthoff
401-749-0176
Membership Chair
Kim Gregorzek-Medeiros
860-617-1546
Membership Committee
Senior Members Contact
Deb Kilty
401-339-1041
President
Newsletter Editor
Kimberley Cook
401-837-8079
Website Chair
Dales DeCelles
401-486-8730
Delegate
Education Chair
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Join us in Welcoming our New members:
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Megan Ferragam John Mattingly
Jennifer Masse Leomary Rivera
Alexandra Beazer Ashley Jacobson
Destiny Marcoux Thomas Rossi
Annalesse Calo Loritza Doncel
Ashley Lataille Priscilla McPhillips
Anauris Santana Danielle Boucher
Hayley Costa
Total RI Members: 585!!
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SAVE THE DATE!!! AMTA RHODE ISLAND CHAPTER IS VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE OUR FIRST IN PERSON MEMBER MEETING SINCE MARCH 2019!! |
AMTA Rhode Island Chapter will be holding an in person member event on Sunday, October 17, 2021 at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick RI! The chapter leaders are working to plan an outstanding event. There will be vendors onsite for all your purchasing pleasure! Updates from the chapter leaders and committee chairs! A guest speaker! Qi Gong as self care for the massage therapist! Free Lunch and 3 FREE credits of continuting education!!
It's been too long since our members have been able to network and catch up with massage friends! We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible! Please watch your emails for detailed information but mark your calendars today! You don't want to miss out on this event!
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Government Relations Cassie Rawcliffe, LMT
AMTA RI Chapter Government Relations Chair/Delegate
Government Relations for the AMTA RI chapter has been hard at work throughout this interesting and unexpected 2020 calendar year. While navigating through uncharted waters and forcing all to make difficult decisions, the massage therapy profession continues its slow but steady climb into a new year, and hopefully, a better economy. Here is our year in review:
- Non-opioid pamphlet introduced as a bill to the RI General Assembly for the 2020 legislative session
- All bills thrown out of 2020 legislative session due to COVID pandemic and mandatory quarantine
- AMTA RI Chapter leaders were asked by membership where the massage therapy profession falls in the various phases of a slow, safe re-open of RI
- The AMTA RI Chapter was advised to develop preliminary considerations and safety protocols as the state moved toward a safe, slow re-open
- The RI DOH determined that the MT profession was set to re-open along with the Allied Health Professionals in phase 1, but due to conflicting opinions from the RI chamber of commerce, the MT profession re-opened in RI on 06/01/2020 at the beginning of phase 2 under personal care services
- Spring 2020 GR Committee applies and receives LLEAD Grant from National AMTA to assist with any legislative goals/intentions
- Summer 2020 appeal for LLEAD Grant for full amount awarded to the AMTA RI Chapter
- Fall/Winter 20/21 GR committee reconsidered initial legislative efforts for non-opioid pamphlet and considers refocusing on insurance reimbursement for the massage therapy profession
- Spring 2021 an upcoming Q & A meeting, open to all members to discuss insurance reimbursement, possible criteria, and requirements for qualified practitioners.
Please be on the look for an upcoming email through constant contact regarding key points and meeting details on this important topic
Stay well and be in good health
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2020 Significant Anniversaries
Joanne Lozy, Recognitions Chair
Congratulations to all who are celebrating significant anniversaries with the American Massage Therapy Association this year.
Elaine Drew Tanzi - 30 Years!
25 Years!
Melody Henderson Joanne Lozy Jamie O'Connor
Wendy Pendergrass Stephanie Verity
20 Years!
Melissa Cotta Miladys LeBlanc Joan Renzi
15 Years!
Diane Adams Catheleen Caddick Joseph Swinski
Karin Wuenscher Sharon Borowick David Walsh
Kimberly Ruggieri-Lima
We want you to know that you are appreciated. As a valued member we welcome you and hope you will attend and take advantage of the great programs we offer all massage therapist through the AMTA - Rhode Island Chapter. We are here to serve you and promote our profession. If we can help you in any way please feel free to contact any of the helpful volunteer members Our information is listed on the AMTA - RI Chapter website. http://ri.amtamassage.org . Come join us! Aside from having fun we are here to serve AMTA members while advancing the art, science and practice of the massage therapy profession.
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Opportunity to Join the Rhode Island State Board for Licensed Massage Therapists
The Rhode Island State Board for Licensed Massage therapists had a recent vacancy. This vacancy is for a Licensed Massage Therapist.
Laura Mello, liason from the RI Department of Health to the State Board reached out to ask the chapter to forward this information on to our members.
If anyone should be interested in receiving more information or applying for this position please send a letter of interest and curriculum vitae (a short written summary of your career, qualifications, and education) to Laura Mello at Laura.Mello@health.ri.gov so that she may forward for review, and, if appropriate, appointment.
Please send all inquires to Laura Mello directly, this opportunity does not come from the AMTA RI chapter. Thank you.
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UNDERSTAND YOUR FINANCES
AND GROW YOUR BUSINESS
Contributed by Lana M. Glovach, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in RI
Take advantage of SBA tools to meet your small business’s financial goals.
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Understanding your finances is key to small business success. With small businesses across America still recovering from the impacts of the pandemic, financial literacy is more important now than ever.
Financial Literacy Month was first established in 2004 to encourage Americans to learn about finance best practices and to boost their financial well-being. It can also serve as a reminder to take stock of your overall financial outlook and set finance-related goals – whether that’s to obtain a loan, increase your revenue, or learn more about business taxes. Chances are, there’s an SBA resource that can help you take the next steps toward achieving your goal.
To highlight three immediate educational resources to tap into, please consider the following:
A local business advisor –
SBA resource partners can also help you get a clearer picture of your finances. One topic many small business owners work with resource partners on is preparing to apply for a small business loan. Resource partners can help you review your business plan, organize tax return documents and bank statements, and complete other important tasks before your loan application is sent to your lender.
Free online classes –
For training on any small business topic, the SBA’s Learning Center and new Ascent platform provide readily available expert insights. An essential course for early-stage businesses is the Financing Your Business course. This course outlines various funding options, including loans, grants, venture capital, and crowdfunding, and concludes with a downloadable worksheet to help you assess your own financial needs.
Financial advice for every area of life –
SBA is a proud member of the Financial Literacy and Education Commission, and fully supports the well-being of all individuals and small business employers. While special projects like Money Smart for Small Business (MSSB) (a joint curriculum of SBA and FDIC) provides an introduction to topics related to starting and managing a business, the FLEC-sponsored website MyMoney.gov is full of financial literacy resources for students, retirees, and more.
SBA-Guaranteed Loans and Lender Match
SBA-guaranteed loans are often an ideal funding option for small business owners who are creditworthy but don’t qualify for conventional financing. SBA works with participating lenders to reduce their risk, increasing the likelihood your loan will be approved with the terms that work best for you.
If you decide SBA-guaranteed loans are a good fit for your business, SBA makes it easy for you to connect with lenders via our Lender Match tool. Lender Match is SBA’s free online referral program that connects small businesses with more than 800 participating SBA-approved lenders.
To get started, just answer a few questions about your business. Then, you’ll receive an email with contact information from lenders who have expressed interest in your loan. From there, you’ll be able to compare rates, terms, fees, and more. Visit this page to get started.
Community Navigators being launched soon!
In the immediate future, we are expanding our reach through an even more expansive network of business coaches, called “Community Navigators.” Navigators will accelerate information, education, training, and mentoring for small businesses in rural, underserved, and tribal communities. Please stay up-to-date by visiting sba.gov/navigators.
Whatever your financial goals for your business, SBA is here to help you get to your next step with personalized guidance and tested tools and resources. Learn more at sba.gov.
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As Benjamin Franklin observed, “if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Let the SBA help your small business plan for success! Assistance is available in languages other than English, including Spanish, and all SBA programs and services are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. To learn more about the SBA’s programs and services, please contact Lana M. Glovach, SBA Economic Development Specialist, at lana.glovach@sba.gov or 401-528-4575, or visit www.sba.gov/ri.
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EDITORIAL POLICY
The AMTA-RI chapter and the editor reserve the right to edit and/or refuse any submitted article or advertisement, and assume no responsibility for errors, omissions, corrections or modifications in publication.
Neither AMTA-RI chapter nor the AMTA-RI Newsletter guarantees, warrants or endorses any product, service, "Letter to the Editor," or referral advertised herein, nor do they express any opinion in regard to the legality of the use of any product advertised herein in connection with the practice of massage therapy. The editor welcomes any and all contributions pertinent to massage therapy and will respond to any suggestions to this publication.
SUBMISSION DETAILS:
Deadlines: March 30, July 30, November 30
Article Submissions: Send Word or Text documents to
or call 401-339-1041
PHOTO CREDIT
Front Cover (hands): ©iStockphoto.com/Matthew Scherf
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