Delegates Report

My Two Years as a Delegate

Hugo Cruz

For the last couple of years, I was lucky to be chosen as one of the California delegates for the AMTA. I would not have been able to go to any of the conventions,  if it wasn’t for the delegate position. There are a lot of perks, and I was lucky to meet some very cool and interesting people that I would have not met otherwise. The AMTA covers your registration and helps you with your hotel and food expenses. The meet and greet was a small get-together for people who live in California, and it was nice to get to know other people in the profession and learn what drove them to become a massage therapist.

The convention was fun and informative. The opening session is a good way to set the tone for the days to follow. Last year it was Michael Phelps, this year it was Emma Lovewell. Both speakers were entertaining and had a lot of great information. They were both really good at getting the crowd fired up. I was given the opportunity to learn from some of the leading experts in massage. The teachers were all so nice and amazing. There were lots of nuggets of information that helped me in my practice and have made me a better massage therapist.  Techniques that I’d never seen or done before were presented in many of the classes.

As one of the two delegates, it was my job to bring the CA perspective on the topics of the Assembly of Delegates (AOD). It was cool to have that responsibility. This year the two topics were on whether or not massage therapy can benefit cancer patients. I thought it was one of the best things possible for someone with cancer. There was a unanimous decision and we moved on to the next topic which was way more controversial. The question was ‘how do we separate the massage industry from the sex work industry and whether or not sex work should be decriminalized.’  I thought it would be best to decriminalize it, but I had no idea on how to separate the industries. Sex work has been operating under the guise as massage for decades. Luckily, I was not alone and the delegates from other states had more experience and thoughts than I did. At the end of that discussion, there were even more questions than answers, one day that’ll clear up.

Besides the convention and the AOD, there were lots of opportunities to hang out with other massage therapists from the country and that was an enlightening experience.  I reconnected with some friends from the year before and I got to meet some new friends this year that were really sweet and kind. It was such a great experience, and I am so grateful for the experiences I got to have as the delegate for the last two years. I will no longer serve as a delegate this coming year, and this opens the opportunity for someone else who is interested in fulfilling the position and going to convention. To that person, I say, good luck and have fun, the role is really easy.

My First Year as Delegate

Mary Radzinski

My experience at the National Convention in Phoenix far exceeded my expectations. It felt great to meet with the Assembly of Delegates and participate in important discussions on topics related to our field. I connected with so many like-minded people from all over the country who care deeply about Massage Therapy and its direction moving forward. 

It was a rewarding experience to represent California along with Hugo at the Assembly of Delegates. I met countless therapists who are dedicated to raising the bar of the field. We discussed pivotal topics such as the regulation of Oncology Massage and how the decriminalization of sex work will impact the field of massage. Everyone had valid input and from their states to create outcomes for the stance of AMTA on these topics. I learned that AMTA is a collective voice of its members and their stance on crucial matters that shape our field comes from a place of research and equal consideration from therapists across the nation. I look forward to serving again next year and will keep my ears open to the climate of California in the meantime. 

The continuing education was stellar. I found it challenging to take notes fast enough! This is a strong testament to the high caliber of instructors AMTA provides its members. I was able to connect with many therapists in the hallways between classes who are doing inspiring things with their careers. I walked away from each conversation with a new connection and newfound inspiration for the direction of my career. 

At the expo, I soaked up so much knowledge from the vendors, all who are so passionate about what they bring to the table in terms of tools, resources, and unique approaches to bodywork. Talking to the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) helped me realize the importance of research in our field, especially as it refers to everything, they are discovering about how massage therapy has a direct role in pain management. Continued research can provide a stronger data bank to educate the public and health care providers about choosing massage therapy as a means of pain management before medication. This can contribute toward solutions to the opioid crisis in our nation. The MTF told me about how massage therapists can write case studies on willing clients to show measurable results of pain management. The process seems straightforward and easy to figure out. There are contests and grants available, and free NCBTMB CEs teaching therapists how to write and submit the reports. I now see how research is a real game changer for massage therapists. 

Lastly, It was amazing to see the different pillars of leadership in massage therapy come together for the common cause of inspiring and educating massage therapists. This gave me a restored hope that our field is on the rise because of our direct role in the wellness of others. I walked away eager to do my part.