IRVINE, Calif. — On March 5-7, 2016, massage therapists will gather at the Wyndham Hotel in Irvine, California, for the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), California Chapter’s Annual General Meeting and Educational Conference.
The conference will feature world-renowned instructor James Waslaski, who will teach classes on elite sports therapy and multiple nerve compression. Also featured will be former national AMTA President Cynthia Ribeiro presenting classes on headache and neuromuscular therapy; Irene Diamond presenting on marketing; Karen Boulanger, Ph.D., presenting the latest massage therapy research; and Mark Dixon teaching a class on ethics.
Student Day
Saturday, March 5, is Student Day and there will be a panel discussion, “Longevity in the Massage Therapy Field,” featuring Marcia Degelman, Michael Roberson, Cynthia Ribeiro, Lisa Santoro, Jeannie Martin and James Waslaski. An exhibit hall will open with products of interest to massage therapists. There will also be a vendor reception, followed by a meet-and-greet on Saturday night. Elections for new officers and delegates to the AMTA National Convention will be held at a luncheon business meeting on Sunday, March 6.
Sunset Hearings Event
On Sunday afternoon, the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC) will hold an event to educate massage therapists about the council and status of voluntary state certification in light of the 2016 Sunset Hearings, which will take place the following week, on March 14, in Sacramento. At this hearing the California Legislature will review the Massage Therapy Act, and vote to continue, change or retire the state law regulating massage therapy.
In 2014, the California Legislature conducted a Sunset Review of the original 2008 massage therapy law and the CAMTC. This review was to assess the results of the original law, and vote on whether or not to continue the Massage Therapy Act. In 2015, with the return of land use authority and local ordinance controls to regulate professional massage therapy, approximately 50 cities in California passed moratoriums on opening new massage therapy businesses. The argument by local governments has been that a moratorium provides the time necessary to review and amend massage ordinances. Other cities have establishment and permit fees, which can make it expensive to open or operate a massage business.
With the hearing on March 14, the Massage Therapy Act and the CAMTC will begin its second Sunset Review process. Be there to have your voice heard.
Conference Registration
For more information and to register for the conference, please visit amta-ca.org.
About the American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter
The mission of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is to serve its members while advancing the art, science and practice of massage therapy. The AMTA California chapter strives to advance the art, science and practice of massage therapy in a caring, professional and ethical manner in order to promote the health and welfare of humanity.