American Massage Therapy Association - Georgia Chapter
The Georgia Chapter was chartered in January 1984 when fewer than a dozen newly graduated students from the Atlanta School of Massage gathered to help support one another and promote the massage therapy profession. They held regular meetings, provided educational and social opportunities for other massage therapists, and actively lobbied for massage therapy legislation. Our membership numbers have increased steadily since then. Currently, the Georgia Chapter has over 1100 members, and 15 AMTA School Members.
The Georgia Chapter, like AMTA National, is a member driven and run organization. All Chapter leaders volunteer their time and energy to make our Chapter possible. We believe in promoting the massage therapy profession and in giving back to the communities in which we live and work. Over the years we have provided an AMTA massage presence at the Georgia State Games (1990-1995), the 1996 Olympic Games, and numerous road races and sporting events around the state.
The Georgia Chapter has hosted two AMTA National gatherings; first was the National Conference in 1994 and then the National Convention in 2006. It was through countless volunteer hours that each of these events was hugely successful. Attendance at the 2006 Convention set a new record. Our strength comes from our members and their willingness to give their time and energy.
In 2005 the Georgia State Legislature passed the "Georgia Massage Therapy Practice Act." This was the culmination of years of effort by the Chapter and many dedicated massage therapists. We don’t have the room to name everyone but we owe a great deal to the volunteers who gave chair massages, made phone calls, held fundraisers and won the respect of Law makers. The new Massage Law provides state regulation of our profession which in turn protects both the practitioners and the public. The law requires every practicing Massage Therapist to secure a license from the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy.
Over the past few years the Georgia Chapter has been asked to participate in several pilot programs by the AMTA National Office; we are considered a highly functional Chapter and continue to be in compliance with all financial and administrative reporting requirements. It may seem that we are an overly serious group. We believe that massage is serious business (it’s how we all make our living). However, we do love to have a lot of fun. Come and join us at our next Chapter meeting.
