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
