National Results: 2009 House of Delegates Report
The House of Delegates is a vehicle for member’s beliefs in their massage therapy industry to be represented in their state Chapter’s delegation, who attends and passes on member-approved Recommendations and Position Statements on behalf of the Chapter as a whole each year.
The Process: A Simplified Version
A first step in voicing an opinion that will eventually appear as a Recommendation or Position Statement is the writing of the document. After putting the document together with all the required (for consideration) information, the document is presented to each state Chapter’s membership and voted on. The vote of the Chapter (represented by each member’s individual vote) is represented in the Delegation that travels to the House of Delegates every year to submit their Chapter’s vote on the Recommendation(s) and Position Statement(s). When it passes the House of Delegates, Recommendations go on to the National Board of Directors for consideration and voting, and Position Statements are written into the core values and beliefs of the AMTA.
House of Delegates: 2009
Every year, at the AMTA National Convention, the House of Delegates convenes to submit Recommendations to the National Board of Directors and Position Statements regarding development of the precepts and values in massage therapy that the AMTA holds true and promotes as a professional association. Following are Recommendations and Position Statements being voted on in this year’s House of Delegates:
Recommendations to the National Board of Directors
These Recommendations are administrative in nature, usually regarding how the Association is operated on a National level. Recommendations are made by state Chapters who see a need in modifying, adding to, or removing national policies that have found a need for such action. Recommendations are made by each state Chapter and approved by the state Chapter as needed, and then presented to the delegation in the House of Delegates.
The Nevada Chapter active, Professional members convened and voted on 3 Recommendations at the June 1 Annual General Meeting of the AMTA-Nevada Chapter. The description of the Recommendation and the Nevada Chapter vote results follow:
Recommendation |
Submitted by | NV Chapter votes… |
| …Therefore, be it resolved that the House of Delegates Operations Committee recommend to the National Board of Directors to include in their 2010 budget a
compensation to hire and train full-time field representatives to travel to and promote AMTA to schools and students for increased membership and lasting relationships, with territories left up to National to decide along with job descriptions to promote professional excellence. (complete online version) |
IN |
Passed (20/33, majority) |
| …Therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Delegates recommend to the National Board of Directors that the AMTA bylaws be changed at Article IX COUNCILS, Section 1. Chapter President Council, A. Purpose, add (4), pertaining to expanding the purpose of the President Council, to include the ability to make a recommendation(s) to the National Board for consideration, which will be a consistent, “one voice”, agreed upon message from a valuable resource for the betterment of the Association from the most highest ranking elected officer of the Chapter who works first hand with the membership and the operation of the Chapter. (complete online version) |
IN |
Passed (26/33, majority) |
Position Statements of the American Massage Therapy Association
Position Statements are premises and professional opinions and general facts on which the AMTA operates and promotes massage therapy. These are researched and supported by an adequate amount of research to prove their worth before they are accepted by the Association through the House of Delegates, where all Chapters (and individual members) are represented.
These Position Statements are currently in a Chapter voting phase and the final decision of the Chapter on each item will be brought to the House of Delegates on September 24, 2009. The descriptions of the Position Statement follow:
| Doc # |
Position Statement |
Submitted by | NV Chapter votes… |
| PS-09-01 | It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage can aid in pain relief. |
Ann Blair Kennedy |
19/19, PASS |
| PS-09-02 | It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage therapy may be effective in reducing lower back pain. |
Ann Blair Kennedy |
19/19, PASS |
| PS-09-03 | It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that massage therapy can be effective in reducing anxiety. |
Ann Blair Kennedy |
18/19, PASS |
| PS-09-04 | It is the position of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) that Massage Therapy can improve the quality of life for those in hospice and palliative care. |
Parenteau, White, & Dalbee |
19/19, PASS |
Member Opportunities
Members have an opportunity to have their voice heard on each of the Recommendations and Position Statements, from creation of to voting on. Members are notified of Chapter meetings or activities where they may hear, read, and ask questions about, debate, and decide individually how to vote on each item. Members also have an opportunity to comment about Position Statements online, at the bottom of each page (linked above).
This is truly an amazing process in which all members have an opportunity to have their voices heard, recorded, and acted upon. When a member presents a Recommendation or Position Statement to his/her state Chapter, it is the beginning of a road of validation, criticism, support, and eventually becoming of the values of the Association to which all members profess.
If you have any questions about this year’s Recommendations and Position Statement on the agenda for consideration and vote, please contact your 2009 Delegate David Otto.
Read all about the House of Delegates – view the current Position Statements, activity of the HOD, and what’s expected of a state Chapter Delegate.
Visit the House of Delegates online!
