History
The Oregon Massage Technicians Association was formed in early 1985 when the Oregon Legislature was preparing a Sunset Review of the Oregon Board of Massage Technicians (OBMT).
A group of LMTs formed a professional corporation and communicated with massage technicians throughout the State of Oregon. On March 14, 1985, Susan Kerr Shawn, Doug Montgomery, Jo White and Ray Siderius signed the Articles of Incorporation, and the Oregon Massage Technicians Association was born. This early effort helped retain the Massage Board and our licensing process, as well as raising our professional standards.
Since that early effort, we have grown into a well-defined, articulate professional organization.
A variety of member services have been developed, including: Touchstone (our professional journal), a membership directory and this website.
We have sponsored several major information and educational conferences and a number of professional workshops.
A less tangible but no less important outcome of our organization is stimulating and supporting our visionary process. Questions are raised about the future of massage, our place in the workforce, our professional standards and our ideals. Through discussion, controversy and action, a greater recognition of our interdependence as a community is born.
The OBMT changed our licensing title from Technicians to Therapists, on April 6, 2001, we changed our name to the Oregon Massage Therapists Association.
Website History
In early 1997, the Executive Committee authorized Matthew Starrett-Bigg, a Portland massage therapist, to create a website for OMTA. The site went live on May 14, 1997. The original URL was http://www.altmedweb.com/~mattlmt/omta. Whew.
In 1999, Larry Park, our Membership Director, offered to create a website for OMTA. Larry secured the name, www.omta.net, and created a good stand-alone website, with basic info, a list of members and their businesses.
In 2002, Robert Bike took over, and the position of Webmaster was created on the Associate Executive Committee. Robert added all of OMTA's public documents, the library, and multiple ways to find LMTs in our Massage Finder.
In 2010, Heather Bennouri moved the membership management processes online. Wild Apricot was chosen as the membership hosting site and software tools. This allowed individuals to apply for membership online, online renewals, online event registrations, and the ability for members to actively manage their personal information directly. All of the material from the previous web site was migrated to the Wild Apricot "backbone" and new material was added as well.
Executive Committee History of Officers
1985
| President |
Susan Kerr (Shawn) |
| Vice-President |
Mary Smith |
| Treasurer |
Ron Rathburn |
| Secretary |
Mara Nesbitt |
| Relief Secretary |
Terry Miller |
1986
| President |
Susan Kerr (Shawn) |
| Vice-President |
Mary Smith |
| Treasurer |
Ron Rathburn |
| Secretary |
Kay Miller |
1987
| President |
Susan Kerr (Shawn) |
| Vice-President |
Beverly Reeves |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Mary Smith |
| Treasurer |
Kathleen Sullivan |
| Secretary |
Susan Hill |
1988
| President |
Beverly Reeves |
| Vice-President |
Jan Monical |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Susan Hill |
| Treasurer |
Kathleen Sullivan |
| Secretary |
Adela Basayne-Smith |
1989
| President |
Kathleen Sullivan |
| Vice-President |
Janet Williams |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Adela Basayne-Smith |
| Treasurer |
Liz Addis |
| Secretary |
Barbara Feller |
1990
| President |
Kathleen Sullivan |
| Vice-President |
Chaim Sil |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Sande Maxwell |
| Treasurer |
Marvin Lindquest |
| Secretary |
Julia Stephens |
| Membership |
Barbara Feller |
1991
| President |
Sande Maxwell |
| Vice-President |
Chaim Sil |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Karen Davis |
| Treasurer |
Marvin Lindquest |
| Secretary |
Deb Thomas |
| Membership |
Myk Walker*, Ute Munger |
| Relief Secretary |
Ann Marie Maurer |
* denotes partial year
1992
| President |
Chaim Sil |
| Vice-President |
Sande Maxwell |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Deb Thomas |
| Treasurer |
Karen Davis |
| Secretary |
Cliff Williams |
| Membership |
Ute Munger |
1993
| President |
Chaim Sil |
| Vice-President |
Tom Miller |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Deb Thomas |
| Treasurer |
Karen Davis |
| Secretary |
Lynn Van Norman |
| Membership |
Ute Munger |
1994
| President |
Norma Peterson |
| Vice-President |
Tom Miller |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Sande Maxwell |
| Treasurer |
Marsha Akers |
| Secretary |
Lynn Van Norman |
| Membership |
Sharon Jakeways |
1995
| President |
Norma Peterson |
| Vice-President |
Susan Shawn |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Sande Maxwell |
| Treasurer |
Dolores Emmenegger |
| Secretary |
Annie Cook |
| Membership |
Sharon Jakeways |
1996
| President |
Annie Cook |
| Vice-President |
Susan Shawn |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Paul Burris* |
| Treasurer |
Dolores Emmenegger |
| Membership |
Toni Bailie |
| Secretary |
Sharon DeBusk |
* denotes partial year
1997
| President |
Annie Cook |
| Vice-President |
Patty Blakeley |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Dee Stubblefield |
| Treasurer |
Dolores Emmenegger |
| Membership |
Toni Bailie |
| Secretary |
Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Susan Shawn |
1998
| President |
Dee Stubblefield |
| Vice-President |
Patty Blakeley |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Treasurer |
Stephanie Park |
| Membership |
Larry Park |
| Secretary |
Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Norma Peterson |
1999
| President |
Dee Stubblefield |
| Vice-President |
Katrina Rae-Morin* |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Treasurer |
Stephanie Park |
| Membership |
Larry Park |
| Secretary |
Julie Lindsay*, Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
* denotes partial year
2000
| President |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Vice-President |
Katrina Rae-Morin* |
| 2nd Vice-President |
Kristin Wright |
| Treasurer |
Mary Kirkpatrick |
| Membership |
Larry Park*, Stephanie Park |
| Secretary |
Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Regional Manager |
Pam Baer |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Student Coordinator |
Dave Sharon |
* denotes partial year
2001
| President |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Vice-President |
Kristin Wright |
| Treasurer |
Mary Kirkpatrick |
| Membership |
Marie Levering |
| Secretary |
Cindy Varvais |
| Directory Editor |
Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Regional Manager |
Pam Baer |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Student Coordinator |
Dave Sharon |
2002
| President |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Vice-President |
Kristin Wright |
| Treasurer |
Cathy Petersen |
| Membership |
Marie Levering |
| Secretary |
Cindy Varvais |
| Directory Editor |
Robert Bike |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Coordinator, Bend |
Cindy Varvais |
| Area Coordinator, Roseburg |
Mary Kirkpatrick |
2003
| President |
Cindy Varvais |
| Vice-President |
Rachel Smith |
| Treasurer |
Cathy Petersen |
| Membership |
Marie Levering |
| Secretary |
* |
| Directory Editor |
Meggan Uecker |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Coordinator, Bend |
Cindy Varvais |
| Area Coordinator, Eugene |
Melody Gandy |
| Area Coordinator, Roseburg |
Mary Kirkpatrick |
| Area Coordinator, Springfield |
Sharon Jakeways |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
*Duties rotated within the EC
2004
| President |
Cindy Varvais |
| Treasurer |
An'daesha K'Treva |
| Membership |
Brenda Schneider |
| Secretary |
Cynthia Mallea*, EC |
| Directory Editor |
Meggan Uecker |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Coordinator, Bend |
Cindy Varvais |
| Area Coordinator, Eugene |
Melody Gandy |
| Area Coordinator, Roseburg |
Mary Kirkpatrick |
| Area Coordinator, Springfield |
Sharon Jakeways |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
* denotes partial year (resigned in February, rest of EC rotated as Secretary)
2004-2005
| President |
Melody Gandy |
| Vice-President |
Bruno De Block |
| Treasurer |
An'daesha K'Treva |
| Membership |
Brenda Schneider |
| Secretary |
Heather Bennouri |
| Directory Editor |
Meggan Uecker |
| Librarian |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Coordinator, Bend |
Cindy Varvais |
| Area Coordinator, Eugene |
Melody Gandy |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
2005-2006
| President |
Melody Gandy |
| Vice-President |
Bruno De Block |
| Treasurer |
Sharon Jakeways |
| Membership |
Brenda Schneider |
| Secretary |
Heather Bennouri |
| Directory Editor |
Emden Griffin |
| Librarian |
Sharon Jakeways*, Kathy Hensley* |
| Touchstone Editor |
Toni Bailie |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke Hensley |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Representative, Bend |
Cindy Varvais |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
* denotes partial year
2006-2007
| President |
Bruno DeBlock |
| Vice-President |
Emden Griffin |
| Treasurer |
Sharon Jakeways*, Michael Jordan* |
| Membership |
Brenda Schneider |
| Secretary |
Heather Bennouri |
| Directory Editor |
Emden Griffin |
| Librarian |
Kathy Hensley |
| Touchstone Editor |
Heather Bennouri |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Kathy Paschelke Hensley |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Representative, Albany |
Larry Johnson |
| Area Representative, Ashland |
Ramah Rosenquist |
| Area Rep, Eugene/Springfield |
Melody Gandy |
| Area Representative, Portland |
Heather Bennouri |
| Area Representative, Roseburg |
Carol Duncan |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
2007-2008
| President |
Bruno DeBlock |
| Vice-President |
Emden Griffin |
| Treasurer |
Brenda Schneider |
| Membership |
Heather Bennouri |
| Secretary |
Carol Corey* |
| Librarian |
Kathy Hensley |
| Touchstone Editor |
Heather Bennouri |
| Advertising Manager |
Daisy Talbado |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Emden Griffin |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| Area Representative, Albany |
Larry Johnson |
| Area Representative, Portland |
Heather Bennouri |
| Area Representative, Roseburg |
Carol Duncan |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
2008-2009
| President |
Robert Bike |
| Vice-President |
Daisy Talbado+++ |
| Treasurer |
Brenda Schneider |
| Membership |
Heather Bennouri |
| Secretary |
Carol Corey*, Rowan Varvais** |
| Librarian |
Kathy Hensley, Bruno DeBlock |
| Touchstone Editor |
Heather Bennouri |
| Advertising Manager |
Daisy Talbado +++ |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Emden Griffin |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| State Coordinator |
Carol Duncan |
| Area Representative, Albany |
Larry Johnson |
| Area Representative, Eugene |
Mike Pooler+ |
| Area Representative, Newport |
Rose Jade++ |
| Area Representative, Portland |
Heather Bennouri |
| Area Representative, Roseburg |
Carol Duncan |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
* resigned 10/29/2008; **inducted 11/8/2008
+as of 4/19/2009, ++resigned 5/23/2009, +++resigned 9/24/09
2009-2010
| President |
Robert Bike |
| Vice-President |
Carol Duncan |
| Treasurer |
Kami Manselle |
| Membership |
Heather Bennouri |
| Secretary |
Joni Kutner |
| Librarian |
Bruno DeBlock |
| Touchstone Editor |
Heather Bennouri |
| Volunteer Coordinator |
Emden Griffin |
| Webmaster |
Robert Bike |
| State Coordinator |
Emden Griffin |
| Area Representative, Albany |
Larry Johnson |
| Area Representative, Eugene |
Mike Pooler |
| Area Representative, Hillsboro |
Neva Winters |
| Area Representative, Portland |
Heather Bennouri |
| Area Representative, Roseburg |
Carol Duncan |
| OMTA Store |
Kristin Wright |
2011-2012
| President |
Patty Glenn |
| Vice-President |
|
| Treasurer |
vacant |
| Membership |
|
| Secretary |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Publications Editor |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Librarian |
Robert Bike |
2012-2013
| President |
Robert Bike (interim appointment) |
| Vice-President |
Melody Morton Gandy (interim appointment) |
| Treasurer |
vacant |
| Membership |
Sharon Jakeways (interim appointment) |
| Secretary |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Librarian |
Robert Bike |
| Publications Editor |
Donovan Monroe |
| Assistant Publications Editor |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Webmaster |
S. Heather Bennouri |
2013
| President |
Melody Morton Gandy |
| Vice-President |
vacant |
| Treasurer |
vacant |
| Membership |
Sharon Jakeways (interim appointment) |
| Secretary |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Publications Editor |
Donovan Monroe |
| Assistant Publications Editor |
S. Heather Bennouri |
| Webmaster |
S. Heather Bennouri |
Annual Conference Themes, 1985-2010
| Year |
Location |
Date |
Theme |
| 1985 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 4-6 |
Neck, low back, shoulders & feet |
| 1986 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 24-26 |
OMTA Belongs to All of Us |
| 1987 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 23-25 |
Balance and Well-Being |
| 1988 |
Breitenbush |
|
Legislative Strategy |
| 1989 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 6-8 |
Coming to Healing |
| 1990 |
Camp Westwind |
Oct. 12-14 |
|
|
1991
|
Lost Valley |
Cancelled |
|
| 1992 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 2-4 |
Culturally Diverse |
| 1993 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 29-31 |
Massage Exchange |
| 1994 |
Marylhurst |
Oct. 22-24 |
Re-Membering the First Ten Years |
| 1995 |
Breitenbush |
Sept. 29-Oct. 1 |
Discovering Massage as Teacher: The Spirit of Massage |
| 1996 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 4-6 |
Moving Into Action |
| 1997 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 3-5 |
Focus on Touch: The Energy of Rejuvenation and Grounding |
| 1998 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 2-4 |
Communication, Community & Change |
| 1999 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 8-10 |
Massage in the Next Millenium |
| 2000 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 6-8 |
Healing Ourselves Through Transitions and Chaos |
| 2001 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 5-7 |
Renew - Rejuvenate - Rejoice |
| 2002 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 4-6 |
Tools for Transformation |
| 2003 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 3-5 |
Manifesting Peace |
| 2004 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 1-3 |
Honoring Our Senses |
| 2005 |
Breitenbush |
Sept. 30-Oct. 2 |
Celebrating 20 Years of OMTA: Changing Lives Through Changing Times |
| 2006 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 6-8 |
Rising to Renewed Purpose and Passion |
| 2007 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 5-7 |
Inner Peace Through Healing Harmony |
| 2008 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 3-5 |
A Time to Heal |
| 2009 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 2-4 |
Harvesting Hope |
| 2010 |
Breitenbush |
Oct. 1-3 |
Journey of the Spirit |
