Thanks to everyone who attended and who helped plan our spectacular 
annual Conference, Healing Connections 2008!!

The conference was held on Sunday, October 26, in Charlottesville. 100 people attended the continuing education classes and 120 came to the Chapter Meeting, held at the break with a delicious buffet lunch. All three classes received high marks from attendees, and we enjoyed the opportunities to mill around, catch up with old friends and colleagues and meet new ones.

The three speakers included Suzanne Nixon, EdD, LPC, CMT who taught “A Holistic Approach to Ethical Practices” www.mindbodytherapy.org, Eka Kapiotis, CMT, NCTMB who taught “Reiki I” www.blueskieswellness.com and Jonathan Tripodi, BA, BS, NCTMB who taught “The Science of Body Memory” www.globalhealingtherapies.com. If you missed any of these classes and are interested in reading more about their content or learning when and where classes will be offered next, please use the website links in this paragraph to learn more.

The Chapter Meeting was also a great success!  The chapter was able to elect new officers for the positions of Chapter President, Chapter 2nd Vice President, Chapter Treasurer and Unit Presidents and Treasurers. These officers will serve a two-year term. Delegates for the 2009 National Conference were also elected. Awards and door prizes were handed out during the meeting. See list of elected officers and award winners below.

The Chapter Lobbyist, Becky Lanier-Bowers gave an update on the progress towards creating an Advisory Board position for a massage therapist under the Board of Nursing. She stated that a bill would have to sponsored and written to add this position. The Virginia General Assembly will then vote on it and the Governor will appoint a massage therapist to sit on the Advisory Board. Becky will be contacting Virginia AMTA members to contact their local representative and ask them to support the bill. More information will be posted on the website as it is available.

A change to the Chapter Standing Rules was also voted on. The membership voted to approve Article 5 Nominations and Elections Section 1.3 This states that nominees for Chapter President must have a minimum of 12 months of experience serving as a voting member on an AMTA Board or Committee or as an officer on another non-profit Board of Directors.

Click here to read the minutes from the 2008 Annual Chapter Meeting.

2009 – 2010 Chapter and Unit Election Results

• Chapter President – Lucia Kaestner
• Chapter 2nd VP – Cynthia Parsons
• Chapter Treasurer – Rich Rieger

Northern VA Unit

• President – Bernadette Binns
• Treasurer – Linda MacDonald

Piedmont Unit

• President – Rebeccah Getz
• Treasurer – Dee Walsh

Richmond Unit

• President – Aisha Oxendine
• Treasurer – Kathy Worley

Shining Start Unit

• President – Bea Wilcher
• Treasurer – Brenda Clark

Shenandoah Unit

• The Shenandoah Unit is currently inactive. Members are encouraged to attend meetings held by other units.

Tidewater Unit

• President – Martin Germain
• Treasurer – Open Position

2009 Delegates 2009 Alternate Delegates

Aisha Oxendine            Cynthia Parsons
Rebeccah Getz              Diana Simonton
Linda MacDonald        Carolyn Haase
Gwen Meyer                  Linda Rhett
Franciska Pocanic        Cheryl Machen

2008 Award Winners

• Chapter Meritorious – Betty Mooney
• President’s Award – Cynthia Parsons
• Outstanding Service – Terry Kahn
• Outstanding Service - Polly Vaughan
• Distinguished Service – Dianne Rand
• Distinguished Service – Percy Kotter
• Distinguished Service – Gwen Meyer
• Distinguished Service – Maria Ambrose
• Outstanding Volunteer – Vera Zarth
• Distinguished Officer – Rich Rieger

Lucia and Rich at the Elections Board	Rich reviews the Budget
Vera Zarth receives Outstanding Volunteer Award from Pam	Dianna Rand receives Distinguished Service Award from Lucia
Cynthia Parsons receives President’s Award from Lucia	Rebeccah Getz wins door prize from Lucia