On Friday, October 19, 2012 Governor Deval Patrick proclaimed the week of October 21-27, 2012 to be Massage Therapy Awareness Week in Massachusetts. You can read the full text of the official Proclamation below the video.
A Proclamation
His Excellency Governor Deval L. Patrick
Whereas Therapeutic massage can benefit people of all ages: and
Whereas Research has shown massage may be helpful in controlling pain, relieving stress, boosting immune system functioning and reducing heart rate and blood pressure: and
Whereas The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that the employment of massage therapists is expected to increase by 20 percent from 2012 t0 2020: and
Whereas Consumers are spending in excess of $2 to $4 billion annually on massage therapy and recognizing the benefits of massage therapy, insurance companies now cover such services: and
Whereas The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), a 55,000 member professional association for massage therapists, and the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association, consisting of over 3,500 members, provide consumer and professional education information on massage and help consumers and health professionals locate qualified massage therapists in their areas;
Now, Therefore, I, Deval L. Patrick. Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim the week of October 21st-27th to be, Massage Therapy Awareness Week
And urge all citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.
Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this nineteenth day of October, in the year two thousand and twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
By His Excellency
Deval L. Patrick
Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth