Presidents Report

 Last Months Speaker – Patricia Donahue

 Pat and her husband, Joe Ferguson, did a great job presenting their subject of

Bindegewebsmassage, or connective tissue massage. We honor their commitment to our profession and are proud that both will be receiving the Lifetime Achievement Awards from the World Massage Festival. Thank you, both for coming from Melbourne to be with us.

 We have a new look!

And a new web address – www.fsmtafv.org  

 I hope you have received your email notices about our new website and newsletter changes. Much is still under construction, but hopefully when all is done, the website will have articles from monthly presenters on their chosen subjects and other links of interest and need. We now have a direct link from the website to Florida Chapter 480 massage law for your review when you have law questions and also a link to Florida Statutes 64B7 to aid you in not making professional mistakes that will cost you money if caught. Go to the website and surf a bit to see what is there. Suggestions are welcomed too. We want to make the site as functional as possible for all.

 We owe a big thanks to Greg Neely for his time in working on this project and to Betsy Morrison who now has volunteered to help us maintain the website and newsletter production.

 Hard Times

 Hard economic times have impacted massage therapists very badly, as they always do. I have seen many recessions in my years in this profession and we always loose some therapists when times get tough. Florida has a 12% unemployment rate which means more of your clients are impacted financially and then start looking for ways to cut their home budgets, which include either eliminating or making less frequent their visits to a massage therapist. It all trickles down eventually until everyone is affected somehow.

 As I mentioned at the last meeting, the chapter has lost about 30 members since December. That translates to less funds being available for chapter needs such as helping monthly speakers with travel expenses to come to us, providing a newsletter and website, and other activities.

 The yearly FSMTA membership dues of $125. per year seems like a small amount when you figure it is about ten dollars per month, but when trying to pay $125.00 all at once when money gets scarce it can seem like a mountain to climb. We all understand, and look for better times ahead.  

 Your new chapter board was faced with making some changes in order to get projected spending in line with current income trends. We regret to have had to discontinue the services of Joe Mauro, who has been our webmaster and compiled our chapter newsletter

for many years. Thank you, Joe, for all you have done in the past for our chapter. Our new member volunteer status for these reoccurring events will help us reduce expenses every month.

 Mailing of Monthly Newsletters

 We now also have a new system for sending announcements and email blasts to all members who have email addresses on file with us. Also, as I stated at the last meeting, Greg has spent his time to enter all of your addresses into the system so you can be alerted to special events, reminded about chapter meetings and also to get your monthly newsletter when ready from our website or other link.

 If you have an email address on file, and 190 out of 205 members do, then you will be receiving your newsletter electronically. If you would like a hardcopy, you may then print your own.

 For the others who do not have a computer, you will still be receiving your newsletter by snail mail. Greg has compared the lists and has eliminated the duplicates.  When I recently mentioned snail mail possibly not being an option in the future, it was received as well as taking away a senior citizens social security. We hear you, and want all to have a newsletter. We are just trying to eliminate the needless expense and work for Francis and Erick who printed and mailed 145 hardcopies last month, since many members have been receiving theirs both ways.

 Lost and Found

 Someone lost two women’s rings at the March chapter meeting, probably removed to participate in the therapy exchange during the presentation. They have been found and are in safe-keeping, waiting to be claimed. Call me to make arrangements, Mark 386.214.6268.