Your RAC End of Summer Newsletter

Roundup Newsletter
Summer 2015

Dear RAC Members,

I am honored to have the opportunity to lead as President of the Reflexology Association of California for a second term. There is much opportunity for growth this year. I hope to lead RAC to a more robust and lively organization.

As in previous years, we have a great team on the Board working for you. I would like to welcome the following new Board members:

Lisa Bail - Treasurer
Laurie Williams - Liaison Director

I would also like to thank our outgoing Board members for their hard work and dedication during these past two years. Our appreciation goes out to:

Sherrel Grabler - Liason Director
Charlotte Arnold - Treasurer

Lastly, a big thank you to our Board members for their hard work and dedication this past year and who will continue serving on the Board:

Leslie Myers - Vice President
Yoshimi Ozaki - Administrative Secretary
Ric Colunga - Legislative Director

Our Annual transitional meeting was held this year in Long Beach, California on August 29, 2015. Thank you all who participated in this election process. The position of Recording Secretary is still available. This is a great opportunity to get involved at the State level. Please contact me if you are interested.

You will see many changes coming this year--good changes that aim to bring information, educational resources and networking opportunities to your local community. Please do not hesitate to contact us with your ideas or suggestions for our organization.

Theodore Roosevelt, an inspiring leader and United States President at the turn of the last century, is famous for many a quote. One of my favorites is "Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground." That sums up the vision for RAC this year...reaching for greatness in practical ways.

Sincerely,

Ariana Thaxter

President

Board of Directors

Reflexology Association of California
racreflexology@yahoo.com

World Reflexology Week

The Last Week in September

It is time again for World Reflexology Week! Each year during the last week of September, the International Council of Reflexologists encourages reflexologists worldwide to share the work that they love and inform people about the health benefits of reflexology! Follow this link on how you can participate this year, including brochures, posters, coupons and news releases.

RAC encourages you to participate this year by keeping it simple. Commit to any of these ideas listed:

~ Post about your practice on your Facebook page

~ Hold an "Open House" at your reflexology practice or a local business to share what you do.

~ Attend a business mixer and share your profession

~ Promote your practice with Reflexology Specials booked on the last week in September

And finally, SNAP a photo doing something related to reflexology and post in social media! Whether it is reading a book, teaching someone about reflexology, attending a class, promoting your friend's practice (if you are not a reflexologist), commenting on social media in a positive way about reflexology or simply enjoying a session yourself, make World Reflexology Week in California happen! Good luck!

Together we can bring Reflexology into the local and global communities.

An Excellent Article About Reflexology in The New York Times!

Reflexologists Are Squeezed by Cheaper Competitors and State Rules.

By Alina Tugend
July 22, 2015

For Lisa Freemantle, a 53-year-old former teacher, reflexology seemed like the perfect second career.

She credits reflexology, the ancient practice of using pressure points in the body to relieve health problems, with easing her migraine headaches.

So it was with great enthusiasm that she undertook the more than 200 hours of training as part of the certification process and opened a practice near her Westchester County home 10 years ago. By any measure, the practice has been a success --she has a steady stream of clients and earns as much as she did as a substitute teacher.

But increasingly, Ms. Freemantle and other reflexologists are finding their businesses under pressure on two fronts.

Read More Details

Kudos to Stefanie from Claremont CA

Past president of RAC, Stefanie Sabouchian, was notified by one of her clients in Claremont that a City Council meeting was to be held on March 4, 2015 to gather feedback from massage businesses before updating the massage ordinance to comply with the new state law. Although the changes in the ordinance were about massage parlors, within the ordinance the definition of massage and massage technicians was very inclusive and could have been understood to include reflexology.

Stefanie attended the council meeting and later contacted the chief of police, explaining how reflexology was not massage, but with the wording in the proposed ordinance it could be caught in the same net. The proposed ordinance also indicated that "under no circumstances shall off premises ("out-call" services in a private home) be permitted" and "under no circumstances shall a home occupation massage business be permitted." This would have directly impacted Stefanie as she sees clients in their home and also works out of her home.

Thanks to Stefanie's action and the information she supplied the chief of police the City Council approved in July the new massage ordinance that included an exemption for reflexology.

We can make a difference! Let's all stay active and informed in our communities!