California Currents

NEWSLETTER FOR THE CALIFORNIA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION SPECIAL ISSUE

Inside this Special Issue: President’s Message 2

Governor Newsom’s Special Issue Directive 3 This Special Issue of the California Currents is to provide some Off the Cuff Update 4 thoughts, strategies, options, resources and hope. Financial Resources 7 During this time of Social Distancing, our profession has been Education Resources 19 put on hold for the safety of those we touch. This time has Online Courses • Business & Marketing made a huge impact on us as individuals, sole practitioners, • Ethics business owners, primary providers for our families. This has • Facial Therapy Specialty changed how we can do business or have to consider closing • General Massage Course • Master the Classroom our practices forever and return to a secular work force. • Research • Self Care The information provided in this special issue is by no means • Sports Massage Specialty covers all issues, answers every question, but It is our hope

Business Resources 18, 24 that the information within this issue will be a resource you can use now. Information is changing on a daily basis, so Community Outreach please, to keep up with resources, keep checking National’s Opportunities 27 and our own Facebook pages. Those keep updating as trusted Calendar 30 information is provided.

Current Contact 31 We ask that you weather the storm that we are currently in,

AND if you have some resources we have not provided within this issue, please share those with us on our Facebook page. We are looking forward to brighter days with opportunities to come together again. From all of us on your Chapter Board! Be Safe! Stay Home! and Stay Healthy!

American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter www.ca.amtamassage.org

President’s Message

I did not expect to be writing this message. A month ago, our annual business meeting was planned with 2 amazing instructors presenting and it all came to a halt. Right now, this is bigger than us. Eventually things will pass. We will go back to the way things were, but just a bit cleaner. Until then we have to abide by the oath of do no harm.

Receiving calls and emails from or members has been eye opening in this period of time. The difficult part of receiving those calls and emails is that the situation and methods change daily. Look to your state and local government first for the most up to date information. This is the moment to contact your local elected officials and let them know how your business is affected.

Expect a virtual business meeting soon to announce election results. It has been a pleasure to serve you as president the last 2 years. We will survive and when this is over, we will thrive. Be patient and stay healthy.

John Lambert , CMT #278

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Governor Gavin Newsom Executive Order N-33-20 (link) On March 4, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a Stay at Home Order to shelter the state in an attempt to slow down the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus). The Stay at Home Order requires Californians to stay at home unless they are engaged in essential functions. Massage has not be identified as an essential function. CAMTC urges you to comply with the Governor’s Order. AMTA has informed members that if you have chosen to still practice, your professional liability insurance will not cover you at this time, as to continue to work is against the California State Governor’s orders. From Bob Jantsch at National, “The policy through HPSO requires that covered AMTA members are appropriately licensed to provide professional services and that they comply with state, federal and facility guidelines relative to scope of practice and practice setting. If there is a government order that mandates non-essential businesses close, and massage therapy is not considered essential in that governmental jurisdiction, then the therapist would be practicing outside of the governmental order, guidance, law or regulation; and coverage would be excluded in the event of a claim.” Call HPSO with specific questions about AMTA's coverage: 1-888-253-1474

More so, ethically, to continue to touch/massage, which is deemed as not essential at this time, you are putting yourself, those you touch and their loved ones at risk. Please, suspend all of your touch services at this time until the shelter order has been lifted.

Please keep this in mind …

Do not change your behavior to avoid being infected, rather assume you are infected, and change your behavior to avoid transmitting to others.

Remember the basis of “Do no harm!”

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Financial Perspective: Edited: Off the Cuff: Suggestions for You and Your Business During These Times Collected by Michael Roberson

Take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Clear your head of the chaos.

Now, let’s look at some hard financial questions.

What is your household income? This can be different for those who work solo from those who have a spouse/partner. These times may be having an impact on their income as well. Consider that in your household income. What are your monthly expenses? Take a real look at all of your expenses. Rent/Mortgage (home and business), Automobile(s), Groceries, Utilities (gas, electricity, water, phone, internet, cable, etc.), Subscription services: music, movies, others, Credit Cards/Loans, Insurance (Health, Home, Auto), Medication, Child/Elder care, and Streaming services as a list. Anything else you spend money on? Make sure you have everything listed for your grand total of expenses.

What expenses can you reduce or eliminate? This may give you a bit more breathing room.

Now that you have a REAL number of what you need to have that covers everything each month and with a base to work wit, will your current household income cover your household and business expenses? If not, here some suggestion to make use of. (This is not everything, but what I was able to get through speaking with a financial advisor and some on line resources.)

Landlords/Lease Holders – speak with them NOW before your rent/payment is due. Let them know of your financial situation is and see what can be done. Trust me, they are experiencing this financial hardship as well. Being up front with them will reduce the stress for all parties involved. This may provide an opportunity to get out of a lease, if that is what is needed. You may need to close up shop and release your space until such a time you can get back to our business, BUT you will not know until you have honest communication with your landlord/ lease holder. Hope for the best. This could prepare you for the worst. Do not allow things to go to a point of eviction when a conversation could avoid the stress. This applies to home owners as well. Speak to your lenders now. (Off the Cuff continues on page 5)

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(Off the Cuff continues from page 4) Loans and Credit Cards – speak with your lenders NOW. Let them know of your financial situation and see what can be done to reduce or postpone your payments without hurting your credit. Deferments can be made to include interests. Student loans – you can ask for deferment (forbearance) of 3 months. Speak to your lender.

Many utilities offer hardship programs. Go to each of their websites to apply and see if you qualify. If you do not qualify, speak with them about deferment of payment.

Apply for a Small Business Loan through US Small Business Administration. This Disaster Loan Assistance could help you carry over at a lower interest rate (3.75%) Here is where you can apply: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/

If you make use of Square, they also offer a Small Business Loan (look at the details on repayment before committing to this option). (www.squareup.com)

Apply for Unemployment if you are eligible (https://edd.ca.gov/Unemployment/ Filing_a_Claim.htm) (job title is under masseuse/masseur—yeah, I know!) Some new information: • If you are temporarily out of work and plan to return to the same employer, you do not need to meet the usual requirement of looking for work while you are collecting unemployment benefits. The EDD will inform you if you are not required to look for work each week. • If you are not connected to a certain employer with a job to return to, you are required to look for work while collecting benefits. Looking for work can be done from home including using online channels, mailing job applications, calling about job openings, registering in CalJOBSSM (the state’s online labor exchange system), etc. The EDD will inform you if you are required to look for work each week. When filing for your UI claim, you will be asked for your last employer. • If you own your business or are self-employed, you should list yourself as your last employer. • If you are an independent contractor, you should list yourself as your last employer. • If you believe you are misclassified as an independent contractor instead of an employee, you should list the business you contract with as your last employer. Be sure to include: • The employer name, phone number, and address. • Type of work performed. • Dates worked. • Your gross wages and how you were paid (such as hourly or weekly). • If you are a gig worker, you should list your gig employer as your last employer. (Off the Cuff concludes on page 6)

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(Off the Cuff concludes from page 5) Apply for Family Medical Leave if you are eligible (https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus- 2019.htm)

Apply for Disability if you are eligible (https://edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm)

Other resources available (https://www.labor.ca.gov/coronavirus2019/)

You may also need to look at other social services to help in the short term for you and your family: WIC (www.dss.cahwnet.gov), MediCal (https://www.dhcs.ca.gov) CalFresh (https://www.cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh) CalWORKs (https://www.cdss.ca.gov/calworks) CoveredCalfornia (https://hbex.coveredca.com)

You may also need to look at career options. What did you do before becoming a massage therapist? Is there an opportunity to still work within that industry? Is there a job opportunity available? Full, Part time or Temporary? (https://edd.ca.gov)

Miscellaneous Resource

COVID-19 Resources and Updates for Small Business (webinar about 1.25hr)

What other resources do you have that could be of use? We can get through this … together.

Do you have a topic, modality or technique you would like to know more about? Send an email to [email protected] and we will do our best to get your choices into an upcoming California Currents issue. This newsletter is a resource for you. How can we make it work to meet your needs? Let us hear your thoughts.

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COVID-19 Financial Resources for Massage Therapists March 26, 2020 From National AMTA Office

AMTA’s Government Relations team has been reaching out to federal, state and local governments about the need for financial assistance for all massage therapists. We will be updating this page with these efforts, along with additional resources to help you navigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

COVID-19 Federal Relief Package What It Means for Massage Therapists Thank you to the nearly 70,000 massage therapists, along with our families, friends, clients and patients who joined AMTA’s outreach last week to urge Congress to provide relief for our industry and the millions of other small businesses and self-employed Americans that are being devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our collective voices have helped educate Congress about the impact of COVID-19 on massage therapists, massage establishments, and massage schools and was part of the impetus for Congress to take additional action and address this crisis.

AMTA will continue communicating with our nation’s leaders and federal agencies regarding the CARES: The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, and we will update you on this page as we learn more. We want to assure you that we will provide specific details on how to access these benefits as more information becomes available.

Here are the highlights as they relate to the majority of the massage therapy industry (as we know them so far). (Resources continue on page 8)

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Unemployment The relief package expands the size and scope of unemployment benefits, including relief for workers who are self-employed, as well as independent contractors.

• $250 billion to expand unemployment benefits • Self-employed and independent contractors will receive unemployment benefits (updates to come). • Makes benefits more generous by adding $600 per week on top of what a state normally pays in unemployment and provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits. And, provisions will ensure state and local governments and non-profits can pay unemployment to their employees. • Most of the unemployment provisions go through the end of 2020, in recognition of the temporary nature of this challenge. Contact your state’s unemployment insurance program to learn about and apply for unemployment insurance. Small Businesses The bill includes the “Paycheck Protection Program” to incentivize small businesses to keep employees on payroll. The bill also offers debt relief and a statutory requirement that the Small Business Administration (SBA) enact these programs with regulations no later than 15 days after the Act is signed into law.

Small Businesses 7 (a) Loans The measure would establish a new Paycheck Protection Program to let small businesses, nonprofits, and individuals seek loans through the Small Business Administration’s 7(a) loan program.

The measure would authorize $349 billion in total 7(a) lending from Feb. 15 through June 30, instead of the current $30 billion authorization for the 2020 fiscal year.

It would also provide $349 billion for the SBA to fully guarantee loans under the new program, compared with a 75% or 85% guarantee for standard 7(a) loans.

Loans would be available during the covered period for:

• Any business, nonprofit, veterans group, or tribal business with 500 or fewer employees, or a number set by the SBA for the relevant industry. • Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and eligible self-employed workers. • Hotel and food service chains with 500 or fewer employees per location. Eligible recipients could receive loans for as much as $10 million or 250% of their average monthly payroll costs, instead of $5 million. Interest rates during the covered period would be capped at 4%.

Recipients could use the loans to cover eligible payroll costs -- including salaries, commissions, regular paid leave, and health-care benefits-- as well as mortgage interest and utility payments. They’d have to make a “good faith certification” that they’ll use the funds to retain workers, maintain payroll, and pay for rent and similar expenses.

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They couldn’t use the funds to compensate individual employees at an annual rate above $100,000 or to pay for emergency sick or family leave under the second coronavirus response package.

The measure would waive rules requiring recipients to pay certain fees, provide collateral, or be unable to obtain credit elsewhere. SBA rules on company affiliates used to determine small business size would be waived for franchises, food or lodging companies with 500 or fewer employees, and businesses that get financial assistance from a small business investment company.

Approved 7(a) lenders could issue covered loans if they determine a business was operating with salaried employees or paid contractors as of Feb. 15. The measure would provide $25 million for the Treasury Department to set criteria to allow additional insured banks and credit unions to participate.

The SBA would have to assume that eligible loan applicants in operation as of Feb. 15 were adversely affected by Covid-19, and require lenders to let them defer payments for at least six months and as long as one year.

Loans would receive a risk weight of 0% under banking capital rules, meaning banks and credit unions would not have to set aside additional capital to cover them. Lenders that modify covered loans due to Covid-19 would be temporarily exempt from having to make certain disclosures related to troubled debt restructurings.

Loan Forgiveness Recipients of SBA-guaranteed loans under the Paycheck Protection Program could apply for loan forgiveness over eight weeks for eligible payroll costs and for mortgage interest, rent, and utility payments.

The SBA would pay lenders for any canceled debt plus accrued interest. Lenders generally wouldn’t be subject to enforcement actions under the Small Business Act related to loan forgiveness.

Loan forgiveness would be reduced for businesses that fire employees or cut their pay. Businesses could receive additional forgiveness for wages paid to tipped employees.

Covered loans would have a maximum maturity of 10 years following a borrower’s application for forgiveness. The SBA would continue to guarantee remaining balances.

Canceled debt would be excluded from borrowers’ gross income for tax purposes.

The measure also would authorize and provide $17 billion for the SBA to pay the principal, interest, and associated fees for loans under the 7(a), 504, and microloan programs for six months.

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Disaster Loans The measure would provide $10 billion to expand the SBA’s disaster loan program from Jan. 31 through Dec. 31 to cover businesses, cooperatives, employee stock ownership plans, and tribal businesses with 500 or fewer employees, as well as sole proprietors and independent contractors.

The SBA would have to waive certain eligibility rules during the covered period for disaster loans made in response to Covid-19.

The measure also would authorize the SBA to advance as much as $10,000 to existing and newly eligible disaster loan recipients within three days of receiving their applications. Recipients could use the advance funds to pay sick leave to employees affected by Covid-19, retain employees, address interrupted supply chains, make rent or mortgage payments, and repay debt. They wouldn’t have to repay the advance funds.

The measure also would permanently expand the SBA’s disaster loan program to cover small entities affected by emergencies for which the president determines the federal government has primary responsibility, as President Donald Trump did for the coronavirus outbreak.

Taxes (Provides Help for Workers, Families and Small Businesses) Money for families. This comes in the form of a one-time tax rebate check of $1,200 per individual and $500 per child. The rebate would be based on 2019 taxes, or for individuals who haven’t filed, against their 2018 taxes or 2019 Social Security statements.

Payments would be made through Dec. 31, 2020. They could be delivered electronically to accounts where a taxpayer had authorized deposit of a tax refund or other federal payment on or after Jan. 1, 2018. Notice would have to be sent to the taxpayer within 15 days of sending the payment. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said during a March 25 White House virus briefing that the department could begin sending payments in as little as three weeks.

A Social Security number would be required to claim the credit, although only one number would be required if one spouse was a member of the Armed Forces.

The full credit amount ($1,200 individuals, $2,400 couples, $500 for children) is available for individuals with income at or below $75,000 ($112,500 for heads of household), and couples with income at or below $150,000.

The tax rebate amount will be reduced by $5 for each $100 that income exceeds above income limits. That means for those without children, an individual will not receive any rebate if their income exceeds $99,000; and the same is true for couples with more than $198,000 of income.

Loosens Rules on Retirement Accounts. Older Americans that are subject to mandatory minimum distributions from their retirement accounts are able to keep their capital invested instead of being forced to cash out to draw on that capital without penalty, which is suspended for 2020. Similarly, the bill also waives the 10% penalty on coronavirus-related early distributions from 401(k)s and IRAs, which applies to distributions made at any time during 2020.

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• Delays Payroll Tax Payments for Employers: Employers are able to delay the payment of their 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022, leading to approximately $300 billion of extra cash flow for businesses. • Restores Supports for Businesses Suffering Losses: The bill also allows businesses to carry back losses from 2018, 2019, and 2020 to the previous 5 years, which will allow businesses access to immediate tax refunds. • Encourages Businesses to Invest in Improvements: The bill fixes cost recovery for investments in Qualified Improvement Properties, which will allow Payroll Tax Deferral. The measure would defer employer payroll and railroad retirement tax payments through the end of 2020. Deferred funds would be paid over two years in 2021 and 2022. The delay would provide businesses with about $300 billion of cash flow, according to a summary from House Ways and Means Committee Republicans.

Deferral wouldn’t apply to employers with small business loan debt forgiven under the bill. The measure would defer 50% of self-employed Social Security tax payments. The measure would appropriate funds to cover any forgone revenue to the Social Security and disability insurance trust funds and Social Security Equivalent Benefit Account.

Employee Retention Credit The measure would establish a refundable credit against employer payroll and railroad retirement taxes for certain employers that are hurt by the coronavirus but retain their employees. The credit would be for 50% of eligible employee wages paid after March 12, 2020, and before Jan. 1, 2021. It would be provided for as much as $10,000 of compensation, including health benefits.

Employers could receive the credit if a government order related to the pandemic requires them to partially or fully suspend operations, or if their gross receipts declined by certain thresholds. Alternate rules would apply for tax-exempt organizations.

Employers with more than 100 full-time employees in 2019 would receive credits for wages paid to employees while they aren’t providing services. Employers with fewer employees would receive credit for wages paid while operations were suspended or during the quarter in which the company had a significant decline in gross receipts.

Employers couldn’t receive the credit if they receive a loan under the SBA Paycheck Protection Program for 7 (a) loans established by the bill (see above).

Employers couldn’t use the credit for wages for which they also receive a credit under the work opportunity tax credit or a paid leave credit established by the 2017 tax overhaul (Public Law 115-97). Wages taken into account for the paid leave credits established under the second coronavirus response law (Public Law 116-127) couldn’t also be used for the employee retention credit. The credit wouldn’t apply to federal, state, or local government employers.

The measure would appropriate funds to the Social Security and disability trust funds and the Social Security Equivalent Benefit Account to offset the reduction in revenue.

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Retirement Plans Individuals could withdraw as much as $100,000 from their retirement accounts in 2020 without being subject to a 10% penalty. Funds would be treated as a tax-exempt rollover contribution if repaid in the next three years. If funds weren’t repaid, they would be taxed as income over three years.

Individuals would be eligible to make withdrawals if they, their spouse, or their dependent are diagnosed with Covid-19, or if the pandemic hurts their finances, such as through layoffs or reduced hours.

Eligible individuals could receive loans for the lesser of $100,000 or the present value of their vested benefits in their employer retirement accounts in the 180 days after the bill’s enactment. The limit is currently $50,000 or half the account’s value.

Individuals affected by the coronavirus with retirement plan loans due by Dec. 31, 2020, would have an extra year to repay them. The measure would modify certain retirement plan and account minimum distribution rules for 2020.

Charitable Contributions The measure would create a $300 above-the-line individual charitable contribution allowance for individuals who don’t itemize their returns for tax years beginning in 2020.

The measure also would suspend for 2020 the limit on the individual charitable deduction, which is available to filers who itemize. The deduction is limited to 60% of individual taxpayers’ adjusted gross incomes through 2025.

The corporate charitable deduction limit would be increased in 2020 to 25% of taxable income, from 10%. A deduction for food inventory contributions would be increased to 25%, from 15%.

Student Loans Employer student loan repayment assistance paid after the bill’s enactment and before Jan. 1, 2021, would be excluded from employees’ income tax. Repaid amounts would count toward a $5,250 limit on other forms of employer-provided education assistance, such as tuition and related expenses, that can be excluded from income.

Business Losses The measure would allow business losses from tax years after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2021, to be carried back five years. Net operating loss carrybacks were eliminated for most businesses by the 2017 tax overhaul. Separate rules would apply to real estate investment trusts and life insurance companies.

The measure would allow the full amount of net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks to be used for tax years beginning before Jan. 1, 2021. The deduction was limited to 80% of taxable income under the 2017 tax overhaul. A separate deduction limit would be established for tax years beginning after Dec. 31, 2020.

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The measure would modify the effective date of changes to the net operating loss deduction included in the 2017 tax overhaul. Republicans have previously sought changes to the date language, which they say doesn’t reflect congressional intent. The measure would also modify net operating loss deduction limits for pass-through businesses and sole proprietorships.

Other Business Provisions The measure would:

• Allow companies to more quickly access their remaining alternative minimum tax credits. The 2017 tax overhaul eliminated the corporate AMT but made remaining AMT credits refundable over several years, ending in 2021. • Allow businesses to deduct 50% of their interest expenses in 2019 and 2020, with adjustments, instead of 30%. Separate rules would apply for partnerships. Address the “retail glitch” from the 2017 tax overhaul, in which the depreciation schedule for certain restaurant and restaurant and retail businesses’ qualified improvement property was inadvertently length- ened to 39 years. The bill would classify qualified improvement property as 15-year property, or 20-year property under an alternative depreciation system. The classification would make the property eligible for temporary “bonus depreciation” established by the 2017 tax law, which would allow it to be written off immediately. Businesses to immediately expense these investments. Unemployment and Paid Leave (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) The measure would provide an additional $600 per week in “federal pandemic unemployment compensation” to individuals receiving unemployment benefits. The extra payment would remain available through July 31, 2020. It would be excluded when determining eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

The measure would allow individuals affected by the coronavirus to receive pandemic unemployment assistance for as long as 39 weeks, which would include any week for which they receive regular compensation or extended benefits.

Unemployment benefits under that program would be available to individuals who are in quarantine, caring for a diagnosed family member, or out of work because their employer closed due to the coronavirus. It also would be available to those who are self-employed, have limited work history, or otherwise wouldn’t qualify for unemployment benefits. Benefits wouldn’t be provided to individuals who can telework with pay or who are receiving other paid leave benefits.

The benefit provisions would apply retroactively to Jan. 27 and remain in place through Dec. 31. Compensation would be provided without any waiting period.

The measure also would provide an additional 13 weeks of pandemic emergency unemployment compensation to individuals who have exhausted regular benefits. Emergency benefits would remain available through Dec. 31.

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Coronavirus Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources & Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program Small business owners in designated states are currently eligible to apply for a low-interest loan due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click here to apply.

Find more information on the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loans at SBA.gov/Disaster. Unemployment Benefits and the Coronavirus The federal government is allowing states to change their laws to provide unemployment insurance benefits related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Each state’s rules may be different. Contact your state’s unemployment insurance program to learn about and apply for unemployment insurance.

States would be paid 100% of the total amount of unemployment benefits they provide, including administrative costs in certain cases. The measure also would fully reimburse states for providing compensation the first week of unemployment, without a waiting period. In addition, states would receive funding to reimburse nonprofits and government agencies for half of their costs of providing unemployment benefits.

Healthcare Assistance In addition to increasing access to care for COVID-19 treatment, the bill removes limitations employers and individuals are facing on their HSA-eligible plans.

• Eliminates Red Tape for Employers and Individuals: The bill ensures that Americans can use all tax- favored health care accounts, like HSAs and FSAs, to buy over-the-counter medicines tax-free without a prescription. In addition, high deductible health care plans with HSAs will now be able to provide coverage, pre-deductible, for telehealth services. We encourage you to continue to check this page for updates on how the massage community can tap into these resources, as well as those provided by individual states.

We truly value the amazing work you do as massage therapists, and we are working tirelessly to advocate for your needs during this tough time. We will get through this together.

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Utilities Relief Many utility companies are freezing shut-offs, meaning that if you are unable to pay your bill during the crisis, they will not shut off your utilities. Check with your utility company about deferring your payments.

Rent Relief The Department of Housing and Urban Development, as well as many cities and states, have place a moratorium on residential evictions and foreclosures, so your landlord may not evict you even if you can't pay rent. (You will still be responsible for paying back the rent owed when the moratorium is lifted.) Consider asking your landlord to reduce or delay rent payments. There is a letter template you may use here. Tax Deadlines The federal tax deadline for filing and payments has been pushed back to July 15. Many states have pushed back their deadlines as well, however, this does not mean that every state has. You should check with your state treasurer’s office.

California March 19, 2020 -The Governor has issued a shelter in place order for most businesses in the state and has ordered all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence.

As of March 23, 2020, Effective immediately AMTA will no longer cancel memberships for non-payment through at least May 31, 2020. We ask those members that are still able to pay their membership dues to consider doing so, as this will enable AMTA to broaden this effort for those that are less fortunate during this crisis. AMTA is a community and you are AMTA. This is just one way we rally behind each other. https:// bit.ly/2UxdENu

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The National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) The National Certification Board has announced that all US and Canadian testing locations for the Board Certification exam are closed from March 18 through April 15. Click here for FAQs from the testing center, Prometric.

Support Economic Efforts To Help The Massage Therapy In- dustry, Severely Impacted By COVID-19 March 19, 2020 - 11am Please read the letter below in which we are asking all massage therapists, along with our industry and organizational partners, to take a moment and contact your individual U.S. representative and U.S. senators to express support for economic relief and aid for the massage therapy profession and small businesses, schools and independent contractors across the United States.

Dear AMTA Family, The current COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us, including the massage industry. By now, many of you are facing a new reality that immediately affects your employment, education, and businesses. State and federal guidelines regarding closures and definitions of social distancing have been changing by the hour, and AMTA is committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information, guidance and advocating on your behalf. AMTA is working with state and federal government/agencies to help, where we can, to minimize the short and long-term impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are all in this together, so we are asking all massage therapists, along with our industry and organizational partners, to take a moment and contact your individual U.S. representative and U.S. senators to express support for economic relief and aid for the massage therapy profession and small businesses, schools and independent contractors across the United States. Federal legislation has passed, and other legislation has been proposed and is being considered which would provide varying forms of relief and aid for self-employed/independent contractors and small businesses. We understand the hardships you, your families and your practices are experiencing as a result of COVID-19 and are striving to have the full massage therapy industry recognized in any possible legislative solutions. Please join the industry in advocating for all massage therapists and our schools during these uncertain times and take action through clicking on the button below and submitting the following letter to your members of Congress. Thank you for your support of massage therapy. Stay safe, stay healthy!

COVID-19 Financial Relief Resources March 19, 2020 - 11am Please check our Financial Relief Resources page for detailed information to help you navigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

Unemployment Benefits and the Coronavirus The federal government is allowing states to change their laws to provide unemployment insurance benefits related to the coronavirus (COVID-19). Each state’s rules may be different. Contact your state’s unemployment insurance program to learn about and apply for unemployment insurance.

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As of March 27, 2020 The health of our AMTA community is our absolute top priority. In light of the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) developments, we’re committed to closely following updates and keeping everyone’s health top of mind. We’ll be updating this news page regularly to share the latest information.

Quick Links: Coronavirus Resources Financial Relief Resources Advocacy and State Specific Information

Financial Relief Resources March 27, 2020 - 1pm AMTA’s Government Relations team has been reaching out to federal, state and local governments about the need for financial assistance for all massage therapists. We will be updating the Financial Relief Resources page with these efforts, along with additional resources to help you navigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

AMTA Membership Dues Update March 23, 2020 - 5pm Effective immediately AMTA will no longer cancel memberships for non-payment through at least May 31, 2020. We ask those members that are still able to pay their membership dues to consider doing so, as this will enable AMTA to broaden this effort for those that are less fortunate during this crisis. AMTA is a community and you are AMTA. This is just one way we rally behind each other.

Top Resources For Information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) provide the latest recommendations for Coronavirus (COVID-19). AMTA advises that you check these resources regularly for important updates. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) World Health Organization (WHO)

State Health Department COVID-19 Pages As the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to spread across the US, health departments have created state landing pages where you can go to get the latest information about the virus in your area. We also include state-based updates and mandates on closures, restrictions, and guidelines related to the massage therapy profession.

MBLEx and National Certification Exam Updates March 20, 2020 - 9am The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards (FSMTB) The Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards has closed all locations for MBLEx testing and will not increase exam fees as previously announced.

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(Additional Resources conclude from page 17)

Coronavirus Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program COVID-19 State-Based Updates and AMTA Advocacy Efforts Updated March 22, 2020 - 12pm The AMTA Government Relations Team has been reaching out to federal, state and local governments regarding clarification on laws, executive orders, and regulations that impact massage therapists during the COVID-19 crisis. We are working tirelessly to help champion financial assistance, and continuing education and license renewal changes for all massage therapists. We will be updating this section with these efforts. As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak continues, many State Health Departments have created COVID-19 information pages and those are included below, along with state-based mandates on closures, restrictions, and guidelines related to the massage therapy profession.

What Can You Be Doing for Your Clients During This Time?

What can we be doing during this time for our clients?

Clients are folks we have a relationship with, so as with all relationships, communication is needed to keep a healthy one.

If you do not have a contact system with your clients already, it’s time to build one. One of your many membership benefits with AMTA is ConstantContact (they offer a free 60-day trial). There are other resources as well, such as ChimpMail or HubSpot. Use them wisely and let your clients know you are thinking of them during this time. You may even want to suggest some at home therapy, self-massage techniques, maybe recommend some apps that they can access such as Calm, Headspace, Portal, Oak, Zen or there are workout apps such as Julian Michaels, NTC (Nike Training Club) or Yoga Studio. There is an endless list of possible apps to connect to, so encourage your clients to find something that works for them. Please note, some of these apps are free, have a free trial period, or require a purchase.

If you have the technology and time, you may even make use of Zoom or FaceTime to have a personal face to face time. Here you can demonstrate some of those self-care tips, reflexology, tapping, etc. Share your favorite app with them.

More so, let your clients know that you are thinking of them and you cannot wait to see them as soon as it is safe and healthy for to do so. If you have made some updates to your website or Facebook page, Instagram, etc., share that with them and encourage them to check it out.

What are you doing to keep in touch with your wonderful clients? Share those ideas with us on our Facebook page.

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FREE Online Massage CE Courses AMTA - The Nonprofit Advantage As the largest nonprofit massage therapy association, the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is the most respected name in the massage therapy profession. Further your career with these FREE massage CE credits.

AMTA offers free courses in: Self-Care Business & Marketing Ethics Master the Classroom Research

Please note that these courses are offered to ALL, members and non-members alike. Please share this with other colleagues.

FREE Self-Care Courses

Self-Care for Massage Therapists: Body Mechanics - 3 CE credits A solid understanding of body mechanics—or biomechanics—gives massage therapists the tools to provide effective massage therapy with efficiency, reducing the impact to their body while delivering therapeutic care.

Self-Care for Massage Therapists: Injury Prevention - 2 CE credits Self-care is important for all professions, but especially massage therapists. AMTA's self-care survey showed that about one-third of therapists have sustained an injury as a result of performing massage, and upwards of 90% of therapists say that they are in pain at any given time.

(Education continues on page 20)

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(Education continues from page 19)

FREE Business & Marketing Courses

A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Malpractice – 2 CE credits Learn how you can protect yourself from legal malpractice action. This course includes actions you should take if you suspect you’ll be sued — or if it comes to pass that you are actually sued.

Attracting Business Clients: Part I- Start-up and Retention – 2 CE credits Specific actions can help get massage therapy clients in the door and ensure they return. Learn unique ways to plan your marketing for a start-up clientele and for repeat business.

Attracting Business Clients: Part II-Expansion and Recovery – 2 CE credits All businesses go through cycles. This course addresses the cycles of expansion and recovery and how to as- sess your business to formulate a plan you can use to address your business building needs—whether for expansion or to recover from a decline in business.

Brand Your Way to Success – 1.5 CE credits Access branding tips and techniques for massage therapists to use. Applicable components of a brand and use of real-world massage therapy examples for massage therapists.

Grow Your Practice: Teach Wellness Classes – 3 CE credits Learn how to confidently deliver presentations and courses about health and wellness that will help to improve success with current massage therapy clients and cultivate new clients.

Growing a Thriving Practice—Systems for Success – 3 CE credits Effective communication with your massage therapy clients can be the key to a successful massage therapy practice. Learn innovative ways to build business success through personal interactions.

Insurance Reimbursement and Massage Therapy – 3 CE credits Explore how to work with insurers and other healthcare payors on reimbursements. Understand the entire process including steps to begin, organizations involved, and managing denials.

It's Your Business-Understanding Business Concepts – 3 CE credits Determine ways to limit liability for your massage therapy practice through the business entity you choose, contracts and forms. Also learn how ethical behavior, negotiations and insurance can be key to the success of your massage therapy practice.

Making Your Mark-Guerilla Marketing for Massage Therapists – 3.5 CE credits Delve into a number of inexpensive marketing tools, techniques and ideas—including the Internet and social media—that will help you build a successful massage practice.

Planning for Tomorrow to Help You Today – 1 CE credit Budgeting and planning for the next fiscal year is an important aspect of any business; this session will focus on the fundamentals of why planning is so important.

Protecting Yourself from Malpractice – 2 CE credits Common sense methods enable you both to prevent a malpractice lawsuit, protect yourself in the event of one, and ease your mind so you can provide clients with the best and safest care. (Education continues on page 21)

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(Education continues from page 20)

Resolving Conflict in Your Massage Office – 1 CE credit This session discusses several different leadership styles and personality types, how each manages conflict and how to manage conflict with each type in a constructive ad communicative way.

Smart Marketing With Social Media – 2 CE credits – VIDEO This course will teach you how to grow your business, make more money, increase your professional network and market yourself and your business effectively and more affordably with social media.

Taking Care of Your Taxes – 3 CE credits Learn the benefits of an accounting system, including preparation of accurate income tax returns and managing information to more successfully run your massage therapy business.

Taxes for Massage Therapists – 2 CE credits – VIDEO Understand how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 affect your taxes. Learn what defines a business entity, how to file, and common tax deductions for massage therapists.

FREE Ethics Courses Self-Evaluation for an Ethical Practice - 2 CE credits Massage therapists can enhance their practice and support their own self-care through regular assessment of strengths, weaknesses and limitations. This course explores why self-assessment is important and nec- essary in maintaining ethical boundaries. This course counts towards NCBTMB’s Ethics credit requirement.

Sports Massage: Ethics and Building Trust – 2.5 CE credits Learn about transference, countertransference, special confidentiality requirements and workplace challenges, as well as how to manage vulnerabilities and boundary issues that arise in this specialty.

Dealing with Ethical Gray Areas in Massage Therapy – 2 CE credits This course shows you how to use codes of ethics and a decision-making model to determine solutions for your professional ethical problems.

Ethical Dilemmas Fully Exposed – 1 CE credits – VIDEO Explore real scenarios that demonstrate the ethical decisions massage therapists make every day. Topics include: scope of practice, professionalism, transference, and dual relationships.

Ethics and the Power Differential – 2 CE credits Determine how power affects the massage therapist and client relationship. Explore how power is defined, amplified and misused in this type of relationship and how ethical monitoring of the power differential can improve your client’s satisfaction, ease and build trust.

Ethics for Massage Therapists: A Comprehensive Overview – 3 CE credits Explore ethical dilemmas, and how to resolve them to maintain a safe, successful practice. Learn guidelines for ethical use of social media.

From the Client's Perspective: Marketing, Policies and Ethics of your Practice – 2 CE credits Explore the client’s view of your marketing efforts, physical location and business policies. Learn how the ethics of your policies can affect client perceptions. (Education continues on page 22)

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(Education continues from page 21)

FREE Research Courses

IMTRC: Addressing the Opioid Epidemic with Massage Therapy - 2 CE credits - VIDEO As the United States struggles with an epidemic of opioid use and its devastating effects on lives, society and the economy, it's important to consider the role massage therapy can play in pain management.

IMTRC: Anxiety Disorders and Massage Therapy – 1 CE credits – VIDEO Learn about research on the acute effects of Swedish massage therapy (SMT) as a monotherapy for the treatment of subjects with generalized anxiety disorder.

IMTRC: Arthritis and Massage Therapy – 1 CE credit – VIDEO Explore research on the effects of massage therapy as a stand-alone treatment for pain and functional outcomes for those with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.

IMTRC: Breast Cancer and Massage Therapy – 1 CE credit - VIDEO Learn how myofascial massage is a promising treatment to address chronic pain and mobility limitations following breast cancer surgery.

IMTRC: Health & Wellness: The Role of Integrative Therapies – 1 CE credit – VIDEO Massage therapy plays in an integrated approach to care for chronic musculoskieletal pain. Learn about NCCIH’s efforts to increase patient access to integrative therapies and ways massage therapists can be more involved in this work.

IMTRC: Low Back Pain and Massage - 1 CE credit – VIDEO Hear how the Kentucky Pain Research and Outcomes Study evaluated massage therapy’s impact on pain, disability, and health-related quality of life for patients with chronic low back pain.

Reading and Research Article – 3 CE credits – VIDEO To stay current in the massage therapy profession, research literacy is essential. Learn to read, evaluate and critique research, and to adapt these skills to write your own article.

Research and Massage Therapy – 3 CE credits Learn how to evaluate and incorporate research results into your massage therapy practice.

Research on and Treatment of Diabetes – 2 CE credits Review diabetes research that focuses on new approaches and the science behind them. Get tips on ways to connect and communicate with health care workers who have patients with diabetes. (Education concludes on page 23)

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(Education concludes from page 22) FREE Master the Classroom for Massage Educators Courses

Assessing Skills and Abilities through Oral and Practical Exams – 4 CE credits The learning objectives of this course explain how to align student assessments with the knowledge, skills and abilities they are expected to grasp from a course.

Building Blocks: Basics of Effective Teaching – 2 CE credits Gain an overview of adult learning foundational and theoretical principles and theories. Lessons include what is known about how adults learn and ways that these theories and ideas can be applied in the classroom.

Creating an Environment for Learning – 3 CE credits Key elements for creating an environment for learning with emphasis on looking at the role communication and classroom management has on learning, as well as ways to manage challenges you may encounter in the classroom.

Key Elements of Effective Course Planning – 2 CE credits Lessons include laying the groundwork for successful course planning, developing learning objectives, writing a syllabus and lesson plans, learning assessments and the importance of reflection to bring it all together.

Nuts and Bolts: Basic Elements of Instructional Design – 3.5 CE credits Learn how to design an effective and exciting class. The first part introduces the standard instructional design model called the ADDIE model. It also includes a working knowledge of relevant learning theories.

Understanding Competencies – 2 CE credits What are competencies, how they are created and how they can be used in the classroom? This course explores how they can be used in the classroom and why they are critical to the success of our students.

Have you started the Sports Massage Specialist Certification? Here are the classes you need to take to complete the certification. The live and hands on workshops are only a portion of the complete program. The live and hands on workshops will be offered at the National convention and the Chapter may offer these hands on workshops again in the near future.

The American Massage Therapy Association's in-depth Fascial Therapy Continuing Education Pro- gram outlines introductory information on the numerous techniques related to fascial therapy. Learn more about this advanced continuing education program and how you can get started. The AMTA Fascial Therapy Continuing Education Program is a great opportunity to expand your skill set while earning up to 19 rigorously vetted, NCBTMB-approved CE credits. Earn up to 11 CE credits with the three online courses and 8 CE credits at the hands-on workshop. Take one or all of the courses.

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COVID-19 and Massage Practice

THE NAGA CENTER SCHOOL OF TRADITIONAL THAI MASSAGE AND MEDICINE·MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2020· By Nephyr Jacobsen

In the last 24 hours [March 16] I’ve had a constant stream of Everything we do before a people contacting me all asking the same question; should they pandemic will seem alarmist. suspend their massage practice because of COVID-19? In short, Everything we do after will seem the answer is yes, they absolutely should. At this point most inadequate” - Michael Leavitt people are responding to me with a sigh of resignation indicative of them already knowing this and just needing to hear it from someone else. But for those who are still rationalizing continued practice, or those who are wobbling on the fence, I offer some thoughts for your concerns about financial instability and your question of are we possibly over-reacting. Regarding Over-reacting - a few thoughts • Aren’t people just overreacting? No, people are under-reacting. I mean, sure, buying all the toilet paper in stores and getting into fights over it is definitely over-reacting, but in general too many people are not taking this disease seriously enough. In the last 24 hours 386 people died in Italy from COVID-19. They are stacking coffins outside of mortuaries because they don’t have room inside for more. The U.S. is a week or two behind Italy in the disease progression and we don’t have any accurate numbers regarding infection rates here because our country is barely testing for it. People continuing to hang out in groups, massage clients, shop unnecessarily etc. are all under-reacting. • I am young and healthy, so I’m not worried Do you have any elders in your life or your massage practice? (If your answer to this is no, then I highly recommend that when this is all over, when it’s safe, you do your best to make friends with an elder; go to an elder care facility, or adopt the old lady who lives down the street). If you do have elders in your life, or asthmatics, or heavy smokers, or immune compromised folk, or you work with those who are houseless, or you are friends with someone who has people from any of these groups in their life, or you are friends with someone who is friends with someone who has people from any of these groups in their life, then it isn’t about you. People with no symptoms are capable of carrying and spreading the virus to others and un- wittingly killing them. (Jacobson continues on page 25)

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(Jacobson continues from page 24) • Let’s just all get it so that we can become immune and get it over with Okay, for starters, a lot of people will die with this approach. Plus, there have been cases of reinfection. It’s not known how long antibodies to COVID-19 last, so there is no reason at this point to think that letting it sweep through a community will prevent future infections. • Everything is going to be fine, there will be a vaccine soon Experts are saying that we are likely 18 to 24 months from a vaccine. And that’s if everything goes extraordinarily well. • A gazillion people die every year from the flu so why are we so worried about this? COVID-19 spreads 2 to 3 times faster than the flu and is at least 20% more deadly than the flu. But even more importantly, we don’t have the resources to handle it. We don’t have enough ventilators in the hospitals; not even close. We don’t have enough doctors (and many will become sick themselves). We don’t have enough hospital beds. We don’t even have enough masks and gloves. We prepare for the flu outbreak every year; we are not prepared for this pandemic. The only way to stop this virus is for all who can to practice extreme social distancing. That’s it, that’s the only way. Regarding Money - I know, this is how we make our living A few weeks ago my teacher was here from Thailand, teaching in-depth contemplations on the Buddhadamma from which Thai medical theory stems. At one point he said that it’s best when healing arts practitioners have another job for income and practice healing arts on the side, whether or not they accept money for their medicinal work. He said the reason is because healing must be our primary motivation for this work and that being dependent upon healing arts for money always brings ethical complications. These are not his exact words, but it’s the takeaway I had from his teaching. I am seeing the reality of his words unfold before my eyes right now as massage therapists continue to work despite every medical and scientific expert in the world saying that the ONLY way to stop the spread of this disease, a disease that is killing people, is to avoid all non-essential contact with one another. I saw a massage therapist write about doing a session the other day on a client who coughed throughout the session, and then the therapist continued working on others. Because they needed the money. When we place money above the health and safety of our community we can no longer say that we practice healing arts. When we knowingly risk spreading a deadly disease in the name of income we can no longer say that we practice healing arts. When we fail to stay updated and educated about the realities of a pandemic, we (Jacobson concludes on page 26)

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(Jacobson concludes from page 25) can no longer say that we practice healing arts. If we aren’t really practicing healing arts, then we may as well get another job. I know this sounds callous, but can you imagine having to tell all of your clients that you exposed them to COVID-19? And by extension exposed their grandparents and their immune compromised friends? For most of us this comes too late; we should have considered what else to do long before being put in this situation. But we weren’t expecting a global pandemic. Now we know, now we can plan for the next one (and there will be a next one). For now we just have to do whatever we can to get by without hurting anyone. There are a lot of people offering help; accept help. Hopefully there will be some sort of government financial assistance. Hopefully landlords will extend grace periods on rent. Hopefully we will all find our humanity and be kind and take care of one another. For us massage folk, that starts with suspending practices. I know that the financial impact will be real and difficult for a great many people, not just massage therapists, and I am saddened by this. I’ve talked to more than one person in tears today. I know that people will lose a great deal of income. People will lose jobs. People will possibly lose houses. People will lose security. But what we are trying to prevent is people losing lives. I’ve been extremely poor most of my life. As a child there were times when we lived in a 15 foot trailer without plumbing or electricity. As an adult I’ve lived well below the poverty level more years than I have lived above it. This is all sucky, and I don’t wish it on anyone, but it’s mostly survivable. For a great many people COVID-19 is not survivable. We have to think differently for a while. We have to think of survival in literal terms. We can get past this. We can all think outside the box. I know yoga teachers who are offering classes via zoom. I’m wrapping up creating an online ethics class that was always intended to be partially a fundraiser. The first fundraiser I see it being is one to aid to people struggling due to COVID-19. I’ve cancelled my upcoming class and am figuring out how to teach it another way; which won’t be easy with this class. Those who can help others must help others. Those who need help, must accept it from others. We are living through something that we have never seen before, but we are kind and we are smart and we will figure out a way through. If, after reading this, and all the other things you are reading, you still intend to keep your massage practice open, please disinfect after every client. Air out your room after every client (they are now saying that it can be shared through the air, not just in fluid droplets). Have clients bring their own linens. Wash your hands and don’t touch your face. This isn’t enough, only social distancing is enough, but it’s something. Thank you all for all of the care you put into your practices, for all of the kindness you show the world, for all of your perseverance and optimism. Stay rooted in love. Trust. We will get through this.

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Community Outreach Events

Date TBA Stand Down San Diego, San Diego High School Upper Athletic Field For Veterans who have lost everything and are living on the streets of San Diego, this event provides and opportunity to meet with representatives from Veterans Affairs and with representatives from many community services. Massage therapists will join other allied health professionals, providing massages to participating Veterans. Note that all participants are freshly showered before services. This is a 3-day event. You can volunteer for 1 –3 days. Kevin Whitfield is the contact person [email protected] 858.668.9710

Friday, June 4 Camp Pendleton Family Day Massage Event, Del Mar Beach, Camp Pendleton, San Diego This is the 13th annual event with some 3,000+ Marines and their families from 3rd Track. Arrive on base by 10 am and you will be off base by 5pm. Bring your tables and supplies. You will be working on the beach, on top of platforms, with a great view of the festivities and the ocean. Other community organizations will be participating with free food, fun, games, music, and more. This is a great event celebrating “FAMILY”. **This event requires your contact information ahead of time for access on base. Please commit to Michael Roberson, the current coordinator for this event, [email protected], as soon as possible if you are planning to attend.**

Saturday, September 12 Best Buddies® Challenge, Hearst Castle, San Simeon This is the 12th year we have participated in this event. We will be providing post massage to the athletes who complete cycling100 miles (or less). Volunteers are guaranteed 1 nights shared room accommodations, car pooling stipend, T-shirt, door prizes, free food and SWAG bag. All of this and a great location near Hearst Castle, on the coastline. Cynthia Sykes is the coordinator, [email protected] 781.588.0864 (She lives in MA, 3hrs ahead of CA time, DO NOT CALL AFTER 7PM)

Sunday, September 20 SuperFrog® IRONMAN®, Imperial Beach, San Diego This IRONMAN® is one that allow members of the military to qualify for the World’s Championship and has about 80% military participation. We will be providing post-event massages to those athletes and service men/women on the Boardwalk of Imperial Beach. Parking is provided to early arrivals. Arrive by 8am – Done by 5pm. Food, T-shirt, music and ocean view are there for all of us to enjoy. Kevin Whitfield is the contact person [email protected] 858.668.9710

October TBA Oceanside IRONMAN, Oceanside This is a popular IRONMAN event for Southern California. We will be providing post-event massages to those athletes who have completed a swim, ride and run 70.3 miles, on the Boardwalk of Oceanside Beach. Arrive by 8am – Done by 5pm. Food, T-shirt. (This event was scheduled for early April, but had to be postponed until October.) Kevin Whitfield is the contact person [email protected] 858.668.9710

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2020-2021 CALIFORNIA CURRENTS PUBLICATION INFORMATION

The American Massage Therapy Association, California Chapter newsletter, California Currents, is scheduled to have 4 issues a year. Currently, the California Currents has a circulation of over 7,800, reaching our members and massage schools. All issues will be sent green, via email, posted to our Chapter website (www.ca.amtamassage.org) and to our Chapter Facebook page.

Issue Last Date for Submissions Date to be Published Spring April 27, 2020 May 11, 2020 Summer August 3, 2020 August 19, 2020 Fall November 2, 2020 November 16, 2020 Winter January 18, 2021 February 1, 2021 Spring April 19, 2021 May 3, 2021

**dates are subject to change. All newsletter inquiries should be directed to Michael Roberson at [email protected]. Thank you. As of November 2019, per National AMTA policy, the California Chapter’s newsletter, California Currents, will no longer be able to accept new advertising or promotions within our newsletter. Articles are always welcomed. We will have opportunities to support our Continuing Education and Community Outreach Events. If you are interested in supporting our Chapter and members in this way, please send your inquiries to [email protected].

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AMTA-CA CHAPTER Candidate and Volunteer Resume Form

Please print or type Yr joined Name ______AMTA I.D. # ______Home Address ______Phone (w) ______(h) ______Email ______Years in massage ______CAMTC # ______Massage license? ______City/County ______Massage school attended/# of hours ______Date of completion ______Other related schooling ______I am interested in volunteering in the following areas: (details can be found on the Chapter website) Board of Directors: __President __Secretary __Financial Administrator __Board Member __National Convention Delegate

Appointees/Chairs: __Awards __Exhibitors __Parliamentarian __Budget (Member At Large) __Government Relations __Sergeant at Arms __Committee on Candidacy __Newsletter Editor __Social Media __Conferences/Workshops __Sports Massage __Education Chair (Region: __N__C__S) __Website __Northern Rep __ Southern Rep __Other______You want to serve, but not sure where? What skills do you have? and How much time do you want to give? Let us know and we will reach out to you.______

Relevant community or professional experience ______List AMTA Chapter (C) and Unit (U) Offices held with dates (include committees): ______Other Qualifications ______FOR THOSE SEEKING A BOARD OF DIRECTOR POSITION How many hours a week do you estimate will be required to perform the duties of this office?______Are you currently able to commit the appropriate time for the performance of your duties? YES NO What are your reasons and objectives for seeking this office? ______At Board meetings, I understand that I must be present, focused and courteous; that I must put aside my private life for the duration of the function; that I will refrain from introducing distracting influences to other Board Members and that I will be prepared to transact the business of the Association.

______Signature Date

Please submit Candidate and Volunteer Resume Form to [email protected]. If you have any questions about the position, please ask any of the current board members. Additional information on all roles can be found on the chapter website, www.ca.amtamassage.org. Thank you for your submission.

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Calendar of Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 4 Community Outreach Opportunity, IRONMAN® Oceanside, San Diego—Postponed to October, Date TBA

Sunday, May 31 Last Day to submit for the Rick Boden Healer at Heart $10,000 Student Scholarship

Friday, June 5 Community Outreach Opportunity, Family Day Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, San Diego

August 27-29 National AMTA Convention, Phoenix, AZ

TBA Community Outreach Opportunity, Stand Down San Diego, South County *dates to be confirmed

TBA Last Day to submit for the AMTA $2,500 Summer Student Scholarship

Saturday, September 12 Community Outreach Opportunity, Best Buddies Challenge-Hearst Castle, San Simeon

Sunday, September 20 Community Outreach Opportunity, SuperFrog® IRONMAN®, Imperial Beach, San Diego

October 18-24 National Massage Therapy Awareness Week

*Note: Chapter Board Meetings are open to all members. Please contact our Chapter President for access to the call. Meetings are generally, 7.30pm-8.30pm and are subject to change.*

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California Currents Contacts

Chapter Board Appointees Northern Regions East Bay President Northern Representative Far North John Lambert Open Golden Gate [email protected] [email protected] Greater Sacramento Monterey Bay Napa Valley Secretary Southern Representative Redwood Empire Phil Okazaki Open Silicon Valley [email protected] [email protected] Southern Regions Desert Resorts Government Relations Chair Gold Coast Financial Administrator John Lambert Inland Empire Michael Roberson [email protected] Los Angeles-South Bay [email protected] Mid State Newsletter Editor Orange County Michael Roberson San Diego [email protected] Board Member Megan Martin Appointee to CAMTC [email protected] John Lambert Chapter Administrator

[email protected] Jeff Milde

Board Member Calma Association Bonni Kelley Management, LLC [email protected] Elected Delegates 1) Stacey DeGooyer (2019-2020) 2) Karl Reid Kramer (2019)

Chapter Website Follow Us on Facebook National Website Amta-CA-American-Massage-Therapy- www.ca.amtamassage.org Association-California-Chapter www.amtamassage.org

California Chapter’s and National: National’s Office American Massage Therapy Association Phone Number - AMTA Phone Number 916-382-8542 847.905.1638

and EMAIL ADDRESS CA Chapter’s Mailing Address: National’s Mailing Address: [email protected] AMTA-CA American Massage Therapy Association 1721 Eastern Avenue, Suite 19 500 Davis Street Sacramento, CA 95864 Evanston, Il 60201-4668

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