Starting a State-Focused Massage Therapy Association: Lessons from Building IMTPA
Illinois Massage Therapy Professional Association
By Colleen Grabow, A.A.S., LMT
Starting a state-focused massage therapy association has been both exciting and humbling. It began with the question: What does our profession need right here, in this state, at this time? For the Illinois Massage Therapy Professional Association, or IMTPA, the answer was clear.
Illinois massage therapists needed an organization focused specifically on Illinois law, Illinois advocacy, Illinois licensure issues, Illinois public safety concerns, and Illinois opportunities for healthcare integration. National organizations serve an important role, but they cannot always respond to every state and local issue with the speed or specificity those issues require. Massage therapy laws, local ordinances, regulatory decisions, legislative relationships, insurance coverage, healthcare integration, and public safety concerns often unfold in real time within each state. A state-focused association can help ensure therapists have a voice where those decisions are being made.
IMTPA is still in its early stages. We have not reached every milestone we hope to reach, and we are still learning as we build. Many of the ideas in this article are not presented as finished accomplishments, but as lessons, priorities, and goals that have guided the formation of IMTPA and may help others who are considering a similar effort in their own state.
Start With a Clear Purpose
Before forming an association, it is important to define why the organization needs to exist. For IMTPA, the purpose was not to duplicate what already existed. The goal was to create an Illinois-focused, profession-driven, member-centered organization that could respond to the specific needs of Illinois licensed massage therapists.
That meant asking:
What are therapists in our state struggling with?]
What laws or regulations affect daily practice?
Are local ordinances treating legitimate massage therapy fairly?
Are massage therapists included in healthcare conversations?
Do therapists understand legislative changes that may affect their license?
A state association needs a clear mission from the beginning. Without that, it is easy to become reactive, scattered, or overly dependent on one issue. A strong mission helps guide decisions, explain the organization to others, and keep the work focused when things become busy.
For IMTPA, that mission continues to serve as a guide. We are still developing the organization, but having a clear purpose has helped us decide what issues deserve attention and what kind of association we want to become.
Build the Foundation Before You Build the Public Presence
It is tempting to launch quickly, especially when there is momentum or urgency around a legislative issue. But an association needs a solid foundation before it can effectively represent the profession.
Be sure to research your state’s laws and procedures for forming a professional association or nonprofit entity. Once the organization is properly established at the state level, consideration can then be given to the appropriate federal tax status. Understanding tax rules, reporting requirements, and financial responsibilities is extremely important. These details are what help keep the association legitimate, accountable, and able to serve the profession with credibility.
Some of the early steps aside from forming a legal entity include writing bylaws, creating basic policies, identifying board roles, setting membership categories, opening a bank account, and deciding how decisions will be made.
A professional association needs structure, transparency, and accountability. Members need to know who is leading the organization, how decisions are made, how money is handled, and how they can participate.
For IMTPA, governance documents, board policies, meeting procedures, membership structure, and internal systems have been important early priorities. Some of these pieces have been started, while others continue to be refined as the organization grows. Building this foundation has helped us better explain who we are, what we are working toward, and how therapists may eventually participate more fully.
Keep the Mission Bigger Than One Person
Many state-level efforts begin because a few people see a need and are willing to work. That is often how grassroots advocacy starts. Over time, the goal is to turn that early energy into a shared structure that others can participate in and help carry forward.
From the beginning, think about sustainability.
Create systems. Use shared documents. Keep meeting minutes. Track decisions. Write down processes. Create templates. Build committees when possible. Invite members to help with specific projects.
IMTPA is still working towards this. Like many new organizations, much of the early work has required a small group of people to carry several responsibilities at once. That is common in the beginning, but it should not be the long-term goal. A healthy association needs shared responsibility, clear roles, and room for others to step into the work. Not every volunteer needs to serve on the board. Some people may be willing to make phone calls, review local ordinances, write educational content, share social media posts, help with outreach, or attend a legislative meeting. A strong association creates many ways for people to participate.
Understand the State’s Legislative and Regulatory Landscape
A state-focused massage therapy association needs to understand how laws, rules, and regulations affect the profession. That does not mean every board member needs to be a legal expert or lobbyist. It does mean the association should learn how to track bills, read legislative language, understand committee assignments, monitor licensing board activity, and communicate clearly with members about what is happening.
For massage therapists, legislative updates can feel confusing or overwhelming. One of the most valuable services a state association can provide is translating complex policy activity into plain language.
For example:
What does this bill do?
Does it affect massage therapy?
Is it moving forward or stalled?
Who should therapists contact?
What should they say?
What happens next?
This is an area where IMTPA hopes to continue growing. Legislative tracking, compact discussions, licensing issues, and regulatory updates are all part of the work we believe a state association should be paying attention to. We are still developing our systems for communication and member updates, but the goal is to help Illinois therapists better understand what is happening before decisions are made without their input.
State associations can also help build relationships with legislators and regulators before there is a crisis. Advocacy is not only about opposing or supporting bills. It is also about education, trust, and being available as a professional resource.
Pay Attention to Local Ordinances
One of the biggest lessons from Illinois is that local ordinances matter. Massage therapists are often affected not only by state licensing law, but also by city and village rules. These ordinances may address zoning, business licensing, inspections, signage, hours of operation, room requirements, employee records, or anti-trafficking provisions.
Public safety is important. Communities have a legitimate interest in preventing illicit businesses and human trafficking. At the same time, ordinances should not unnecessarily burden licensed massage therapists who are practicing legally and professionally.
IMTPA has begun paying close attention to local ordinance activity because we believe licensed massage therapists should be included when local rules are being discussed. A state association can help by reviewing proposed ordinances, educating local officials about the impact on licensed therapists, encouraging stakeholder input, and referring municipalities to appropriate professional and public safety resources, such as FSMTB and The Network, when more specialized guidance is needed.
Focus on Member Value Early
When starting an association, people will ask: Why should I join?
That is a fair question.
Members need more than a mission statement. They need to see practical value. For a state massage therapy association, value may include legislative updates, compliance resources, local ordinance alerts, templates, professional guidance, networking, healthcare integration tools, employer resources, continuing education updates, and opportunities to participate in advocacy.
For IMTPA, these are goals we are working toward. Some resources may be created early, while others will take more time, more volunteers, more funding, and more member input. It is important not to promise more than a new association can realistically deliver right away.
Early member resources do not have to be perfect or expensive. They should be useful.
Examples of possible resources include:
A state practice compliance guide
A legislative update page
A local ordinance checklist
A provider outreach letter
A documentation template
A member survey
A volunteer interest form
A plain-language explanation of current bills
A sample letter to local officials
A guide to contacting legislators
As IMTPA grows, resources like these can help turn the mission into practical support for members.
Communicate Often and Clearly
Clear communication is one of the most important parts of building trust.
Massage therapists are busy. Many are solo practitioners. Many do not have time to follow legislative calendars, board meetings, municipal agendas, or policy changes. A state association can help by providing short, timely, accurate updates.
Communication should be professional, but it should also be understandable. Avoid unnecessary jargon. Explain what is known, what is not known, and what members can do. This is especially important for a new association. In the early stages, not everything will be fully developed. Not every question will have an immediate answer. Not every project will be finished. Being honest about that matters.
It is also important to be honest when something is still developing. Not every bill will pass. Not every local ordinance will change. Not every effort of advocacy will produce an immediate result. But members should be able to trust that the association is watching, communicating, and representing the profession in good faith.
Build Relationships, Not Just Campaigns
Advocacy works best when relationships are built over time.
State legislators, municipal officials, licensing board members, regulators, healthcare partners, schools, employers, and public safety organizations may all affect the future of massage therapy. A state association should think beyond one bill or one issue.
Relationship-building may include introducing the association, offering to be a resource, attending public meetings, requesting stakeholder input, thanking officials for their time, and following up respectfully.
For IMTPA, relationship-building is a long-term goal. The profession benefits when massage therapists are known as informed, professional, and constructive participants in state and local conversations.
Be Willing to Learn as You Go
No one starts an association knowing everything.
There will be questions about nonprofit structure, tax status, governance, insurance, banking, membership systems, websites, committees, volunteers, legislative tracking, public messaging, and board development. That is normal.
The key is to keep learning, ask good questions, document decisions, consult qualified professionals as needed, such as an attorney or CPA, and stay aligned with the mission. Starting a state association requires patience. It also requires humility. Some things will need to be revised. Some plans will change. Some volunteers will step back. New people will step forward. The work evolves.
Protect the Profession While Welcoming the Profession
A state massage therapy association should represent the profession with seriousness and care.
That includes supporting licensed practice, ethical standards, public safety, and professional accountability.
At the same time, the association should be inclusive. Therapists come from different work settings, educational backgrounds, career stages, and professional interests. Some are clinical. Some are spa-based. Some work with veterans. Some are employers. Some are sole proprietors. Some are new graduates. Some have been practicing for decades.
A strong state association does not require everyone to think exactly alike. It creates a place where therapists can work together on shared priorities. For IMTPA, this is a guiding principle. We are still building the structure to support broad participation, but the goal is to create an association where Illinois massage therapists can be informed, involved, and respected.
Practical Steps for Therapists Considering a State Association
For anyone considering starting a state-focused massage therapy association, I would suggest thinking about the process in stages.
Early Exploration
1. Identify the need in your state.
2. Learn your state’s massage therapy law and regulatory structure.
3. Understand the current legislative, regulatory, and local ordinance issues affecting massage therapists.
4. Gather a small group of committed professionals who are willing to explore whether a state association is needed.
5. Discuss whether existing organizations are meeting the specific needs of therapists in your state.
Formation and Foundation
6. Write a clear mission statement.
7. Research your state’s requirements for forming a professional association and nonprofit entity.
8. Create basic governance documents, including bylaws, board roles, decision-making procedures, and recordkeeping practices.
9. Decide on membership categories, dues, voting rights, and basic member expectations.
10. Consider the appropriate federal tax status and consult qualified professionals as needed, such as an attorney or CPA.
Building the Association
11. Build simple systems for communication, recordkeeping, member updates, and financial tracking.
12. Begin tracking legislation, regulatory activity, and local ordinance issues in a consistent way.
13. Create practical member resources gradually, based on the needs of therapists in your state.
14. Build relationships with legislators, regulators, local officials, schools, employers, public safety organizations, healthcare partners, and other professional resources.
15. Invite participation and stay transparent about what is established, what is still being developed, and where help is needed.
Final Thoughts
Starting a state-focused massage therapy association is a significant undertaking, but it is meaningful work when it is grounded in service, transparency, and a clear purpose. For IMTPA, the goal remains to support Illinois massage therapists, strengthen the profession, and help therapists become more informed and involved in the decisions that affect their work.
To anyone considering starting a state-focused massage therapy association in your own state, I hope you find success in the work ahead. Take your time, ask good questions, seek guidance when needed, and stay focused on serving your members and strengthening the profession.
About the Author: Colleen graduated from Illinois Valley Community College with an associate degree in massage therapy and later became an adjunct instructor there. She volunteered with AMTA-IL for 9 years — serving on the government relations committee, as membership chair, and as chapter president. She currently practices in her private practice in Ottawa and is a Community Care Partner with the VA.
