Here we are into the second month of 2012. I hope everyone had a safe, healthy, and happy holidays.. We all can launch our businesses into a very successful and prosperous New Year. You have your entire chapter behind you ready to help you grow.

This leads me to the theme for the FSMTA Convention and Trade Show in June/July this year: Believe - Invest - Grow. The convention is from Wednesday, June 27th to Sunday July 1st. I hope you are making your plans to attend this amazing event at Omni Orlando Resort at Champion’s Gate. You will find a lineup of classes and events in your January/February Massage Message magazine. The March/April issue will have information about classes and registration. I am looking forward to seeing you there. Remember that the Successful Start program will be Thursday from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm and the Exhibit Hall will be open as well.

We have an amazing Chapter of dedicated and hard working people making Sarasota/Manatee Chapter one of the top chapters in the State. Please show your appreciation by nominating one of our members for either a Chapter or State award. Look for a separate email where we will provide you with the opportunity to submit a candidate nomination online.

I am pleased to tell you that our Chapter was the first to submit the Annual Budget to Central Office. I want to thank our Immediate Past President, Brian George, for helping get it prepared and you, the Chapter, for voting to accept it at our last meeting. I can assure you that your Board of Directors will continue to be very mindful of every expenditure and donation.

I am still getting great responses back about our Christmas Party at the Gator Club. Once again, Brian did so very much to make it successful. As we discussed at the January Chapter meeting, we are planning to celebrate the next Christmas party on the Marina Jack boat. Although it is only February, we are already working to put the wheels in motion to make this happen.

Our Legislative Committee is having a very busy season. Patricia Rogers will be bringing us up to date on all the bills that affect Massage Therapy. The numbers that Anna Rodriguez gave about human trafficking at the Winter Chapter meeting in Orlando last month were overwhelming. According to her numbers, 27,000,000 people worldwide are involved in human trafficking, making perhaps as much as $34 BILLION in revenue.

In addition, Patricia is monitoring the bill regarding PIP billing, and much more. Please be sure to check Patricia’s blog on our web page and in the newsletter. There are a number of opportunities for you to get involved in Legislative matters. Everyone’s vote counts.

Be on the lookout for changes and improvements in the coming months with our Electronic Newsletter. Amy Luycx, our Secretary and Webmaster, had made of number of recommendations to help our chapter save money and still get current information to you.

And last but not least, please be sure to bring your massage tables this month for the presentation of Dan Towey - Access Bars. As always, this is a CE class for our chapter members..

Until next month, I am certain we can all Believe – Invest – Grow.

Eddie Hooper, II LMT
President: Sarasota/Manatee Chapter
1 February 2012