AMERICAN MASSAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATION
MASSAGE AWARENESS & INVOLVEMENT NETWORK
Click here to learn more about our new "Real Massage" campaign
M.A.I.N PROGRAM
The Massage Awareness and Involvement Network is the Chapter’s integrated and state-wide communications program. MAIN significantly expands the number of ways the Chapter communicates both to its members and to the public, and how we listen to the needs and good ideas from the massage community, our corporate supporters, and governmental institutions. In addition to improving the mechanics and effectiveness of communications, MAIN expands ways in which members and stakeholders can work together to advance the profession in Washington State.
MAIN expands the good work started many years ago by Chapter Units. While local meeting groups continue to be an important element, they are also just one small facet of a large scale communications plan that endeavors to increase internal and external involvement and awareness through networking, outreach, and communications. MAIN strives to expand the opportunities for massage therapists to come together for mutual support, continuing education, and collective action. MAIN offers its support to anyone interested in starting a group, project, or initiative to support LMPs and share the good story about the benefits of massage. We hope that the versatility allowed through the MAIN program will encourage practitioners to work together on activities of mutual interest and passion.
Types of MAIN groups
MAIN groups refer to groups of massage therapists who join together, consistent with the mission of The AMTA-WA, and who wish to collaborate and support the AMTA-WA programming. MAIN allows for a variety of group structures to fit varying levels of sophistication and formality. MAIN groups typically fall into one of the following categories.
Local and Regional Massage Groups: Local and regional groups are the most sophisticated group structures under the MAIN group categories. In their most developed state, these groups will have regular in-person meetings, elected leaders, and possibly a bank account in the name of the group for fund-management. Like former AMTA Units, local groups may feature continuing education seminars and cooperative marketing opportunities.
Local and Regional Clubs: Clubs are the least formal of all types of groups, and may be purely social. Generally, "clubs" would be organized as an unincorporated organization, which can be as simple as having a name for the group of people who have decided to work together. It can be a one-time project, or an ongoing group that meets regularly or when it suits them. One example of a club could be a group of LMPs whose main activity is a weekly walk around Greenlake in Seattle. For this type of activity, there is usually no need for any banking, business, or organizational sophistication.
Online networks: Online networks are increasingly popular. They bring people together who have interests in common, but who may live far enough apart that getting together is just too difficult or expensive. These kinds of groups include any group that meets virtually around massage-related topics and issues. MAIN encourages LMPs to use the social network site, GroupSite (http://www.GroupSite.com) to help create some consistency amongst online groups. This is not a requirement, however.
Projects: have a more action-oriented focus than on-going groups. To the extent projects require an organized group of people it may be useful to create a name and group to get the project accomplished. In most cases, though, more likely than not, the group can be administratively set up in as simple a means as possible. If money is being raised or collected as part of the project, a separate bank account may be needed. One example of this is a member who recently raised funds amongst the massage community for the Breast Cancer three-day walk.
Initiatives (a project with a longer-term focus): Any project or event that aligns with the MAIN principles of awareness and involvement for the massage community, with a longer-term focus (more than just a one-time event). One example of an initiative would be Massage Awareness Day, which is held every year at the legislature to share the story of massage with elected officials and their staff.
Click here to download the application for becoming a MAIN group. More details about group requirements can be found in the field guides, linked below.
Local and Regional Networking Groups
Bellingham -North Cascade Massage Connections
Website: http://ncmassageconnection.org
Everett - Snohomish County Massage Therapist Network
Bremerton - Massage Network Solutions
Port Angeles - Olympic Penninsula Networking Group
Seattle - Seattle Networking Group
Groupsite: www.seattleunit.groupsite.com
Renton - The Get in Touch Group
Covington - South King Massage
Groupsite: www.skingmassage.groupsite.com
Olympia - South Sound Massage Therapists
Groupsite: www.massage.groupsite.com
Vancouver - Vancouver Massage Society
Groupsite: www.massagevancouver.groupsite.com
Washougal - Columbia Gorge Massage Practitioners
Leavenworth - Leavenworth Area Massage Alliance
Groupsite: https://massagewenatchee.groupsite.com
Kennewick - TriCities Touch
Website: https://tricitytouch.blogspot.com
Other Online Networks
AMTA-WA leaders (by invitation only): http://mainleaders-wa.groupsite.com
Massage Emergency Response Team (MERT): http://mert.groupsite.com
For those interested in Reflexology: http://reflexologist.groupsite.com
We encourage members to explore groupsites as a networking option. Click here to see a quick video clip of how groupsites work. If you would like to join a Groupsite network, or wish start a network of your own, please send an email to main@amta-wa.org.
Communication Vehicles
The Chapter has multiple channels for communicating to members and the public. If you have news or information that could be shared via any of the following communication vehicles, please send an email to main@amta-wa.org.
The Chapter Website
The Leaders' Hot Sheet: An internal newsletter sent to AMTA-WA leaders.
The Massage Journal: A quarterly publication sent to all AMTA-WA members. The winter issue is sent to all licensed LMPs in Washington State.
Chapter E-news: An email newsletter sent to all members updating them on massage-related news.
Field Guides: Handbooks that address common questions posed by massage groups and others. See the section below for more information.
Volunteer Training and Development Activities
The Life & Times of the AMTA-WA Chapter: An annual review of the accomplishments of all of the different boards and AMTA-WA based groups.
Quarterly Post Card Mailings: Post cards sent out via mail to all members in the months alternative to the Journal, to update members on current events and other newsworthy issues.
Groupsites and other online social networking groups: Online groups whose mission are in-line with MAIN.
Legal Counsel: The law firm Peick|Conniff has been been engaged to provide legal and business advice to all members.
Field Guides
The field guides are handbooks created and distributed by the AMTA-WA to help aid groups as they align themselves with the MAIN program.
The field guides are currently being edited and reviewed by the Chapter's legal counsel. The uodated versions should be available in June.
Field Guide 1 outlines the basics of the MAIN program and gives tips and tools for creating or becoming a part of a variety of groups that could be eligible for MAIN support.
