Meet Your New Board Members!

Susan Scoboria

C. Michael Pizzuto

Pam Laubscher

The results are in!
Last month, NCB certificants elected C. Michael Pizzuto, of St. Petersburg, FL, and re-elected Susan Scoboria, of Farmingdale, NY, as the Directors and Pam Laubscher, of Tucson, AZ, as the new Public Member.
They will all serve three-year terms for the board. Among other responsibilities, they will participate in decisions that will affect the entire population of the NCBTMB, declare conflicts of interest, and conduct business by following the NCBTMB established policies and procedures.
“I am honored and excited to be the public member for the board,” said Pam Laubscher. “I am looking forward to learning more about the profession and how I can help.”
Of the 32,000 certificants who were in good standing and eligible to vote in this election, less than 10 percent returned completed ballots. It is important for the majority of the voting population to have their voices heard. Your vote does count! The decision-makers you choose will ultimately affect you.

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Executive Committee Elected at Spring Meeting

Clifford Korn

Neal Cross

Susan Scoboria

McLEAN, VA—During their meeting held May 21-22, the members of the NCB Board of Directors officially elected the new members of the Executive Committee. According to the bylaws of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork, the executive committee consists of the Chair, the Chair-Elect, and the Secretary/Treasurer. In a continued effort by the NCBTMB to maintain continuity of the work and the direction of the board, the bylaws stipulate that the Chair-Elect spend one year in training for and learning the role of the Chair. At the end of the Chair-Elect term, he/she automatically assumes the position of Chair.
Clifford Korn, from Windham, NH, was re-elected as Chair for a second term; Neal Cross, from Biddeford, ME, was elected as Chair-Elect; and Susan Scoboria, from Farmingdale, NY, was elected Secretary/Treasurer.

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FROMTHECHAIR

Don’t you just love Spring? As most things rejuvenate with renewal, the NCBTMB also enters a time of renewal with the addition of new board members and committee chairs. I look forward to enjoying this renewal and working with new people and their ideas in accomplishing our annual goals.
Bittersweet, however, is having to forego the continued working relationships with several individuals whose contributions to the National Certification Program were not always heralded, but always appreciated. I would like to specifically recognize Sonia Turanski, who chaired the Recertification Committee for several years; C. Michael Pizzutto who as a committee chair has overseen the operation of the Continuing Education Provider Review Panel; Pat Hughes who helped shape the Eligibility Committee’s important work; and Laura Ward, whose leadership of the Exam Committee helped keep the NCE the premier competency measurement tool in the field of massage and bodywork.
I also wish to specially recognize two board members who have completed their board positions. Leslie Renquist-Hughes has had a long history of service to the NCBTMB, most notably as a committee chair, prior to her joining the board. After several years of service on the board, Public Member John Crichton is graciously offering his considerable talents as a task force chairperson. I thank him greatly for his time and efforts as the Public Member position requires a special dedication to devote that much time to someone else’s profession.
Certainly those who are remaining in service to the NCBTMB, and volunteering for committee positions, also deserve praise and recognition. As Spring integrates itself more fully into our lives, I’m pleased that the work of standards-based competency assurance continues to progress.

-Clifford Korn, NCTMB, Chair

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Is Your NCTMB Credential Really That Important?

Absolutely. Do you know why your credential is so important for your success? Everyone should know that national certification is more than meeting eligibility requirements and taking an examination. These are only two parts of the program. National certification shows one more achievement you’ve attained, an additional level of accountability, and one more way of demonstrating your seriousness about your profession. But it is still much more than that.
One of the most important aspects of national certification that your clients and employers should know is that you have agreed to practice in a manner which promotes ethical and responsible behavior through NCBTMB’s Code of Ethics. By upholding the Code of Ethics and demonstrating professional standards, you protect the well being of your client and promote the credibility of the massage and bodywork profession.
But more importantly you lower the risk that your client or future client may feel when receiving your valuable complementary care sessions. By adhering to the Code of Ethics you demonstrate your respect for the client’s physical and mental boundaries while providing excellent professional care. Your clients can feel reassured that you really are putting their needs above everything else. Do your clients know this?
Your clients and employers should also be made aware that if improper treatment is received from a nationally certified practitioner there is a place for recourse. A complaint can be filed with the National Certification Board. Employers find this very reassuring. The risk the employer takes when hiring massage and bodywork professionals is reduced by relying on nationally certified therapists.
Do you know what happens to a complaint once it is filed?
NCB’s Complaints and Discipline Committee investigates all complaints by gathering information from the complaintant. Notification of a complaint being filed is sent to the nationally certified practitioner, where additional information is collected. Once the committee reviews the information submitted, any or all of the following actions can be taken:
• Sending a reprimand to the therapist;
• Scheduling a formal hearing;
• Imposing a variety of sanctions; or
• Revoking the practitioner’s national certification.
Do you regularly promote your credential and the value that it holds to your client and/or your employer? Talk to your clients, they are listening.

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Call for Nominations

Although the NCBTMB just held an election for new directors, it is not too early to consider running for a board position in the next election.
This fall, the Nominating Committee will begin the evaluation process for candidates who wish to run for a director position or a public member position. Two director positions and one public member position will be available for the next election. The summer issue of the NCB Connection will have full descriptions of these positions. Letters of intent are due to NCBTMB by October 15, 1999.
Each board member is elected for a three-year term by the entire certificant population in good standing with the NCBTMB at the time of the election. Voting occurs through a mail-in ballot contained in the winter issue of the newsletter.

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Opinions Help Shape NCB’s Future

Many of you may have received a survey or two from the NCB office during the last six months. The development of these surveys is a direct result of a recommendation made to the Board of Directors from the Organizational Improvement Task Force (OITF) about getting to better know what the certificant population thinks about our current programs and possible new directions.
In determining the best way to collect information about specific topics, such as Recertification and Strategic Planning, a random sample of the certificant database was polled. To those of you who have responded to our survey, the NCB office thanks you for taking the time to tell us what you think.
Now, the NCB is asking for the assistance of the certificant population once again. The NCBTMB is exploring the need for—and interest in—having specialty and/or advanced certifications. It is very important to learn what you think about possibly offering advance or specialty certifications. The Certificant Survey for Specialized Certifications accompanied this newsletter as an insert. This is the time for your voice to be heard!
The response NCB received from the surveys previously mailed has been well within the parameters for statistical validity. We expect the response to the enclosed survey will be as equally successful. NCB encourages you to please take the few moments necessary to complete this survey. It is important for us to hear your opinion.
NCB will keep you apprised of any developments that should arise from what you have to say. Future issues of NCB Connection will have information about what NCB is doing to make your certification program better for you.

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NCBNEWS

NCB Customizes Exhibit Booth
One of the most important ways that the NCBTMB provides education about the therapeutic massage and bodywork profession is through conferences and exhibits.
NCBTMB office staff created a more effective and audience-specific exhibit booth to provide information to the various individuals who attend conferences. The booth was developed to reach a very large cross section of individuals including massage therapists and bodyworkers, legislative decision makers, allied health care professions, and employers.
The exhibit booth will be displayed in the exhibit halls of several upcoming conferences, including the Florida Chiropractic Conference, the International Spa & Fitness Association’s annual meeting, and the AMTA National Conference.

NCB Marketing Packet Helps Boost Business
NCB staff members recently updated a marketing packet that is sent to all newly, nationally certified massage and bodywork practitioners.
The packet includes tips and suggestions for business owners to promote their business in the local community and to clients. Tips range from small, low cost ideas to more extensive advertising campaigns.
In addition, the packet provides sample advertisements to create and place in publications, sample press releases, and a logo sheet for use on business cards, invoices and receipts, flyers and any other printed materials to promote a practitioner’s business.
Practitioners who do not have a marketing packet can obtain one by contacting Beth Danner by phone, (703) 610-0236, or by e-mail at bdanner@ncbtmb.com.

Local News?
Is your local newspaper including information about massage and bodywork in its health section? Do you hear about the benefits of massage and bodywork as part of a total wellness plan, or as part of insurance plan coverage, on the radio or television news broadcasts?
The NCB office staff members would like to know! They are trying to keep abreast of what is happening in the massage and bodywork profession by searching for news articles about the profession, or about NCTMB certificants.
Please forward copies of the articles or the name of the publication, date of article, and telephone number to Beth Danner at 8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300, McLean, VA, 22102.

Are You Current In Our Database?
NCBTMB makes every effort to keep the most current mailing addresses of its certificants. However, your help is needed to do so.
PLEASE notify the NCB office of any change of name, address, or phone number. By keeping your information current on the Practitioner Locator web site, many people who request a list will know how to get in touch with you.
Finally, if you know of an NCTMB certificant who has moved, please tell them to update their address and phone number with the office. Submit any changes to your address or phone number with the NCB by phone, (703) 610-0238, by fax, (703) 610-9005, or by email, mdownes@ncbtmb.com.

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COMMITTEEUPDATES

EXAM COMMITTEE
Chair: Elaine Calenda, NCTMB
Elaine Calenda was recently named chair of the NCB Exam Committee. She has been a member of the committee for about four years, and remains “excited about the work we are doing,” she said.
Calenda is replacing Laura Ward, who served as chair of the committee for one year. She built a “strong foundation” for the committee, Calenda said, “and we appreciate her tremendous contributions.”
In addition to the new chair, two new committee members were officially appointed. They are Paula Schank, who heads the Shiatsu Department at the New York Institute of Massage in Buffalo, NY; and Monica Reno, an instructor from the Central Florida School of Massage Therapy.
“I am very pleased for the opportunity of increased involvement with the NCB Board of Directors and the other committee chairs,” Calenda said. “And I look forward to even better working relationships and communication as a result of this interaction.”

REGULATORY/LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE
Chair: Sally Hacking
Since January, the members of the Regulatory/Legislative Committee have been busy with several projects.
Recently, they have been researching all state laws and regulations governing the massage therapy and bodywork professions regarding their use of the NCE. Committee Chair Sally Hacking met with Committee Member Barbara Benson, and volunteer Legislative Policy Writer Jack Thomas, of Thurmont, MD, at the NCBTMB office. Together they created an up-to-date legislative file.
The committee members are also in the process of extrapolating the educational and examination requirements for the profession in order to provide the NCBTMB board members with a database of legislative knowledge. This statistical information is available for use as an educational handout at the state and local legislative conferences that NCBTMB representatives are scheduled to attend. The information can also be provided upon request for any legislative initiative to further enhance the legal climate for the massage and bodywork profession.
In addition to their research projects, NCB staff and two regulatory/legislative committee members were representatives for the NCBTMB’s exhibit at the California Massage and Bodywork Convention, held March 11-14 in San Francisco. Committee Member Michael Murphy was the conference’s keynote speaker. Because of his speech and committee participation, “he sent so many convention attendees to our exhibit booth. We had heavy traffic of practitioners asking great questions relative to the National Certification Program, the examination, and also many inquiries about the NCBTMB approved provider status,” Hacking said.
The committee plans to assist staff in representing the NCBTMB at the National Conference of State Legislators and the National League of Cities. By attending these conferences, the regulatory/legislative committee members will be able to network and provide educational information about current legislation in the profession.

ETHICS AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE
Chair: Garnet Adair, NCTMB
The Ethics and Standards Committee members presented the revised Standards of Practice document to the NCB Board of Directors. With the boards approval, the committee members will be sending an opinion survey to a variety of NCBTMB stakeholders to gather additional comments and support. Since this document is “a work in progress,” additions and corrections generated from the survey will be made as needed.
“The Ethics and Standards Committee members have worked diligently on this project and we are very proud of how it supports our Code of Ethics,” said Garnet Adair, committee chair. The document covers standards for the following areas:
• professionalism,
• business practices,
• roles/boundaries,
• sexual misconduct,
• professional development, and
• legal/ethical requirements.
“These standards bring clarification to each certificant as to what behaviors they are held accountable,” Adair explained. The document also assists the NCB Complaints and Discipline Committee, a subcommittee of the Ethics and Standards Committee, in their process of handling a complaint regarding a certificant.

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
Chair: Lynda Solien-Wolfe, NCTMB
Members of the NCBTMB Communications Committee meet each month by teleconference.
Recently, the committee members have focused on their advertising efforts. They have selected an additional seven certificants to appear in advertisements throughout the year that will promote the massage therapy and bodywork profession. Since last year, advertisements featuring nationally certified certificants have appeared in many national publications, including Massage Magazine, Massage Therapy Journal, and Alternative Therapies. Certificants who were featured in the previous advertisements were Scott Killbourne of Colorado, Jody Stork of Florida, and George Glass of Vermont. In addition, several other advertisements have been created which will appear in many of the AMTA Chapter newsletters, spa magazines and legislative publications.
The communications committee members would like to thank John Crichton for all of his hard work this past year as board liaison. He has been a great asset to us and we thank him for all his support.

RECERTIFICATION COMMITTEE
Chair: Sue Welfley, NCTMB
Sue Welfley was recently named as Chair of the Recertification Committee. Members of the NCB’s Recertification Committee would like to acknowledge the invaluable service of outgoing chair and founding committee member, Sonia Turanski. “With deep appreciation and clear vision, we thank you and wish you all the best in all your future endeavors.”

CONTINUING EDUCATION PROVIDER REVIEW PANEL
Chair: Jean Loving, NCTMB
Jean Loving was recently named chair of the CE Provider Panel. The committee members congratulate outgoing chair C. Michael Pizzuto on his election to the board and wish to thank him for his invaluable service to the panel and his participation on the committee in the past. In addition, two new committee members were appointed: Etta Mascarenes of Albuquerque, NM, and Judy Dean from LaPorte, IN.
The members of the CE Provider Review Panel are “proud to announce that there are now over 300 Category A Approved Providers.”
The committee members have been working on releasing renewal information to those providers whose certifications expire from October through December 1999. They have received a great number of renewal responses from providers whose certifications expired during months of January through April 1999 as a result of the committee’s mailing. The committee members would like to “thank all those Category A providers who know and appreciate what providing quality education really means,” and continue to renew their approval status.
Those who are interested in becoming an approved provider may contact the NCBTMB office by phone, (703) 610-0215, by fax, (703) 610-9005, or by e-mail, kkoteen@ncbtmb.com.

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RECERTIFICATIONCORNER

Where do I find an approved provider?
The NCBTMB office staff maintains a list of approved providers that is updated every six weeks. For a copy of the list of approved providers, contact the NCB by phone, (703) 610-0235. The list can also be found on the web site at www.ncbtmb.com under Continuing Education or Fax-on-Demand.
The list is comprised alphabetically with a broad explanation of the courses that the provider offers. Some providers travel throughout the United States and may offer courses of various subjects in different geographic regions.
For more detailed information about courses offered by a provider, their schedules and fees, contact the provider directly.

Where can I obtain Category A CEUs if there are no approved providers within a reasonable distance from me?
Many of the approved providers offer correspondence courses, which can help certificants who live in an area where there are no providers. The NCBTMB office cannot control who applies for Category A Provider status. So, if you know instructors or schools that are currently offering CEUs, but who are not of Category A status, let them know how valuable their service can be to others by becoming approved. Have them contact the NCB office for more information about becoming a provider.

What constitutes a professional ethics course?
In order to promote skills aimed at fostering honorable professional behavior, the NCBTMB has included an ethics course requirement as part of the recertification criteria.
Ethics is a system of principles of human conduct guided by positive, right or good intent. A sample list of course topics that deal with issues specifically geared toward the massage and bodywork profession include:
• Scope of Practice/Legal Guidelines
• Cultural Diversity
• Boundaries
• Client/Therapist Confidentiality
• Professionalism
• Financial Issues (such as fair billing practices)
• Conflict Resolution
• HIV/AIDS

Just a reminder... an application is incomplete without the ethics documentation. This drastically slows the time it takes for one to become recertified. Save time by sending all required ethics documentation.

Where can I find professional ethics courses?
Most schools offer some sort of an ethics program. To make the ethics requirement easier for those who are trying to complete it, the ethics requirement can come from either Category A or Category B.
A list of Category A providers offering ethics courses, even correspondence courses, is available from the NCB office. Obtain the list by contacting the NCB office by phone, (703) 610-0235, or by visiting the web site at www.ncbtmb.com under Continuing Education.
If the two hours of ethics can be obtained from another course, the requirement can be met if the acceptable documentation is submitted (that is, certificate of completion, a transcript or letter from the provider stating the ethics was included in the course).

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New Category A Providers

AMTA - Connecticut Chapter
104 Elizabeth Lane
Middleton, CT 06457
(860) 347-4061
Various courses

AMTA - New Jersey
409 Union Avenue, Suite C
Middlesex, NJ 08846
(732) 742-0900
Various courses

Ann Arbor Institute of Massage Therapy
2835 Carpenter Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-1172
(734) 677-4430
Various courses

ASA Pain Relief Therapies, Inc.
824 US Highway One, Suite 240
N Palm Beach, FL 33408
(561) 691-4455
Various courses

Louise Barrie
809 Evelyn Avenue
Albany, CA 94706
(510) 524-1440
Huma Bodywork

Blue Ridge Healing Arts Academy
175 Furr Avenue, NW
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 795-7478
Various courses

Body Logic
295 West 11th Street, #1F
New York, NY 10014
(212) 633-2143
Body-Rolling courses

Center for the Healing Arts
Mary Finnell
PO Box 1388
Morgantown, WV 26507
(304) 291-3305
Various courses

Center for Therapeutic Massage and Wellness
274 Woodridge Drive
Woodridge, IL 60517
(630) 960-9053
Various courses

Chiropractic Muscular Therapy Association
10339 Mastin
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 541-1910
Various courses

Charles E. Cook
PO Box 848152
Pembroke Pines, FL 33084
(954) 441-9553
Various courses and ethics

David Kent Seminars
840 Deltona Boulevard, Suite L
Deltona, FL 32725
(407) 574-5600
Various courses

Guild for Structural Integration
3107 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80301
(303) 447-0122
Various courses

The Institute of Thai Massage
PO Box 1272
Boynton Beach, FL 33425
(561) 547-9340
Thai Massage courses

Institute for Therapeutic Massage, Inc.
125 Wanaque Avenue
Pompton Lakes, NJ 07442
(201) 839-6131
Various courses

Irene’s Myomassology Institute
18911 Ten Mile, Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48075
(248) 569-4263
Various courses

Integrated Touch Therapy, Inc.
7041 Zane Trail Road
Circleville, OH 43113
(740) 474-6436
Equine, Canine and Feline courses

David Lemke
10864 N Maple Street
Hayden, ID 83835
(208) 762-1102
Trigger Point Release Sequencing

Gayle MacDonald
4327 NE Mallory
Portland, OR 97211
(503) 288-2943
Massage for Cancer Patients, Massage in the Hospital

Rosanna Malloy
14661 US Highway 1, #39
Juno Beach, FL 33408
(561) 686-6206
Various courses

Massage Away, Inc.
School of Therapy
6685 Doubletree Avenue
Columbus, OH 43229
(614) 825-6278
Various courses

Morgan Holford and Susan McConnell
369 Montezuma #178
Santa Fe, NM 87501
(505) 988-7641
Various courses

Medical Massage Assessment
Skills and Techniques
609 East Main Street
Endicott, NY 13760
(607) 785-6656
Medical Massage

Dr. Joseph Musculino
7 Long Ridge Road
Redding, CT 06896
(203) 938-3323
Cadaver Workshop

Myotherapy College of Utah
1174 East 2799 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
(801) 484-7624
Various courses

North Shore Institute of Massage and Healing Arts, Inc.
120 Main Street
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 282-3366
Various courses

Northwest Coalition of Massage Educators
1303 N 78th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
(206) 527-5434
Various courses, ethics

Professional School of Massage
131 East Maple Avenue
Langhorne, PA 19047
(215) 750-0700
Various courses

Taum Sayers
PO Box 818
Truckee, CA 96160
(530) 587-9356
Soft tissue re-balancing

Anita Shannon
209-C Devane Street
Fayetteville, NC 28305
(910) 223-0954
Aromatherapy

Tucker Sharp
47 Hearthstone
Irvine, CA 92714
(949) 857-6059
Structural Release Workshop

Jade Shutes
Institue of Dynamic Aromatherapy
2000 2nd Avenue, Suite 206
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 374-8773
Various aromatherapy courses

Vicki L. Wengrow
2191 Birch Bark Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32246
(904) 221-6354
Various courses

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CALENDAROFEVENTS    

June 16-20
American Holistic Nurses Association
Scottsdale, AZ  

July 8-11
Florida State Massage Therapy Association   
Haines City, FL   

June 17-18
American Polarity Therapy Association   
Ellenville, NY   

July 24-29    
National Conference State of State Legislators
Indianapolis, IN   

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NCBTMB
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102
703-610-9015 … 703-610-9005
1-800-296-0664 (totally automated line)
e-mail: mswiscoski@ncbtmb.com