The Massage Pundit

Yesterday it was announced that the American Massage Therapy Association has endorsed the Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination (MBLEx), the exam owned by the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, as the best choice for a single licensing exam to advance the portability of practice across state lines.

That was followed by an announcement today from Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals, applauding AMTA for making this decision. “We applaud the decision of the AMTA Board of Directors,” said ABMP President Les Sweeney, “This is an important step forward for the profession.”

The parallels in this development cannot be ignored. In the early 1990’s, AMTA provided leadership and financial support to get the National Certification Board up and running—the same thing that the ABMP did for the Federation just three short years ago. 

AMTA and ABMP have had a healthy competition going on for more than 20 years.  The press release issued today by ABMP states, “For the good of the profession, it is important that the two organizations can complement that competition by working in agreement on important issues like the entry-level exam choice matter at hand.”  That’s called playing nice, people. Now if we could just get NCBTMB to do the same thing, instead of wasting certificants’ money on lawsuits intended to bankrupt the Federation. I think this turn of events makes it pretty darn plain that the Federation, and the MBLEx, is here to stay.

AMTA, ABMP and the FSMTB are to be commended for their collaborative sportsmanship, and it’s high time for the NCB to start exhibiting that quality as well. It’s a new day and a new playing field, and if the NCB wants to stay in the game, they’ll have to stop acting like a bully. Bullies usually wind up getting thrown out of the game altogether, and nobody wants to play with them. 

The key phrase in all of this is “for the good of the profession.”  I hope NCB Chair Neil Delaporta and the rest of  the NCB leadership GETS IT.  It’s time to drop the lawsuits and the threats, fire the lobbyists and expensive lawyers that they’ve hired to interfere in state board matters, and get on with the business of offering specialized and advanced credentialing to those who want to seek it.

If NCB continues to fight the inevitable changes that are occurring in our profession, they will end up as CHUMPS. However, if they can see the light over the horizon, and use their resources to develop the next level of programs that will actually advance our profession, they could be heralded as CHAMPS when all is said and done. What a choice they have to make!

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

I’m beginning to regret that I am not serving on the National Certification Board. Instead of griping about them, I could be enjoying luxury trips to some of the finest places in the US. Their Board of Directors and top staff met in Hawaii just a few months ago, followed up by the 4^thquarter meeting at a nice downtown hotel in historic Charleston, SC. Now Mr. Delaporta intends to start his term as Chair with a festive junket for Board members to Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort later this week. This time, they’re giving us a little “taste” of the fun, with a special meet-and-greet reception for the first 80 people who RSVP. With the economy the way it is, I bet a lot of certificants would be happy if they could afford a weekend getaway at Motel 6, but hey, they don’t have a meeting room.  They will leave the light on for you, though.

The bottom line here is that it is patently offensive for NCBTMB to continue to hold these meetings in high-dollar exotic locations. They should restrict themselves to getting together in one of many business-friendly hotels near Chicago’s O’Hare Airport… just down the road from NCB Headquarters. They’d save a boatload of certificants’ money, and might actually get some more work done.

In a few other tidbits, the two empty Board of Directors seats have been claimed by former Board member Sue Toscano, who served as Chair 2000-2001, and newcomer Christy Schumacher, who has an impressive record of community service.  Maybe Schumacher’s humanitarian ways will be a good influence. 

NCB is certainly in need of good influence, what with all the long-standing volunteers defecting. The latest casualty is Mark Dixon, who has selflessly served the organization in numerous capacities since 1991, most recently as a member of the Nominations Task Force. Dixon’s letter of resignation stated that he believed the recent nomination and election process was handled in a corrupt manner, tainted by the personal politics of Board members. To maintain his integrity, he chose to resign his volunteer service, and terminate his certification of 16 years.  Karen Stork, the NCB Treasurer and Executive Committee member has resigned as well; no word on why that happened. It’s hardly surprising that NCB puts a gag order on everyone who leaves by making them sign a non-disclosure agreement. Now there’s some transparency for you. 

NCB is calling for volunteers in a number of areas. Check it out on their website at www.ncbtmb.org. And don’t forget to send me a postcard from Hawaii, or wherever they hold their next Board meeting.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen