Orlando Hosts FSMTA Convention

By Editorial Staff

Massage therapists, students and other massage industry professionals gathered together from near and far in Orlando for this year's 70th anniversary of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) convention Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 12. The Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate's convention halls and classrooms were filled with the positive energy and excitement that only those in the massage profession can bring. As always the convention offered a variety of classes, workshops, exhibitors and ways to expand your knowledge along with opportunities to build relationships with others in the profession.

Leslie A. Young, PhD, Massage Therapy Foundation Trustee, "Thanks to the rich massage therapy school environment in Central Florida, I talked with groups of wide-eyed students soaking up every bit of information about their new profession. They asked great questions and listened intently to information about research and community service grants benefiting the profession. ... Both students and practitioners seemed keen to learn more about research and community service grants in the profession."

Classes were varied and included: "Quick Release Technique" by Don McCann; "Russian Sports Massage" by Oleg Boulmer; "Tenderly Touching the TM Joint" by the event's keynote speaker Judith Delany; and "Massage in Eldercare and Hospice: What It Takes to Serve This Special Population and Get Paid For It!" by Ann Catlin.

Orlando Hosts FSMTA Convention David Kent of Kent Health Systems (on right) gives Chris Rutherford, Friday’s drawing winner, Massage Today’s $500 cash prize. The Massage Today giveaways, MC'd by David Kent of Kent Health Systems and Angie Patrick of Massage Warehouse, were once again a hit with 1,000 "Have You Had Your Massage Today" T-shirts given away along with valuable prizes and cash. For those of you who have not attended one of the conventions with the Massage Today giveaways, participants must be present at the time of the drawings wearing their free Massage Today T-shirts for a chance to win $500 cash and other giveaways. This year, participants received generous giveaways from Massage Warehouse, Bon Vital, Kent Health Systems, Rossiter & Associates, Soothing Touch and Amber Products.

"The 2009 FSMTA convention was a positive experience for the attendees, exhibitors and the association," said David Kent. "The venue was beautiful, classes were taught by the biggest names in the industry and the opportunities to win valuable free prizes daily were outstanding. I congratulate the staff and volunteers of the FSMTA for showing its members and supporters how to take the lemons of a bad economy and make lemonade. The FSMTA convention gets better every year and I am looking forward to returning."

"I had heard a great deal about the energy at a massage show, but as this was my first, nothing quite prepared me for the incredible enthusiam at our raffle," said Bud McLeod, MPA Media's Editor-in-Chief. "The place was a sea of black Massage Today T-shirts and the noise and laughter and clapping from the crowd was astonishing and totally fun."

Orlando Hosts FSMTA Convention Sally, therapy dog from Tampa, getting her CEUs at FSMTA. She goes to all of her massages with her human, Franco Triscritti. The Awards Banquet and Dance was all the rage on Saturday night. After a warm welcome from Maureen Gilbert, FSMTA state president, the dedicated FSMTA staff was introduced and the awards ceremony began. The loudest applause was heard when an award went to the Sanctuary Exhibit which donated all its proceeds (more than $6,000) to the Touch Research Institute. After the banquet, the room was transformed into a hopping disco mania! The enthusiasm of the 70's themed costumes and lively dancing proving undoubtedly that massage therapists have remarkable spirit, style and rhythm.

The 4th Annual BOMT Educator Summit informed educators and school owners on massage therapy regulations. The meeting's presenters included: Professional Resource Network, National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, Florida State Massage Therapy Association, Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards, Florida Department of Education, and The Florida State Board of Massage Therapy. After presenters spoke, audience members participated in an Q&A session.

For more information about this year's convention or to get a preview of next year's gathering, visit the FSMTA Web site at www.fsmta.org.