AMTA OR Newsletter Fall 2020
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Editor’s & President’s Note:
Wishing you all a happy Fall! Did anyone see a Spring or Summer around here? I think I misplaced mine, and can’t recall if I ever actually had them in the first place!?!
Seriously though, what a year. 2020 hurts. I’m troubled daily about the myriad events that have disrupted so much for so many. I worry for those of us that have had their lives and livelihoods turned upside down. I yearn for the exhale when we’ve all healed from this chapter and can enjoy some hindsight. May it come soon.
This newsletter is brief. We’re waiting for AMTA National to release guidelines and tools to conduct virtual meetings and events with our chapter members. They should be out soon. Once we have the means to connect with you interactively, we will create some opportunities to do so. We miss you, and thank you for your patience.
This issue is skips the Events section, Education Update, and Membership Report. Membership Reports have been paused at the National level during the pandemic. If you need help, or have questions regarding your membership, or fees/dues, please do contact Nationals @ 1-877-905-2700 , info@amtamassage.org or via https://www.amtamassage.org/
-In this Issue:
Mark Retzlaff keeps us up to date on changes @ OBMT, their ongoing emergency rule changes for CE and Renewals, plus OSHA/OHA rulemaking info in the Government Relations Report. A big thanks to Mark for all his hard work!
Take care and see you soon,
Aaron Gustafson, AMTA OR President & Editor
Each report I’ve written in 2020 has been so tough. My heart goes out to our LMT community and our families that have experienced disruption from wildfires, COVID-19, and all the other 2020 challenges that seem to just keep coming. For my part, I’ve found a lot of comfort in connecting with friends that I’ve made through my engagement with the massage professional advocacy. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (gov@amtaor.org) if you have any questions, want to talk about the issues, or want to get involved on the Government Relations team.
OBMT Updates
1) OBMT sent out a notice on September 16th, that temporary COVID-19 rules related to license renewals will continue through the end of the year. All applications received before 12/31/2020 will have reduced CE requirements. Late fees will not apply during this time, though licenses will still lapse if not renewed. If you missed the email, a detailed notice is on the front page of the board website.
2) The Rules and Education Committees are nearing completion of their work drafting revised CE rules. The board will have the ability to revise and approve any recommendations the committees produce.
3) There was a vacancy for an LMT member on OBMT. As a professional association, AMTA Oregon has the ability to recommend qualified candidates to fill vacancies for LMT members. We emailed all our members about the opportunity and I personally reached out to about 20 LMTs to encourage them to consider applying. Our organization put forward three candidates and one, Carol Gray, LMT, was selected by OBMT as their preferred candidate. Governor Brown makes final appointment decisions and (to my knowledge) that approval is still pending.
4) Kelly Rothenberger, LMT is the outgoing OBMT board member. She served for two full terms, and her service is greatly appreciated!
OSHA Rulemaking
1) Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA) has engaged in a rulemaking process to address workplace safety issues related to COVID-19. I reviewed proposed rules in consultation with our Government Relations Committee, AMTA national staff, and local business owners. AMTA Oregon submitted a comment asking questions that we thought should be clarified upon publication of final rules. OSHA representatives replied that they were considering supplementary documentation that would answer common questions.
2) To answer a couple of the big questions: OSHA rules would supplement (not replace) existing OSHA guidelines for personal services (including massage). Additionally, the rules would apply only to places of employment, so sole proprietors and independent contractors would not fall under the new rules.
3) The temporary rules, which are scheduled to go into effect October 1st, will be replaced by permanent Infectious Disease rule which will be drafted November 2020 through March 2021.
4) More details, including the most up-to-date proposed rules are available on the OSHA website here.
Thank you to our Government Relations Committee members Julie Crispin and Donald Schiff!
&
Thank you,
-Mark Retzlaff
Thanks for getting all the way to the end of the newsletter. We appreciate you!
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