AMTA President Judy Stahl awards the National President's Award to Sally S. Hacking at Thursday's Opening Session & Awards Presentation. Sept 24th, 2009
Over the course of the 2008-2009 year, the AMTA Nevada Chapter has been recognized in the faces of several of its Volunteers.
National President’s Award – 2009
Sally Hacking, Government Relations Representative and long time friend to the Nevada Chapter, was honored with the National President’s Award at the 2009 AMTA National Convention Awards Presentation on September 24th. Each year, the AMTA President presents a special President’s Award to openly honor someone who has contributed to the massage profession in an outstanding manner. Here’s what Judy Stahl had to say about the award given to the National President’s choice of “MVP” this year:
“The recipient of the 2009 President’s Award, Sally S. Hacking, is one of the most accomplished individuals I ever hope to meet. Her accomplishments are legendary in the world of government relations at the Chapter level for the AMTA, having played an important – even critical – role in the passage of legislation for 17 AMTA chapters.
She is a native of Great Britain. Her gifts were honed through her early training as a nurse midwife and a Master’s level nurse in Glasgow, Scotland. She came to the United States in her 20s to work in cardiac intensive care in Texas, and on her way here, met the love of her life, a gentleman who sets the standard for me as far as what a man can be. She became a United States citizen and an elected state legislator in Maryland for ten years.
She is a survivor of both kidney and breast cancer. She was my greatest support, besides my family, when I went through my challenge with breast cancer five years ago. She was an aerobics instructor for many years and to this day sets the standard for healthy lifestyle, eating right, exercising, and living joyously.
She is a daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, friend, business consultant, advocate, comedienne, and all around beautiful human being. She is one of the very quickest, brightest, most intelligent human beings I have ever met. And along with all of her accomplishments, she has demonstrated a level of humility and lack of ego, an ability to stay in the background while others receive the credit and the glory, that is hard to fully grasp considering the world in which she works. Finally, if you look in the dictionary under the word “fun,” you will see Sally’s picture!
It is my greatest pleasure to grant the AMTA 2009 President’s Award to a woman who continues to dedicate herself to advocating on behalf of the massage therapy profession, my dear friend and mentor, Sally S. Hacking.”
Chapter Meritorius – 2009, Nevada: Shari Mirgon
The Purpose of the Chapter Meritorius Award is to openly honor an AMTA member, acknowledging their diligent volunteerism done in an altruistic manner. 2009’s Nevada Chapter recipient is Shari Mirgon, Immediate Past President. Here’s what her Nominator has to say about Shari’s level of excellence:
“Shari has shown great dedication and timeless energy to not only the Nevada chapter, but also has an integral understanding of national offices. Her leadership skills and assistance to the present board in acting as an IPP when no position existed is just one example. Due to our lack of a secretary, she filled in this capacity as well even while maintaining her own business. When half our board retired and an inexperienced member moved into the position of president (me), it was Shari who was available always for support, but also knew who to call at national for direction.
Due to our board situation, it was Shari who went back to revise our bylaws to create a position of IPP to support the president and direction and vision of a new incoming president. We created a commission on candidacy as well to support a strong and committed individual. It is this board’s position that Shari has been the glue to strengthen our Nevada board making it possible to serve our members keeping our vision and national’s vision of treating our members as golden. Bricks or blocks are good, but without mortar, there is no strength. Shari has been that strength for us. Shari exemplifies the highest ideals of the AMTA.”
“Give Chapters a Hand” Award of Excellence – 2009, Nevada Chapter: 3 hands
For a medium chapter size, Nevada has done very well…”above average” to be exact… in adhering to chapter requirements of the National AMTA directives for chapters. Many criteria were considered and points were awarded for things like timeliness, quality of deliverables, reporting as a service, and providing valuable member services and programs. Achieving an above average level of performance in Nevada draws attention to the fine processes and positive results of what is an example set for other chapters around the United States.
You may read more at the National AMTA website’s resource page, describing the AMTA Give Chapters A Hands Award.
