delegates

NJ House of Delegates

American Massage Therapy Association

New Jersey Chapter

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P.O. Box 4559, Toms River, NJ 08754 P: (973) 376-5151 F: (732) 608-6821

The volunteer seated House of Delegates is structured to
represent the opinions of our members. The delegates keep the
association strategically focused by presenting bylaw changes for
the Board of Directors’ review. The House of Delegates also
votes on proposed AMTA Position Statements that reflect AMTA’s
stance on important massage therapy issues.

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Portland, Oregon was a great city to be in for the 2011 AMTA
National Convention. Flying in to Portland the majestic peak of
Mount Hood was beckoning a climb. This clean and friendly city
featured a train/trolley system which provided easy mobility from
the airport to the hotels, convention center, and many attractions
throughout the city and local vicinities. Being at Convention is
always a great occasion to reconnect with therapists from other
states and countries and to make new friends as well. The local
sights such as art galleries, gardens, and a nearby shopping mall
were also a wonderful way to spend some leisure time.

The 2011 House of Delegates convened with a total of 138
members in attendance. Our New Jersey chapter was represented
by 5 members: Cynthia Sinicropi-Philibosian , lead delegate; Clare
Caldwell, returning delegate for a fourth term; Pam Olsen, Mary
Baldelli and Nora Montoya all three serving for their first time The
main purpose of the House of Delegates is to debate and approve
proposed position statements of AMTA and bylaw amendment
recommendations. This year there were 6 position statements.
The position statements supported and reinforced the benefits of
massage therapy for recovery from athletic and exercise training;
managing fibromyalgia; reducing tension headaches; reducing
anxiety; easing depression; and one position statement called for
fair and consistent licensing regulations of the individual states for
ease of portability.

Of these proposed statements three were approved and three
were defeated. During debate there was as much support in
favor of approving, as there was concern against approving this
body of work. The support pointed to the body of reference and
research proving the efficacy of massage therapy in the cited
statements. The concerns pointed to a deficiency of research
and concerns regarding the medical definition of terms used that
were beyond our scope of practice. The three statements that
were approved will now go to the National Board of Directors of
AMTA for their approval before these statements become
adopted and used as the official positions of the AMTA. Although
three of the proposed statements were defeated, we still have the
opportunity to see these same statements revised and
resubmitted for next year’s HOD. Until then every member of
AMTA has the ability to reach out to their delegates and voice
their opinions regarding these position statements. Each member
also has the opportunity to create and submit their own proposed
position statements and recommendations. For more information
about this process please refer to the AMTA member’s only
section for how to write a proposal.

This member is grateful and honored to represent our chapter
and to have had an opportunity to try and make a difference for
our profession. Respectfully submitted by Cynthia Sinicropi-
Philibosian.

Cynthia Sinicropi-Philibosian
(chairman) - 2 yr term

Pamela Olsen - 2 yr term

Clare Caldwell - 2 yr term

Mary Baldelli - 1 yr term

Nora Montoya - 1 yr term

Marty Fitzgerald (alt)

Joan Dighton (alt)

Jeff Swan (alt)

2011 NJ Delegates

Email: delegates@amtanj.org

HOD Position Description

Lead Delegate
Position Description