The budget should pass today  http://tinyurl.com/6cvu6s  The governor is
expected to sign the bill.  The above provided link should give insights
into why one does not want to put the power of ones destiny into the hands
of the state.

http://theonlinerub.blogspot.com/   is where you can find the address for
the governator.  At least shoot off an e-mail, in opposition.
-
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

or for that matter, in favor?

It is no wonder the Amta-CA has been doing so well with this current
maniifestation of the foot in the door bill which in the future will result
in falling in line with the Amta national agenda of fair and consistent
licensing throughout the land.  Another key word in the Amta jargon is
portability.

With the centralizing of Amta (the sole sponsor of this
bill) licensing efforts and their adopt a legislator program they could
become winners this time around.  Some pretty heavy hitters that have helped
advance the Amta national agenda in many other states have been coming to CA
to help..  One Sally Hacking was honored at the Amta-CA conference in the
spring because of her unending efforts helping folk in CA.  I had the
pleasure of meetng Sally at the League of Conference, in Boston, in 2000.
She was and apparently still is quite the firebrand.  I wonder if John Fred
or other licensing devotees have played a part in this.  geeeesh... If I had
known she was working in CA, I probably would have been even more loud and
obnoxious.  http://www.amta-ca.org/

Enough chat.. By going to the Amta CA website, http://www.amta-ca.org/, you
will, indeed, see the Amta call for letters in support of this bill.  Don't
let them get it so easily... Write in opposition!!  Amta makes up less than
10% of those doing the work in CA.  They are counting on your silence.  Let
them down by speaking up.  My call for letters is at
http://theonlinerub.blogspot.com/

I am so sad I did not get updates from the Amta-CA.. I did sign on at their
website for updates and even gave them my e-mail at the meeting they had at
NHI...  .
--
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The governator terminated his vow NOT to sign any bills until a budget was
passed.  Let's hope it is only bills impacting the ballot that he
signs.     http://tinyurl.com/5gdhfc

For those keeping up with it.. SB731 is 'enrolled" and ready to go to
the governators desk.  A glossary of terms for legislative activity can be
found ar .  http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/guide.html   You will also find a
legislative overview as to how a bill comes into being.  You've got to want
something really bad to go through what has to be done.  The bill sponsor,
Amta, does really want it.

http://theonlinerub.blogspot.com/  is where you will find an address to
write the governor amongst other things..

It is the 22nd anniverary of my doing this work. To see what I looked like
22 years ago and the beginnings of a work in progress, go to
http://tinyurl.com/5q3exu   For what it is worth, someone said I looked like
Sean Connery as seen here .http://www.imdb.com/media/rm611753472/tt0070948
I think it is a stretch.

Have a great Labor Day Weekend...

Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

From Keith Grants post @ http://tinyurl.com/5l6mxx comes this:

In response to Bev May writing, "As for Bob Flammia's concerns about the
Intent language in the bill, you can thank the CA Republican caucus for
their "comfort" language."

KEG writes, "It goes back to George Lakoff's comment on Republicans having a
"stern father" view of the world and the purpose of government. The
motivation is not to provide positive encouragement and framing but to
ensure that transgressions are punished."

It really does stun the hell out of me that 85% of the folk in our trade
aren't screaming loud enough to stop this bill, especially in light of the
patriarchal behavior of the amta and the Republican Caucus.

Think of your sisters and daughters that will have to pay an ever increasing
ante to enter this work.  SB731 is far from the answer to putting an end to
the cmt/masseuse-hooker connection

85% women in the trade is still a man's world.  Because of being part of the
trade, I will be equally oppressed. But my burden will be less heavy
because, as we all know...  Oh... never mind, that's big picture stuff.  We
are a microcosm of that big picture.

For those interested, this East Bay/SF event is happening on Sunday.  If you
go, look for me in a "I'm a rubber" t-shirt... I don't bite. If Amta wins,
some in the present and all in the future get bitten financially.   As Bev
points out, I rant.  Check out the event with George Lakoff:
http://tinyurl.com/5k64zh

Your reactionary colleague,
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

(http://tinyurl.com/58rre5 is where you will find a note to the politics
list posted by Amta Ambassador Bev May, CA-L&L co chair, addressing concerns
of some of the folk on the politics list.  Two points were addressed
directly to my call for letters. The posts are open to the public.  To post,
one must be a member.)

(1) Bev writes, "As for Bob Flammia's concerns about the Intent language in
the bill, you can thank the CA Republican caucus for their "comfort"
language."

The""comfort" language" is merely the tip of the iceberg...  Amta is to be
thanked for putting us in harms way so the Rep Caucus could do such a
thing. May the prostitution connection be the only harm by the time this is
over.   The last time a bill got as far as the governor's desk, the
governance of massage was placed in the hands of the cities putting us in
the position we are in at this time.

(2) Bev continued, "And for lobbying the Governor now, go ahead, pro or con,
although AMTA-CA lobbyists have told us it is premature - others suggesting
letters now are not much for patience and timing in government."

I would be hard pressed to follow the guidance of the opposition but in this
case, Bev and her Lobbyists are right.  For those following the bill SB731
just flew through the CA-Assembly and is now on it's way back to the
CA-Senate.  I have written my Senator, Don Perata, a letter asking he say
NO.  To find your legislators, go here: http://tinyurl.com/6rp4h7

EVERYBODY knows I am a reactionary.  My call for letters to the governor was
a kneejerk reaction to a call for letter writing from my alma mata the
NHI, in Emeryville.  A copy was sent to Beverly.. If anyone wants a copy, I
will forward it to you.  There are three great sample letters that can be
twisted to be in opposition.  I feel confident the NHI will not mind my
forwarding the call.

SO!  Write your Senator.  Hold off on the letter to the Governator.  It's
appearing a snowball may have a better chance in hell than stopping this
Amta driving, but, hey, that's what they thought last year.  Drop them a
line.



--
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Robert,

You bet I'll be lobbying to stop this bill. Thanks for the info.

LaRose S. Daniels
American Polarity Therapy Association

larose@...
EarthLink Revolves Around You.


----- Original Message -----
From: Rob Flammia
To: rob.flammia@...
Sent: 8/12/2008 3:31:52 PM
Subject: [Freedom_for_Bodywork] Please drop the governator a veto request.
SB731, I take it personally


(After a conversation with a "friendly"" school owner, that said because of
the ABMP already lobbying the Gov to sign this bill it was inevitable it
would pass. Inevitable is a losing state of mind. I am sending this out to
a whole lot of clients, past and present, friends and others. Enjoy the
read.)

Hello all,

Please drop the governator a letter to the following address opposing SB731
ASAP:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: SB 731: OPPOSE

Although an e-mail won't carry as much weight you can e-mail asking he veto
SB731: http://gov.ca.gov/interact I think the subject would be 'OTHER'

The bill will be read for the third time in the Assembly today or, at least,
very soon... It's agenda item 238. It astounds me that in these times the
Assembly would be wasting their time on such, comparatively speaking,
trivial issues.

I take SB731 personally because if what SB731 will require of people looking
to touch others for income was in place in 1986 when opportunity knocked,
you would NOT know me. I would not have been able to afford the costs
required to enter the work. In 1986, I needed a mere 100 hours of training
to start "rubbing" for money. The human body has not changed enough that
any more than that is justified as a requirement to do a massage,
legally, for money. It would be hypocritical for me to support such
requirements.

Most bills intentions appear to be good on the surface, which SB731 does,
but it renders obsolete short, relatively inexpensive entry programs that
are acceptable in many communities around the state. Obscene local
regulations governing massage should be dealt with at the local level and
not dealt with by a board in Sacramento. The bill benefits schools and
other segments of the industry and does not serve you the receiver nor
me the giver of the work, as much as what the bill suggests. The bill
opening follows. The bold sections are my comments.

"THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

*Comment: It so small a number that it is truly amazing they have gotten
this far. The Amta, sponsors of this bill; are to be commended for their
success due to their relentless non stop drive to get their agenda on the
people of CA. Of course spending nearly a quarter million to do it helps a
lot. *
**
* SECTION 1. * *It is the intent of this act to create a voluntary
certification for the massage therapy profession that will enable consumers
to easily identify credible certified massage therapists; *
**
*Comment: The bill is a foot in the door for permanent licensing. No state
that started with a tiered system or voluntary program remains. The
certification does not do anything more than show someone has completed a
program approved by the board being created. The credibility of the work of
a practitioner can only be determined by a receiver. *
**
*assure that certified massage therapists have completed sufficient training
at approved schools; phase in increased education and training standards
consistent with other states; *
**
*Comment: 39 wrongs (licensed states requiring anywhere from 500-1000 hours
of training) do not make a right. *
*"If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it's still a foolish
thing." *
* Bertrand Russell*
**
*assure that massage therapy can no longer be used as a subterfuge to
violate subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of the Penal Code; *
**
*Comment: The Penal Code reads as follows...*
**
647. Every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of
disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor:
(a) Who solicits anyone to engage in or who engages in lewd or dissolute
conduct...

(b) Who solicits or who agrees to engage in or who engages in any act of
prostitution. A person agrees to engage in an act of prostitution.... BIG
SNIP Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fugcn to read the whole thing...

*Comment: The prostitution/massage connection has been a long standing wedge
issue for the trade for a long time. It is myth that imposing a minimum
requirement of ANY number of hours will break that connection. I give the
benefit of a doubt that people know there is more to touch than sex and
violence and can tell the difference between sexual and nonsexual touch.
There are more than enough laws to penalize those providing sexual
touch/massage or violently striking people. Criminalizing anyone willing to
lay hands for income without sex and violence involved without jumping
through expensive hoops is the real crime. *
**
*and to provide a self-funded nonprofit oversight body to approve
certification and education requirements for massage therapists.*
**
*Trickle down economics.. The more it costs me to stay in business, the
more it is going to cost those receiving the work. I know of no board that
has ever reduced the financial burden of a practitioner or reduce the costs
for anyone wanting to enter this work. The suggested nonprofit organization
will mandate anyone wanting to enter the realm of touch for income to enrich
the coffers of for profit schools and other industry segments. *

To see a copy of SB731, go to: : http://tinyurl.com/5qp833

--
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

(After a conversation with a "friendly"" school owner, that said because of
the ABMP already lobbying the Gov to sign this bill it was inevitable it
would pass.  Inevitable is a losing state of mind.  I am sending this out to
a whole lot of clients, past and present, friends and others. Enjoy the
read.)

Hello all,

Please drop the governator a letter to the following address opposing SB731
ASAP:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

State Capitol Building

Sacramento, CA 95814

Re: SB 731: OPPOSE

Although an e-mail won't carry as much weight you can e-mail asking he veto
SB731: http://gov.ca.gov/interact  I think the subject would be 'OTHER'

The bill will be read for the third time in the Assembly today or, at least,
very soon... It's agenda item 238.  It astounds me that in these times the
Assembly would be wasting their time on such, comparatively speaking,
trivial issues.

I take SB731 personally because if what SB731 will require of people looking
to touch others for income was in place in 1986 when opportunity knocked,
you would NOT know me.  I would not have been able to afford the costs
required to enter the work.  In 1986, I needed a mere 100 hours of training
to start "rubbing" for money.  The human body has not changed enough that
any more than that is justified as a requirement to do a massage,
legally, for money.  It would be hypocritical for me to support such
requirements.

Most bills intentions appear to be good on the surface, which SB731 does,
but it renders obsolete short, relatively inexpensive entry programs that
are acceptable in many communities around the state. Obscene local
regulations governing massage should be dealt with at the local level and
not dealt with by a board in Sacramento.  The bill benefits schools and
other segments of the industry and does not serve you the receiver nor
me the giver of the work, as much as what the bill suggests. The bill
opening follows.  The bold sections are my comments.

"THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

*Comment:  It so small a number that it is truly amazing they have gotten
this far.  The Amta, sponsors of this bill; are to be commended for their
success due to their relentless non stop drive to get their agenda on the
people of CA.  Of course spending nearly a quarter million to do it helps a
lot.  *
**
   * SECTION 1. *  *It is the intent of this act to create a voluntary
certification for the massage therapy profession that will enable consumers
to easily identify credible certified massage therapists; *
**
*Comment: The bill is a foot in the door for permanent licensing.  No state
that started with a tiered system or voluntary program remains.  The
certification does not do anything more than show someone has completed a
program approved by the board being created.  The credibility of the work of
a practitioner can only be determined by a receiver.  *
**
*assure that certified massage therapists have completed sufficient training
at approved schools; phase in increased education and training standards
consistent with other states; *
**
*Comment: 39 wrongs (licensed states requiring anywhere from 500-1000 hours
of training) do not make a right.  *
   *"If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it's still a foolish
thing." *
*                                                      Bertrand Russell*
**
*assure that massage therapy can no longer be used as a subterfuge to
violate subdivision (a) or (b) of Section 647 of the Penal Code; *
**
*Comment: The Penal Code reads as follows...*
**
647.  Every person who commits any of the following acts is guilty of
disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor:
    (a) Who solicits anyone to engage in or who engages in lewd or dissolute
conduct...

(b) Who solicits or who agrees to engage in or who engages in any act of
prostitution. A person agrees to engage in an act of prostitution....  BIG
SNIP  Go to http://tinyurl.com/6fugcn to read the whole thing...

*Comment: The prostitution/massage connection has been a long standing wedge
issue for the trade for a long time.  It is myth that imposing a minimum
requirement of ANY number of hours will break that connection.  I give the
benefit of a doubt that people know there is more to touch than sex and
violence and can tell the difference between sexual and nonsexual touch.
There are more than enough laws to penalize those providing sexual
touch/massage or violently striking people.  Criminalizing anyone willing to
lay hands for income without sex and violence involved without jumping
through expensive hoops is the real crime.  *
**
*and to provide a self-funded nonprofit oversight body to approve
certification and education requirements for massage therapists.*
**
*Trickle down economics..  The more it costs me to stay in business, the
more it is going to cost those receiving the work.  I know of no board that
has ever reduced the financial burden of a practitioner or reduce the costs
for anyone wanting to enter this work.  The suggested nonprofit organization
will mandate anyone wanting to enter the realm of touch for income to enrich
the coffers of for profit schools and other industry segments.   *

To see a copy of SB731, go to:  :  http://tinyurl.com/5qp833


--
Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Love the ideas.
Barbara Y
Make the licensing inclusive, not exclusive is all I ask.  Check out:
http://massage. meetup.com/ 307/about/    A license to touch, FOR INCOME, would
serve a number of purposes.


.










      
________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Be a better friend, newshound, and
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 4/18/2008 5:45:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
carl@... writes:


> I believe that if you specifically limit it to any one offering services
> that purport to be "massage", call themselves "masseur", "masseuse",
> "massager", "massage therapist" or any title using the term "massage" that
> they be governed by the title act.
>
> You specifically exclude other forms of bodywork even those employing
> massage techniques.
>
> If you also include a live-scan police check I believe that you will get
> cities to accept the certification in lieu of local licensing on a city by
> city biases.
>

At least we agree on one thing, Carl, a live scan check at the state level...

Most forms of bodywork, especially members of the Amta grown Federation are
exempted in their bill writings..

Make the licensing inclusive, not exclusive is all I ask.  Check out:
http://massage.meetup.com/307/about/    A license to touch, FOR INCOME, would
serve a
number of purposes.

Robert Flammia,
Whatever

Don't believe everything you think!

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
                                                            -Philip Dick



Blogs: http://iscaaty.blogspot.com/  or  http://theflammiatouch.blogspot.com/













**************
Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car
listings at AOL Autos.

(http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851)


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Beverly,

I understand that you want to resurrect SB731.  I think that most of the
oppositions to the bill stems from the fact that it is still a practice act.

I believe that if you specifically limit it to any one offering services
that purport to be "massage", call themselves "masseur", "masseuse",
"massager", "massage therapist" or any title using the term "massage" that
they be governed by the title act.

You specifically exclude other forms of bodywork even those employing
massage techniques.

If you also include a live-scan police check I believe that you will get
cities to accept the certification in lieu of local licensing on a city by
city biases.

From discussions with various cities they want to get out of the massage
therapist licensing. They can then insist that all establishments offering
anything called "massage' employ state certified massage therapists.

This would exepment all other forms of bodywork from local licensing as the
cities adopted new regulations.

Carl

This is the sort of thing that is a perpetual issue, no matter what. Notice,
please, that this is a licensed area, but it still took LE (law enforcement)
a very long time (years) to shut the place down, in a "family" frequented
neighborhood that had been complained about. If it was just an issue of
"licensure", surely a place like that would have been shut down long before,
or do massage boards actually have teeth to bite anyone but MTs? Due to LE
shortages and priorities (and IMO, prostitution should not be a giant
priority in these days of *life-threatening*crime) it takes the cops a while
to drag their feet over to take down a place like this, even when it may be
clear that not only is the business not what it is proclaimed to be, but it
may also be staffed with illegal aliens. Nevertheless, despite their
shortfalls in police presence, they've managed to raid about 25 businesses
*this year*. Also note that the paper did not say "Police Close House of
Prostitution", but massage parlor. A business self-named a "spa". Why can't
the media call it like it is? How about "alleged massage parlor", or
"brothel disguised as spa"?

You might note that in a case like this, there is no place for a massage
board. It is being prosecuted with the department of consumer and regulatory
affairs. None of these people are practicing against a license; they don't
*have* a license. All a board could do about this would be foam at the mouth
and report it to LE, like any other citizen, because they don't control
prostitution, only MTs. They *think* they control people who practice
massage without a license, but oh, they never do. As the old saying goes,
when guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. What I'm seeing here is
that the prostitutes are perpetually there, that regulation may have only
made it more mainstream to hang a spa shingle in better neighborhoods, and
it's still left mostly in the consumer's lap to obtain professional services
from a legitimate therapist.

So that doesn't improve things for MTs, it just gives them more paper armor
to pay for and maintain.
http://www.massagemag.com/Resources/USCan/washingtondc.php

Crow


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/27/AR2007122702695_\
pf.html

Police Close Massage Parlor

By Clarence Williams
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 28, 2007; B04

D.C. police yesterday shut down what many Glover Park residents considered a
longtime nuisance: a massage parlor that authorities said was operating as a
house of prostitution.

Investigators raided the Venus Spa at 2352 Wisconsin Ave. NW about 4 p.m.
after an undercover officer who entered it was solicited for prostitution,
officials said.

"We went in, and it was just a . . . brothel -- a front for prostitution,"
said Mark Gilkey, the lead detective of the citywide prostitution unit.

Police arrested three women, including Sun Pyong, 59, of New Jersey, who was
charged with operating a house of prostitution, a felony. Authorities also
charged Lian Shu Cui, 35, of Virginia with solicitation for lewd and immoral
purposes and Son Bongsok, 45, also of Virginia, with giving a massage
without a license.

Gilkey said the raid is one of about 25 the unit has carried out this year.
Police conducted it with the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs,
which will challenge the licensing of the business, he said.

As police observed the operation yesterday, the establishment was so busy
that investigators had a difficult time getting an appointment, Gilkey said.

Police targeted the business, which also advertised under the name Young's
Spa, after residents complained to D.C. police officials and D.C. Council
member Mary M. Che (D-Ward 3).

Neighborhood leaders welcomed the raid and arrests after years of trying to
get the operation, which is in the heart of the commercial district of the
Northwest community, shut down.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission member Melissa Lane said that for about
five of the six years she has served, her constituents were concerned about
who was coming into their neighborhood and whether the business was involved
with slave labor or other human rights abuses.

"This has been a perpetual issue for a long time. The community is happy
that police were finally able to get in there," Lane said.

Jackie Blumenthal, president of the Glover Park Citizens Association, said
an "unsavory element" was brought into the area, where families go for ice
cream cones, shop at Whole Foods and dine at restaurants.
"Glover Park is an extremely family friendly neighborhood, and the
commercial strip is the center of our life," Blumenthal said. "I think
people were concerned about who else was walking those street with us.

--


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For those interested in such things, I've made two updates to the "Massage
Politics Sheet" (MPS) this morning. What's below is the same as the RSS feed
for the MPS, available at <http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/mps.rss>

...Keith

--------------------------------------

More Communiques on the NCBTMB
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070723a>

Over the weekend, I received two more items from resigned NCBTMB board
members. The first is another press release from the five former Directors
about the reappointment of Neal Delaporta and Monica Reno to the NCBTMB. The
second is a plea to the AMTA Board of Directors to take action in the NCBTMB
matter. Again, I feel these communiques point out that the NCBTMB doesn't
have sufficient external oversight and that there isn't a suitable body and
framework for testimony and discussion. This is in stark contrast to the
legislative oversight that a professional board would incur.

Apprenticeships, Distance Education, & Licensing Laws
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070723b>

I've noted before that Australia has "New Apprenticeships" and the UK
"Modern Apprenticeships" as formal educational methods. In a column back in
2001, How People Learn, I also drew on some of the educational material on
why apprenticeships make "learning sense". What is unfortunate is that
massage regulation has pretty much been universally written, at least in the
U.S., in a manner that excludes such programs. In another aspect of the
regulation versus education quandaries, Cliff Korn has written one of the
most thoughtful essays on distance education I've yet to see out of the
massage profession in his August column "Keepers of the Yardstick".

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

If there is enough outcry it could put it in the
legislators consideration that NOT everyone is
agreement with the idea. Legislators don't like that.

--- Rob Flammia <rob.flammia@...> wrote:

>I had no idea there was such a thing as a suspense
> file, in CA, until today.
>



________________________________________________________________________________\
____
Boardwalk for $500? In 2007? Ha! Play Monopoly Here and Now (it's updated for
today's economy) at Yahoo! Games.
http://get.games.yahoo.com/proddesc?gamekey=monopolyherenow

http://www.capitolweekly.net/news/article.html?article_id=1483   is where
you may read about being kept in suspense...  If you are following CA-SB731
you know the bill has ended up in the "suspense file" of the Assy
Appropriations Committee.  That looks like a good thing until one reads the
piece at the above link.  It's not quite dead.

Such a learning curve...  I had no idea there was such a thing as a suspense
file, in CA, until today.

Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9
http://imstandinghere.com

Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Licensing laws in 37 states does not make licensing touch right.

http://tinyurl.com/2zgfng  is a great article that shows an effort to set
things straight.  It ain't over til it's over.  It ain't over even when it
looks like it's over.

"We want the laws to be less restrictive so that they allow practitioners of
other forms of massage therapy to practice according to the traditions and
standards of their particular form of massage therapy. Right now, the
current state of affairs standardizes all massage training into one
particular philosophical and cultural approach that many massage
practitioners find to be unfair."

I can beat Raynor (a Naturopath) by teaching touch worthy of payment in one
day.

It's far from over in CA!  Say NO to SB731.  Write me if you need to learn
how.

Robert Flammia
The Flammia Touch
http://tinyurl.com/29bqy9

--
Don't believe everything you think!


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 7/8/2007 11:56:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
donschiff@... writes:


> Advertising courses on this list is extremely inappropriate.  I ask the
> list owner/moderator to take action to prevent future inappropriate posts of
> this kind.
>
> Don Schiff
>

But it does show folk are alive and kicking...

Has anyone done anything in opposition to the fast moving SB731...  It seems
like folk are lining up to support Oropeza bill.  I wonder if it is true of
all her bills.  She is not long for CA because she appears to be a shoo-in to go
to the House of Reps at the federal level....

From her website reporting on her bill updates she posts regarding SB731,
"This would professionalize and protect those who provide and receive massage
therapy by creating a statewide process for certification and licensing. It is
supported by law enforcement groups statewide."  http://tinyurl.com/39grle

When will they learn?

Robert Flammia,
SNR & HE

Don't believe everything you think!

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
                                                            -Philip Dick



Blogs: http://iscaaty.blogspot.com/  or  http://theflammiatouch.blogspot.com/















**************************************
  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Advertising courses on this list is extremely inappropriate.  I ask the
list owner/moderator to take action to prevent future inappropriate
posts of this kind.

Don Schiff

East West Massage School
707-823-1480
eastwestmassageschool.com


SPRING/SUMMER WORKSHOPS 2007
Taught by Tim Holt, CMT

TRADITIONAL THAI MASSAGE: July 16-22
DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE II (Extremities): Fall


July16-22 (Mon-Sun):
Traditional Thai Massage Workshop with Tim Holt, CMT, RTT
9am-6pm, Sebastopol, $700.00, 50 hrs

A few facts about Thai Massage:
It has been featured in Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report
magazines.
It is now offered in the top spas throughout the world.
The International Spa Association calls it "the hottest item on the spa menu."
Thai massage is featured locally at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, the
Spa
Hotel Healdsburg, and Osmosis, The Enzyme Bath Spa.

Traditional Thai Massage is an act of meditation for both giver and receiver. It
is a
beautiful form of bodywork performed on a supportive floor mat. The receiver is
fully
clothed.  It incorporates applied Hatha Yoga and Chinese acupressure. It is
luxurious,
challenging, intimate, and deeply therapeutic. You will learn the Chiang Mai
style, as it has
been practiced in the Wats (temples) for almost 2500 years. Our focus for this
workshop is
a professional training for Massage Therapists and Yoga instructors. We will
teach a full
body two-hour treatment in a demonstration - practice format. Students will
learn Thai
Massage sequences in the supine, prone, and side-lying positions. This workshop
features
50 classroom hours of instruction and practice. Students will receive a
California State
BPPVE certificate of completion.

Tim Holt, CMT is a Registered Thai Therapist and Instructor with the Thai
Healing Alliance
and member of the AOBTA.  He is director of the new East West Massage School in
Sebastopol.  He has studied in Chiang Mai ,Thailand with several respected
teachers, holds
a Teacher Training Certification from I.T.M. He has been practicing Traditional
Thai
Massage for 12 years.

Abby Bard is Certified Massage Therapist. She is the owner of the Upstairs
Studio in
Sebastopol, Ca.  She has studied Traditional Thai Massage in Chiang Mai ,
Thailand and
practices Thai Massage at Osmosis , the Enzyme Bath Spa and in her private
practice. She
is also a gourmet Thai cook.

This workshop will be held at the Upstairs Studio in Sebastopol, Ca. It is a
wonderfully
supportive workshop environment where students can relax in the garden or walk
into
town on breaks. This seven-day workshop will conclude with a celebration Thai
feast!
Workshop attendance is limited to 14 students. Register and reserve a place
soon!

FALL WORKSHOPS 2007:

Deep Tissue II: Fall 2007  (Extremities)
9am-6pm, Sebastopol, $185.00, 16 hrs
This class will work with an eclectic blend of deep tissue massage therapy
techniques. We
will work with deep tissue lubricants, on a lowered massage table. We will teach
positioning and specific strokes in prone, supine, and side lying position. We
will explore
the extremities, focusing on the joints of the wrist, elbow, ankle, and  knee,
including
detailed work on the feet and hands. These strokes are great for reaching those
chronic
areas on your clients. We will integrate this extremity work with the whole
person. The
class will be taught stroke by stroke, naming the musculature. We will explore
indications
and contraindications. Body Mechanix coaching is an integral part of this
workshop.



All workshops held in the Upstairs Studio, Sebastopol, Ca.
California State BPPVE registered programs
A $100.00 deposit is required for registration for each class
For more information and to register : please call 707-823-1480
eastwestmassageschool.com


Tim Holt, CMT, Director
East West Massage School
8017 Washington Ave.
Sebastopol, Ca. 95472
707-823-1480
eastwestmassageschool.com

In message http://tinyurl.com/2dy8c6 dated 6/27/2007 subject line Zone Red,
posted at the bodywork_politics list 10:05:18 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Amta
devotee and licensing advocate Jfredspack@... writes:


> The opponents of massage licensing have tried to trick us in the past into
> accepting compromises like certification.

Is that kinda like CA?  The Amta-CA has compromised their position just to
get on the books in CA...  Many folk are being tricked into believing the
Amta-CA will stop there.  Licensing WILL be next...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
------------------------
(2) For what it's worth, I sent a letter to the Assy B & P committee
suggesting licensing in CA.  You can read what I wrote at:
http://iscaaty.blogspot.com/

Because of the number of Assy folk rejecting my e-mail because of my not
being a member of their constituency, I am composing another plea for those
opposed to state involvement to organize to pay for a lobbyist to get to those
folk.
  Thus the bold heading at my blog.  I will fax my letter to bill author
Oropeza.

The Assemby B & P committee hearing is scheduled for July 3, moved back from
the 10th...  Committee members are listed at:   http://tinyurl.com/2ggmlt

(3) The amended SB731 reads, "The bill would make it an unfair business
practice for a person to state, advertise, or represent that he or she is
certified
of licensed by a governmental agency therapist orpractitioner, or to make
other false representations, as specified."

So long as it is voluntary, some of my business practices would be unfair by
that measure.

SB731 now reads, "For purposes of this chapter, the terms "massage" and
"bodywork" shall have the same meaning."

Respond off these lists if you are interested in forming a lobbyist based
opposition.  Or sign on at:  http://massage.meetup.com/307/about/

Robert Flammia,
SNR & HE

Don't believe everything you think!

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
                                                            -Philip Dick

Blogs: http://iscaaty.blogspot.com/  or  http://theflammiatouch.blogspot.com/













**************************************
  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

larose@... wrote:
> Keith,
>
> Where do you stand on Distance Learning in the massage and bodywork field?
>
> LaRose
>

Distance learning is a lot more than it used to be. Think of any online
discussion group, online chat, anything that can be shown or heard on a DVD
or CD, any kind of document that can be presented as a PDF file, and you
have a start at DEs current capabilities any why hybrid classes are becoming
commonplace in a lot of educational venues. I gave a couple of links to the
Moodle and Sakai Project learning environments on my blog entry.

   <http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070619a>

So, DE is rapidly becoming as common as cell phones and music downloads. In
addition to the links from the blog, I also did a list of some article and
resources a bit ago. That's at
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/documents/distance_education.html>

In particular, take a look at the articles by Marc Prensky.

With more didactic content added to massage entry requirements, I see DE as
one way to compensate for people who have current jobs, family commitments,
... It's simply one more teaching/learning technology that adds flexibility
to the art of teaching and the act of learning.

That said, one still has to have in class hours for demonstration and
practice of kinesthetic skills. Those hours are important and need better
respect and definition than they've been given in the recent past (Class
hours is not identical to quality skill learning).

Massage and bodywork has been mainstreamed. That also implies that massage
and bodywork will become another educational topic that has both a didactic
and a kinesthetic component, much like learning music playing plus music
theory and recreation skills and recreation theory.

...Keith

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

Keith,

Where do you stand on Distance Learning in the massage and bodywork field?

LaRose

larose@...
EarthLink Revolves Around You.


----- Original Message -----
From: Keith Eric Grant
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: 6/19/2007 11:57:40 PM
Subject: [Freedom_for_Bodywork] MPS update: Yet one more letter from NCBTMB
ex-board members


Another day another Massage Politics Sheet update.
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070619a>

I received one more letter from NCBTMB ex-board members outlining a
number of issues. Some points I agree with and some I disagree
with. First, the letter points out something that I believe has
been a problem with the NCBTMB from the start; they want the
responsibility of a semi-regulatory agency but want to act like a
professional advocacy organization. The ex-board members also
complain about the issue of distance education. It may well be that
the NCBTMB decisions were not made according to procedures. That
said, however, it's also an area from which the NCBTMB is wise to
retreat as fast as possible. A certifying agency should be
verifying attainment of knowledge, rather than trying to stipulate
the technology via which such knowledge is taught.

...Keith

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant I Writers love language, and they will I
I <keg@...> I arrange and rearrange their words until I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a I
I Over the hills, but not I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the I the reader into a world where deeper I
I San Francisco East Bay I realities unfold. ... Mark Robert I
I I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing". I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Another day another Massage Politics Sheet update.
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070619a>

I received one more letter from NCBTMB ex-board members outlining a
number of issues. Some points I agree with and some I disagree
with. First, the letter points out something that I believe has
been a problem with the NCBTMB from the start; they want the
responsibility of a semi-regulatory agency but want to act like a
professional advocacy organization. The ex-board members also
complain about the issue of distance education. It may well be that
the NCBTMB decisions were not made according to procedures. That
said, however, it's also an area from which the NCBTMB is wise to
retreat as fast as possible. A certifying agency should be
verifying attainment of knowledge, rather than trying to stipulate
the technology via which such knowledge is taught.

...Keith

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

The latest updates for the Massage Politics Sheet are on the advent of the
pilot test for the new FSMTB licensing exam and yet another letter of
protest from former NCBTMB board members. See
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/>

It's not blogged yet, but the next hearing for SB731 in California is with
the Assembly B&P Committee. The currently scheduled date is 10 July. SB731
has already passed the Senate.

<http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/postquery?bill_number=sb_731&sess=CUR>

...Keith

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

I received the following letter from two reliable sources this morning. I'll
put it up on my blog tonight, but here's the letter itself.

...Keith

-------------------------------------------

2006 NCBTMB Bylaw Change
Impacts the 2007 Election Process


In December 2006, the NCBTMB Board approved a Bylaw change to increase the
number of NCBTMB Board of Directors to 11 positions.  The new Directors
would commence their term of service in January 2008 (see Bylaw excerpt
below). The additional Board members will support the increased time,
energy, and effort required of Directors due to the number of issues being
worked and the diverse knowledge and skill sets required.

To implement the 2006 NCBTMB Bylaws change, the 2007 NCBTMB election process
should offer five Director vacancies, with terms as follows:
* The usual three newly elected Directors for a three year term;
*A fourth additional newly elected Director who will join the above group
and also serve three years;
*A fifth newly elected Director who will serve only two years.
The terms are staggered so that only a portion of the Board is new in any
given year.

In the recent NCBTMB Call for Candidates there was no mention about the
number of open positions to be elected for the Board of Directors.  This is
the first time in recent years that the Call for Candidates has not stated
the number of Board vacancies.

Information received from the NCBTMB national office was that only two Board
vacancies have to be filled.  This raises the following questions:
*Why were 80,000+ certificants not notified of the increase in the size of
their Board from nine (9) to eleven (11) Directors?
*Why would the first Call for Candidates from the Nominations Committee not
reflect the number of Board positions to be filled?
*Why would the NCBTMB national staff not know the number of positions to be
filled based upon the current Bylaws?
*Is the organization in compliance with the Bylaws?

We the undersigned former Directors formally request that the Board
immediately clarify the actual number of Board positions to be filled in the
2007 election via written correspondence to all certificants.

Sincerely,

Kat Burnett, NCTMB
              (Director, 2004-2007, Secretary/Treasurer 2007, resigned April
2007)
Bob Lehnberg, NCTMB
               (Director, 2003-2007, Chair-Elect 2007, resigned May 2007)
Elizabeth McIntyre, NCTMB
               (Director, 2002-2006, Immediate Past Chair 2007)
Cosper Scafidi, NCTMB
               (Director, 2006-2007, resigned April 2007)
Bill Stoehs
               (Director – Public Member, 2000-2006, Secretary/Treasurer
2004-2006)
*All of the above individuals signed onto this letter.
June 13, 2007

Certificant call to action:
We encourage all certificants to become involved in your election process
and become involved in selecting your future NCBTMB leaders.  We urge you to
send an email to Chair Donna Feeley (donnafeeley@...) and copy the 2007
Nomination Chair Virginia Cowen (gscowem@...) and Chris Laxton, NCBTMB
Executive Director (claxton@...) to express your concerns and
expectations that the NCBTMB Bylaws will be followed.  Please share this
email with other certificants.

NCBTMB Bylaw, Article VI.  Board of Directors
6.1 Composition.  Except as otherwise provided herein, the Board of
Directors shall be composed of nine (9) voting members through 2007 and
eleven (11) voting members thereafter, of which: 1) none shall hold a
national level office in another therapeutic massage and/or bodywork
professional or trade organization of the regulated profession; 2) no more
than two (2) may be therapeutic massage and/or bodywork school owners or
administrators; 3) no more than two (2) may be employees or members of
government regulatory agencies or boards which regulate the practice of
therapeutic massage and/or bodywork; and 4) no less than two (2) and no more
than three (3) shall be 'public members' representing the interests of the
public and who shall have no professional or material financial interest in
the field of therapeutic massage and bodywork. The composition of the Board
or any member thereon may be further defined by accreditation or policies
maintained by NCBTMB. The nine (9) (through 2007) or eleven (11) (in 2008
and thereafter) voting members of the Board of Directors are referred
herein, from time to time, as at-large members of the Board. (Ammended 12/15/06)



--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

Despite a head-cold caught on the flight back from a recent journalistic
pilgrimage to Santa Fe, I put out an update to the Massage Politics Sheet
yesterday.

...Keith

NOCA Ignores Public Accountability Issues
<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070607a>

I learned from NOCA last week that they have elected not to pursue NCBTMB
issues, despite the long history of problems and recent string of
resignations in protest by three board members. Along with the letter from
NOCA and my response, I've posted the IRS required NCBTMB Form 990s for 2004
and 2005. These indicate significant expenditures for marketing and PR;
expenditures that likely fall under ideological speech.


--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

There has been a fair amount of activity on the bodywork politics list. The
writings are public and can be read at http://tinyurl.com/25qfqo  To post you
must join the group.

Rather than post exclusively to the politics list I have blogged a few lines
in response to comments from Amta-CA law and legislation co-chair Beverly May
Shultz at:  http://tinyurl.com/2byegm

Also, part of the blog is a call to action by James Nally, ND, one Bev may be
alluding too in her post.  James wrote, "Senate Bill 731, on the face,
creates a voluntary certification. However, when combined with local
regulations, it
can be anticipated to have the effect of a practice act in that it would be
mandatory in many urban regions. Where the state leads, the cities and counties
will follow. It is likely that any standard set by the state will be adopted
by the cities and counties, which means that a one-size fits all law could
mean the beginning of the end of the great diversity of massage practice in
California."

I agree with James...

Robert Flammia,
SNR & HE

Don't believe everything you think!

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away.
                                                            -Philip Dick



Blogs: http://iscaaty.blogspot.com/  or  http://theflammiatouch.blogspot.com/













**************************************
  See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kenneth R. Foster CMT, NCTMB wrote:
> Keith,
> Do you think the actions of NCBTMB are such to warrant a class action
> Suit by those who hold NCTMB?
> Ken
>

Ken,

That gets into an area of legal opinion on grounds for a suit, that I can't
make, not being a lawyer. With NCBTMB being a private organization, it's not
clear to me whether any potential suit would be against the NCBTMB for
management practices or against state requirements for requiring such. For a
purely voluntary certification, a sullied organizational record would have
an obvious solution. Most states, don't require certification, only the
exam, likely because the realized that there could be first amendment issues
on forced association.

I do think there are other pressures that can be brought before considering
a suit. These would include letters of concern to NOCA with copies to any
massage board or agency you are under AND a copy to any joint house
legislative committee that oversees the board. I include the later, because
whether the board determines appropriate exams or whether its encoded in
state law varies from state to state.

My own feeling is that all of this is a salient example of the problems of
trying to delegate state responsibility to a private organization that does
not have sufficient structures for public accountability, open meetings,
open review, ... that would be expected of a regulatory agency. Yet, at the
same time, the private organization can make changes in requirements that
change entry requirements for multiple states. I simply see this as another
loss of openness of government and regulatory function.

...Keith

--

+--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant                     I We must remember that everything  I
I <keg@...>                 I is ordinary and extraordinary. It I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/           I is our minds that either open or  I
I--------------------------------------I close. Details are not good or    I
I Over the hills, but not too far away I bad. They are details. -- Natalie I
I from the San Francisco East Bay      I Goldberg, Writing Down the Bones  I
+--------------------------------------+-----------------------------------+

Keith,
Do you think the actions of NCBTMB are such to warrant a class action
Suit by those who hold NCTMB?
Ken

In what continues to seem one more event in a chain of NCBTMB board
machinations, I've gotten hold of a letter summarily doing away with the
position of Immediate Past Chair. See the Massage Politics Sheet Update at

<http://www.ramblemuse.com/blogger/index.html#070527a>

...Keith

--

+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+
I Keith Eric Grant           I Writers love language, and they will      I
I <keg@...>       I arrange and rearrange their words until   I
I http://www.ramblemuse.com/ I they come alive on the page. The meanings I
I----------------------------I may be stretched and changed, but if a    I
I Over the hills, but not    I writer is successful, he or she will lure I
I too far away from the      I the reader into a world where deeper      I
I San Francisco East Bay     I realities unfold. ...  Mark Robert        I
I                            I Waldman, "The Spirit of Writing".         I
+----------------------------+-------------------------------------------+

I received email regarding board openings due to term expirations.  Are
there also openings due to resignations?