Profile: Florida State Massage Therapy Association Treasure Coast Chapter

We are one of 19 current Chapters that make up the Florida State Massage Therapy Association. Our Chapter
encompasses 5 counties that include Martin, St Lucie, Indian River, Okeechobee, and Highlands counties. We currently
have around 150 active members in the Chapter.

The Chapter holds membership meetings monthly, except for the month of March, due to Spring Break. The meetings
are held the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. We meet at the new Health Building (H), Room 120, on the campus
of the Indian River Community College (IRCC), located on 35st, North of Virginia Ave, in Fort Pierce. Taken into
consideration of the large area that our Chapter covers this location is the most centrally located spot for our members.  
Our Chapter host presentations at most of these meetings.

We try our best to include CEU's with these presentations, that our Chapter offers FREE to all it's members. This past
year (2006) our Chapter has hosted several presentations and members in attendance received 21 FREE CEU's. Most
of these presentations are also open to the public for a nominal cost.   

We will be setting up a membership drive this
spring. A sports team is in the making and a whole lot more, so stay tunned. Get involved, make meetings, view this
website, and enjoy YOUR Chapter.

History of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association

At approximately 4,600 members, the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA) has grown
considerably since June 15, 1939 when it started with 85 charter members. Currently, the FSMTA has
members living anywhere from the Florida/Alabama border in Escambia County to the tip of the Keys and
from Costa Rica to Australia . Since its inception, the FSMTA has been a leader in supporting and protecting
those who have and are choosing massage therapy as their profession.



In 1943, the 'Florida State Massage Law' was passed by the state legislature. This law, as well as many of the
rules and procedures that followed, was developed from annual meetings of the Florida State Massage
Association (the original name of the FSMTA). In 1945, committees on Ethics, Membership, Finance, and
Constitution/Bylaws were formed to help the association protect massage therapists.



The FSMTA later found that it needed to have local chapters to help address some issues and education
matters with its members. In the 1950's, the Dade chapter was formed followed by the Jacksonville , Orlando
and Palm Beach chapters. As it grew, other chapters were added including the Pinellas and Broward
chapters. Education programs were extended in 1953 to be held at chapter meetings and 8 hours of
continuing educational courses were incorporated into the Annual Convention.



Throughout the 1960's and 1970's, the Association remained active, but the greatest period of growth and
change was during the 1980's. At that time, the FSMTA became more centralized and grew to 14 chapters. In
1986 it was re-incorporated as the Florida State Massage Therapy Association. That same year, the
"Massage Message" magazine, the official magazine of the FSMTA, was first published. Later, new
committees were formed to help achieve the goals of the FSMTA. In 1988, the Insurance Committee made
liability insurance available to FSMTA members while the Legislative Committee helped Chapter 480
become more responsive to the needs of therapists and the public. Also in 1988, the Educational Standards
Committee was developed to work with the State of Florida , the FSMTA Annual Convention, and local
chapters to provide continuing education programs. The last two committees formed in the late 1980's were
the Sports Massage Team Committee, known throughout the state for its excellent service to athletes, and the
Public Relations Committee, designed to actively promote the FSMTA and its members to the general public.



The 1990's brought more growth to the Association and so the FSMTA Central Office was established in
Orlando to organize and consolidate the services of the Association and help it become more responsive to
the needs of its members. In 2001, the FSMTA added it's 19th Chapter in the ongoing effort to serve it's
members efficiently and effectively.   



Through our vision statement: “A World of Wellness United Through Touch”, the FSMTA and it's governing
Board of Directors continue on a path of action and accomplishment. Our mission statement:“To Unify The
Massage Therapy Profession While Creating, Representing, and Promoting Standards of Excellence in
Health Care” validates the FSMTA's promise to serve and protect the massage therapist in Florida.