I hope that everyone who receives this message had a safe, healthy, and happy holiday season. I am sure Santa was good to you because you are so good to everyone all year long with your incredible massages. I am looking forward to growing our chapter in the new year.

Your Board of Directors took considerable time preparing the chapter budget for 2012. We looked at the continued growth and activities of our Sports Team and the work ahead for the Legislative Committee, both statewide and local. We have built a budget that I hope you will approve and I can send to Central Office. This item will brought before the chapter at our meeting on January 18th.

You should have received our reminder postcard detailing the monthly chapter meeting presenters for the next six months of 2012. If you have not received your postcard, please let me know. Note that there are presenters for all six months, which means you will receive 12 CE’s if you attend every meeting through June! As discussed at our November board meeting, we are replacing the regular Swap Meet in October with a CE class on HIPPA issues, which will give you another opportunity to earn continuing education credits.

For those of you who attended the Christmas Party at the Gator Club, I hope you had a great evening. The catering was excellent. Brian George, our Immediate Past President, was “the man in charge,” and was responsible for getting it all organized. The cake provided by Dutch Heritage was amazing. It was almost a shame to cut it into pieces.

The position for our Board of Directors Secretary has been filled by our Webmaster Amy Luycx. She will complete the remainder of Jen McGurk's term since Jen has joined the National guard. Thank You Amy for making this Chapter look so GREAT. Our Newsletter looks very professional.

Members of the Board will be attending the Winter FSMTA meeting in Orlando January 7th and 8th. We will have a verbal report for you at our next Chapter meeting, where Jen Funk will be presenting Oncology Massage. Please be sure to come early because we have a lot to cover before the presentation. Also, be sure to check out our Legislative Updates and Sports Team pages on our web site. Our chapter has a lot happening.

Even though the FSMTA State and Chapter Annual Awards deadline is March 1st, I am getting all the information out to you early to give you time to consider whom you wish us to recognize on both a chapter and state level. I will have the applications and rules information at the Presidents desk at the meeting. Please take one or two and be thinking about nominations so that we can really show our appreciation to everyone who has contributed to our great success. Remember, everyone who represents us is a volunteer, giving their own time and effort to make us the great chapter we are. Who should be our Volunteer of the Year? Who provided the best Service of the Year?

I am looking forward to serving you in 2012 and I am proud to represent Sarasota/Manatee Chapter of FSMTA. May 2012 be a healthy and happy New Year.

Eddie Hooper, II LMT
President: Sarasota/Manatee Chapter FSMTA