2013 Healing Connections
Healing Connections Annual Conference
May 5, 2013
Nourish, Flourish & Thrive!
A Cause for Celebration
Thanks to over 100 people from all over Virginia – and a few from out of state – for a spirited gathering on May 5 in beautiful Charlottesville celebrating our profession, friendship, collegial cross pollination and the pursuit of education. The Healing Connections Conference is AMTA VA Chapter’s biggest event of the year, and provides a place and space for massage therapists to come together and advance our careers, receive updates about our profession on a state and national level, see old friends and make new ones.
President Eka Kapiotis set a lively pace during the Annual Chapter meeting, and 1st Vice President Jana Roselynn Laird briefed members on recent changes in NCBTMB certification and Virginia Board of Nursing regulations pertaining to CMTs. AMTA’s lobbyist and legislative consultant, Becky Bowers-Lanier, kept the audience’s attention with her narrative on the latest Virginia General Assembly session, changes of interest to our profession and a rapid fire Q & A. Treasurer Anthony Falls enlightened the members regarding Chapter finances and approving the fiscal year 2013/14 budget.
Keynote Speaker Gloria Coppola, LMT, joined us from NC and gave a rousing presentation building on the Conference theme: Nourish, Flourish & Thrive. Her personable, interactive speaking style captured the audience’s attention as she shared pointers and encouragement from her 30 years in the massage therapy profession both as a therapist and teacher. A 1 CEU certificate was awarded to Keynote attendees.
The Chapter held it’s elections for officers and delegates electronically this year- a first! This gave us more time for networking, and Eka led the tables through a structured networking exercise which enabled people to exchange information about their personal and professional interests, evolution and visions.
The delicious buffet luncheon which followed featured mostly gluten free, dairy free vegetarian fare, to accommodate the diverse needs of attendees. During the luncheon, two tables full of prizes were raffled off, thanks to the dedication of volunteer Patti Johnson, who solicited, catalogued and set up all the prizes. Winners chose their own prizes as their tickets were picked. The grand prize was a nights’ stay for two at the historic George Washington Hotel in Winchester plus a $100 gift certificate to the beautiful Saumaj Health Spa on the premises.
Classes began in the afternoon, and we were fortunate to have these four excellent teachers, each presenting a 4 hour seminar:
Martin Kestin www.ensomabodyworks.com Secrets of the Neck and Shoulders
Susan Walsh www.msusanwalsh.com/champissage Indian Champissage
Carmen Thompson www.lymphedemahope.com Manual Lymph Drainage
Gloria Coppola www.MassageProCE.com Conscious Touch for Working with Survivors of Trauma
Many thanks to our Chapter Administrator, Judy Harris, for her thorough follow up, her eye for detail and her working knowledge about our Conference. Our many volunteers who helped put this together in a spirit of dedication and fun made this a dynamic, successful event for the benefit of our members and nonmember attendees.
Thanks to our Healing Connections 2013 Workgroup: Pam Soule, Eka Kapiotis and Diana Simonton, for overall vision and planning. Special thanks to Bernie Binns, for set up of the online registration, Rose Winter, Commission on Candidacy, for organizing our nominees and elections, Jana Roselynn Laird, nametags, electronic elections, regulatory presentation, Eka Kapiotis, hotel and luncheon negotiations, overall planning of meeting agenda, presentations, activities, chairing of the meeting, table decorations, Patti Johnson, raffle and goody bag donations, Mary Janick-Smith and Eka Kapiotis for endless editing and the AMTA VA Board and volunteers who pitched in to help with registration, set up and general do-gooding.
