Winter 2009 issue
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Gene Ann Behrens, PhD, MT-BC
We continued to slowly increase our membership numbers from the second to the third quarter in 2008 with 934 members, a 6.99% increase. We also continued to increase our numbers from this time last year, 2007, a 4.59% increase. However, we still are behind the higher membership numbers from 2006, a 3.91% decrease. Student membership remains the highest category of increased membership, a 17.89% increase from last year; but that also is the category of membership within which we lost the highest numbers since 2006.
So what can all of you do to make a difference in our region in 2009? First, we need everyone who has not paid their 2009 dues to send them in as soon as possible. The earlier you get in your dues, the sooner our budget can benefit from your membership and the more we can do for our members. Second, I encourage all of you to reach out and make contact with other music therapists in our region. It will take everyone to reach out and bring all music therapists together in 2009. Encourage those who are not MAR members to join, as new exciting benefits that are accessible to all members are being developed at the national level. (See the last paragraph for a description of the new benefits). Let me know when professionals move into our region and when new professionals finish their internships. I really need your assistance! Third, given the new focus on volunteerism in our country, I encourage you to volunteer, using the MAR Needs You form (in this newsletter), to assist with small or large jobs in MAR.
The new professional and mentorship program continues to develop. We hope to recognize new professionals at the spring MAR conference, so look for a box to check on your conference registration form if you have become a new professional since our last conference. If you have at five or more years of experience, you can volunteer to be a mentor for a new professional. You can email me at behrenga@etown.edu if you are interested. Mentors are asked to make contact at least once every four months for at least a year; however, each group can discuss and decide to extend the level of contact.
And I am excited to tell you about two announcements from the national Membership Committee.
First, we are conducting a survey at the following link to investigate the needs and concerns of AMTA/MAR members: https://survey.uiowa.edu/wsb.d11/602/AMTAMembershipSurvey and of nonmembers.
Please use the appropriate link to provide our committee with information.
Second, there are three new benefits for members from AMTA.
One of the new benefits is AMTA.Pro, an on-line symposium that will allow any member to view podcasts of lectures that highlight experienced music therapists; your time spent in training can be potentially used towards your CMTE credits. The program is up and running and lists one symposia. A second benefit is the new AMTA Job Center with new resources. As a third benefit, AMTA has connected with Chuck Wild who will be donating his music to be available for music therapists to download and use with no copyright restrictions. These new benefits are available to all AMTA members.