This past spring, the Community Service Massage Team (CSMT) has been out and about volunteering our time! The Outreach Division volunteered at both the CT Mission of Mercy (CTMOM) in New Haven and Legislative Awareness Day (LAD) at the state capitol in Hartford, while the Emergency Division spent time working with emergency personnel at the Emergency Management Services (EMS) Expo at Mohegan Sun.

We had many very grateful dentists, hygienists, and support staff at the CTMOM event.  We had a few first time volunteers that got swept up in the fun and will be back for more events!  We also had veteran team members donate their time, and we are always happy to see their smiling faces at events…they are also often recognized by the CTMOM workers!  At this event, we had a total of 14 therapists who gave a total of 305 massages in two days.  A big thank you goes out to

Carol Radzunas for coordinating this event.

At LAD, during a grueling legislative session and regardless of political affiliation, we often heard the following refrain from the legislators and staff: “This is my favorite day of the year!”  LAD is a time when legislators are able to experience the benefits of massage first-hand and we are able to promote our profession to those who work on the laws affecting us.  We had a total of 12 therapists who gave a total of 175 massages. Thank you to Lani Roth for coordinating!

Deb Van Ohlen coordinated our first Emergency Division drill/event at the EMS Expo. The team used this event as a drill to keep our deployment skills ready as well as to be visible and educate the EMS community. Many of the folks who received chair massage had not heard of us, and all were impressed by what we do and that we volunteer our time.  Those who did know us greeted us with, “Great that you are back again!” and “This is my favorite part of the weekend!”  Throughout the weekend, we had 15 team leaders and volunteers participate in giving 229 massages.

Our July chapter meeting will be a donation drop-off point for The Cornerstone Foundation in Rockville, CT.  This organization provides shelter and clothes for people in need and has recently opened a food cupboard. They are currently looking for donations of nonperishable food items, office supplies for the main staff (plain white paper, white-out, pens, etc.) and as always, financial contributions.  If you are willing and able, please step up and help AMTA help others!

Looking forward, we are gauging interest in running a CSMT Emergency Division training.  If you are interested in taking a class to become a CSMTED member, please contact me at CSMTAMTACT@gmail.com or
Deb Van Ohlen at CSMTEDAMTACT@gmail.com.  If we have enough interest, we will attempt to run the class sooner rather than later!

Jody Clouse
CSMT Chair