Speaker Application Guide

Please read this guide carefully to ensure your application is complete. Some procedures and explanations have changed, and incomplete applications can not be considered.

Required Elements for Proposal Evaluation

The following items are needed to adequately evaluate your proposal:

  1. Learning Outcomes: Clearly state the learning outcomes. They should be attainable in the time given, measurable and able to be evaluated by the end of the course.

  2. Program Content/Time Frame: Explain what program content will be given to achieve each stated learning outcome. Also list the time you are allotting to address each learning outcome. Include an estimate of what percentage of the material will be hands-on, interactive or lecture. Hands-on is if the attendees practice the techniques on each other using massage tables. An example of interactive would be leading the group in a series of stretches. An example of lecture would be explaining the history of a procedure to the group.

  3. Bibliography: List research and references which support the material being presented in the course. The resources should be timely and relevant to the practice of massage therapy and bodywork.

  4. Teaching Strategies: List what strategies you plan to use to present the program content. Please explain how each strategy supports the learning outcomes.

  5. Learning Environment: Describe the classroom set-up you will use to support the teaching strategies. Include what materials you request the attendee to bring (such as massage table, linens, oils, etc.)

  6. Sample of Handouts: Include any handouts you plan to provide to the attendee. The handouts should not exceed 20 pages double-sided and should reflect the program content.

  7. Teaching Sample: Include a video sample of your teaching. The format should be VHS, VHS-C or DVD only. The sample does not have to be professional quality and does not have to show the same topic as the presentation submitted. The sample should be at least 15 minutes in duration. The purpose is to assess the presenter’s teaching style and interaction with the audience.

  8. Resume/Professional Vitae

Meeting Information

We are accepting proposals for the AMTA 2009 National Convention until June 20, 2008. Proposals submitted after this deadline cannot be considered for the 2009 convention but may be held and considered for the 2010 convention.

The AMTA 2009 National Convention will be held September 23-26, 2009 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, FL. This meeting focuses on individual massage therapists and massage therapy educators, and typically draws over 1,100 attendees and over 100 exhibitors. Class sizes typically range from 50-200 attendees.

Course Themes and Topics

We are interested in classes that address the following topics:

Modalities

  • Therapeutic applications

  • Neuromuscular applications

  • Massage for structural integration

  • Movement

  • Massage for special populations , including:

o       Pediatrics

o       Oncology patients

o       Medically frail

o       Hospice

o       Dental office

Spa

  • Massage for post cosmetic surgery
  • Massage in a medical spa
  • Contract negotiation when working in a spa

Research

Business

  • Massage chains – How to open and run

  • Marketing plans

  • Insurance reimbursement

  • Ethics

  • Taxes

Teaching Skills

  • Teaching cancer and massage

  • Conflict management in classroom discipline

  • Motivating teachers and students

  • Translating personal boundaries into the classroom

  • Creative methods for teaching anatomy and physiology

Review Procedure

Applications are peer reviewed by a committee of massage therapists with experience in education.

All complete applications must be received by June 20, 2008 to be considered for either of these meetings. The Educational Operations Committee will review the applications and slate all speakers by September 5, 2008. You will be notified of whether or not your application has been chosen at that time.

Evaluation

Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

  1. Is the application complete? Incomplete applications can not be considered.

  2. Does the presenter have a thorough knowledge of the subject matter and is qualified to design the proposed curriculum?

  3. Does the presenter have previous teaching experience and is qualified to teach about the subject matter?

  4. Does the program address topics stated in the call to present?

  5. Does the outline include relevant research and theories pertaining to the topic?

  6. Are the learning outcomes clearly stated?

  7. Are the learning outcomes attainable given the course length and outline?

  8. Is the program content clearly stated?

  9. Is the program content appropriate to meet the learning objectives?

  10. Is the learning environment stated?

  11. Is the learning environment appropriate for the program content?

  12. Are the sample handouts clear and easy to understand?

  13. Do the handouts reflect the content?

  14. In the teaching sample, is the presenter confident in the role of an educator?

  15. In the teaching sample, does the presenter demonstrate enthusiasm when speaking?

  16. In the teaching sample, is the presenter respectful of the audience?

  17. Is the presentation hands on, interactive, or lecture?

AMTA Speaker Compensation Policy

AMTA will pay the following fees and expenses for speakers: lodging; coach airfare (where applicable); ground transportation to and from the airport; speaker honorarium and a per diem not to exceed $35 per day for meals when AMTA meal tickets are not used. 

AMTA will pay a speaker honoraria based on the length of presentation, AMTA policy provides $75 per hour of instruction.

A speaker will be entitled to attend a complimentary 4-hour education session given by another educator in order to receive continuing education credit. If the speaker does not chose to use this complimentary session, it may be passed on to one of the speaker’s teaching assistants (if applicable).

AMTA will not reimburse expenses of family members or guests who accompany the speaker.

AMTA Teaching Assistant Compensation Policy

AMTA will pay the following fees and expenses for teaching assistants: lodging (based on double occupancy); coach airfare (where applicable); ground transportation to and from the airport and a per diem not to exceed $35 per day for meals when AMTA meal tickets are not used.

AMTA will not reimburse expenses of family members or guests who accompany the teaching assistant.

Criteria for use of Teaching Assistants

Presenters must request teaching assistant(s), if desired, at the time of the signing of the speaker agreement.

The difficulty and specificity of the modality being presented is a minimum of 75% experiential learning.

The presentation time must be a minimum of 8 contact hours.  Repeating shorter sessions at an event does qualify.

Continuing Education Credit

AMTA National Events is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a continuing education Approved Provider.  Additionally, education programs meet the continuing education requirement for AMTA membership.

Speaker Pool Policies

AMTA does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, age, national or ethnic origin, marital status, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

AMTA will notify Speaker Pool members of upcoming educational conferences.  It is your responsibility to notify AMTA of your availability and interest.

Presenters are selected by a committee on the basis of instructor qualifications, instructional content and methods, teaching style, relevance to the profession and relevance to the conference theme..

Upon selection, speakers are asked to enter into a speaker agreement with AMTA®

To ensure quality programming, speakers are asked to review the program content with staff and may be requested to make adjustments to the presentation.

Presenters will be selected on a rotational basis.  Presenters at a National Convention are not eligible to present at the following National Convention, however they are eligible to present at regional or Chapter meetings the following year.

AMTA will keep proposals in our Speaker Pool for 4 years after the most recent submission. All materials that have not been resubmitted for consideration after that point will be discarded.

Speaker Application Checklist

To be considered complete, your submission must include the following items. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

       Learning Outcomes

       Program Content/Time Frame

       Bibliography

       Teaching Strategies

       Learning Environment

       Sample of Handouts

       Teaching Sample

       Resume/Professional Vitae