The Massage Pundit

Yes, it’s true! Soon the certificants of the NCBTMB will be entitled to a discount on everything from a pizza pie to an oil change at the Jiffy Lube!

On June 9, Paul Lindamood, CEO, registered the domain name www.usamra.org (usaMassageResourceAssociation). This new professional association will be partnering with companies to provide “member benefits” in the form of discounts.  Although the website isn’t up yet, according to my sources the list of potential discount offers would include those from massage-related companies and what the NCB’s memo referred to as “quality of life/enhancement.” While I enjoy a good pizza, I don’t know that I would go so far as to say it enhances the quality of my life.

Before I get carried away about pizza or discounts at the Jiffy Lube, I should explain that this appears to be part of the master plan to turn the NCB from a certifying body to a membership organization, like our other major professional organizations, AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association) and ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals). What’s the point here? How will the services be different or better than those professional organizations that already exist (and incidentally, they co-exist peacefully)? Why do we need another professional association? I have no idea.

I only know that in spite of rumblings about forthcoming advanced certifications, which myself and numerous other people think the NCB should be focusing their efforts on, this little project seems to be taking precedence. One reason, and this is only my opinion, is that with 91,000 certificants, they will automatically give “membership” to certificants, allowing them to make the claim of the “largest massage association in the country.” Look for that statement to be the resounding cry on all upcoming publicity. “Largest” doesn’t automatically mean “best,” but it appears the leadership of the NCB is looking at it that way.

Speaking of advanced certifications, the NCB just lost a very valuable staff member with the departure of Paul Parker after 12 years of service. Parker was Director of Examination Development, known for his professionalism and staying above the fray. I’m sure he’ll be missed, particularly if development of advanced certifications is indeed on the horizon. And in another about-face, Betty Ward, who was announced as the new Director of School Outreach in a press release dated April 27, has already left the position, a short two months later. No official word on why that happened.

Another observation: The June 8 press release sent out by the NCB announcing that their certification programs have received accreditation from the NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) contains reference to a remark made by US Secretary of Health, Education & Welfare (HEW), Elliott Richardson, recommending that states adopt certification exams for licensure purposes.

What is wrong with this picture? Nothing, except that Elliott Richardson was Secretary of HEW in 1971 during the Nixon administration when he made that comment.

Times have changed. The profession has changed. The political atmosphere of the profession has changed. The needs of massage therapists have changed. We need advanced certifications. We need cooperation between state boards, such as the cooperation that is happening with the FSMTB (Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards).  It is my opinion that this latest move is in direct response to both AMTA and ABMP endorsing the MBLEx as the path to licensure.

I don’t really think we need another professional association, especially one that is being created just to try and trump the other two.  However, I am a certificant myself, so I’m really looking forward to my pizza discount, and I’ll let you know what the other benefits are as they are revealed.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

As a member of AMTA, I feel that I, and all members, have a vested interest in their affairs. Just because I am a member doesn’t mean I agree with every move they make, and I don’t mind calling them on the carpet when I have a concern. One thing I’ll say for them, and that is that they can be counted on to give a response.

Back when Leena Guptha was the president of the organization, I wrote her a blistering letter about AMTA’s endorsement of the NCB exams as the sole path to licensure. My beef, and what I said to Dr. Guptha at the time, was that AMTA frequently sends out surveys to the membership on various issues, and that I didn’t recall receiving any survey that asked my opinion on that particular issue. I was furious about the organization speaking for the membership when they hadn’t asked the membership, and that came across in the letter. A short while later I did in fact receive a personal response from her. A few months later I was attending the national convention and saw her walking down the hall. I chased her down and introduced myself, and reminded her of the letter. She immediately grabbed me in a bear hug and told me she admired my passion. Now that the AMTA has had a change of heart and endorsed the MBLEx as the path to licensure, I certainly won’t take any credit for it, but I do have the satisfaction of knowing that I had let them know how I feel about it.

I have also written to MK Brennan when she was President, and received a quick response from her as well, and an encouragement to ask any time I had a concern.

Earlier this week, I had a few more issues I wanted some answers to, mainly about fiscal responsibility in the organization, and I sent an e-mail to current AMTA President Judy Stahl. I am pleased to say that she responded in a timely manner, with a reminder to me that as a non-profit association, AMTA is obligated to make public its finances, and letting me know that the current form will be released in July. One of the issues I had questioned was the Executive Director’s compensation. I had heard the rumor that she received a one-third increase in salary, which I personally feel is an exorbitant increase when so many therapists are struggling to make it in this economy. The AMTA Board responded to me that I was misinformed on that. Of course, the tax return will tell. I’ll be looking that over with a fine-toothed comb and reporting the results right here.

Like most other entities that have stock market investments, AMTA took a major hit in the market this year. Stahl and the Board of Directors assured me, however, that the organization has adequate financial reserves, that 25% of the loss has already been recouped, and correctly pointed out that it has had no effect on operations or the services they provide. I had also questioned rumors of declining membership, and the Board’s response to that was that the membership has in fact increased from last year, although falling short of the projected goals.

Transparency in any membership organization is important, particularly so for one that operates as a non-profit, and furthermore, it is our right as members to expect exactly that. I don’t write this blog based on rumors, and I prefer to go to the top to get some answers. In fact, I sent an e-mail to both Neil Delaporta and Paul Lindamood of the NCBTMB questioning some of their recent moves about two months ago, but they haven’t replied. I guess their spam-blocker got me.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen

When I was first asked to blog here, I chose the name “Massage Collage” for my blog because I intended to write about a number of different things pertaining to the massage profession…I didn’t want to limit myself to one subject, and I haven’t. I’ve written about road trips I’ve taken on the way to teach a class, given business and marketing advice, and shared personal experiences from my years in this profession.

If you’ve been a reader for long, you know that I’ve also written quite a few columns about the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. I’ve complained about their interference in state government, exposed what I perceive to be some of their financial excesses, and so forth. Now I would like to say that I am sure not all of you agree with my opinions, and I don’t expect you to; but I’m relatively certain that all of you would agree that I have a right to state my case, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States in which we live.

In reading back through past blogs, I also see that on a number of occasions, I have invited the officers of the NCB to make a response on this blog, an offer that they’ve never taken me up on.

I have been warned by quite a few people in our profession that the NCB intends to discredit me in some way. I’ve heard everything from “they’re going to sue you” to “they’ll take away your certification.” Earlier this week, I heard from someone who is involved with our state legislature that their lobbyist has actually complained about me to our legislators, in an attempt to shut me up. I’ve even heard some things that are funny, like the tale that my picture is on a dartboard in the NCB office.

In response to that, I would like to say that a) as I said above, freedom of speech is a right in this country, and 2) I have not printed any lies about the NCB.

Yes, I have complained about their holding meetings in Hawaii and other ritzy destinations. Yes, I’ve reported about their interference in state boards, the lawsuits they’ve filed against states who have joined the Federation and are accepting the MBLEx, and their attempts at discrediting that exam. Yes, I’ve complained about what I believe to be their lack of transparency.

I don’t want to be known as a one-subject writer, and to that end, I actually hold back a lot of things that I could write about them. And, I don’t pull this stuff out of thin air, either. I have sources in state boards all over the country, and other sources who are volunteers and staff members, past and present, of the NCB. Like any reporter worth his salt, I protect my sources, unless they give me permission to use their name.

So once again, I will make the offer to the officers of the NCB: Anytime I write something on this blog, or elsewhere, that you take exception to, please feel free to post a response and state your side of the argument. You have that right, and an open invitation.

And if I want to write a column complaining about President Obama, I’m relatively certain he would defend my right to do so.

Peace & Prosperity,

Laura Allen