Testimony before the Joint Committee on Consumer
Protection and Professional Licensure

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Good morning. I'm Valerie Hood, co-director of The
Massage School. We are a small, mission-driven
school with two campuses, one in Easthampton, the
other in Acton. We cost a fraction of what the big
corporate schools charge. We do not accept federal
financial aid. Instead we offer one of the lowest
tuitions in the country. We offer an interest-free pay-
as-you-go plan. We are generous with scholarships,
and do not require payment until we have earned it.
Single parents make up a big portion of our student
body. They leave our program debt-free.

Those who benefit from the proposed bill are the big
corporate schools who rely on federal financial aid
and don’t like competition from lower-cost schools.
Also benefitting are high-end spa owners who don’t
like the lower-cost franchises that are springing up
(and employing people) all across the state.

Already in Massachusetts, the large corporate
schools have managed to have the regulations
increased twice in the last five years. Last year, the
law was changed again to 650 hours. But that did not
succeed in taking out all of the small schools. Only
some of them. The big schools hope that raising
yet again to 900 hours will finish off the rest of the
small schools so they can maximize profits from the
cash-cow that IS Federal Financial Aid, free of price
pressures from smaller schools.

The big schools can’t compete on the merits of
their programs, so they are resorting to legislative
thuggery. It is anti-competitive, a means of price-
fixing.

To put it in perspective, in this state, to become an
Emergency Medical Technician requires 110 hours.
110 hours to be the person who makes life or death
decisions at the scene of an accident. But massage
therapists need 900? Rest assured: if EMT’s made
a lot of money, there would be large corporate EMT
schools, with lots of regulations, lots of oversight, and
huge tuitions. Just like massage schools.

If the big schools want to teach 900 hours, and the
big spa owners want to require 900 hours, there is
nothing stopping them. This bill’s sole intent is to force
the small, non-accredited schools out of business so
big schools can charge huge tuitions, and spa owners
can charge huge fees. This bill is good for them.
For EVERYONE else in Massachusetts, this bill is a
disaster.

Excerpt from Easthampton City Arts website


Community Outreach Coordinator, Briana Taylor, met with Valerie Hood, coordinator of the Saturday Artists & Farmers Market at The Massage School in Easthampton, to learn about this great, free resource available to artists in our community and the surrounding Valley. With hopes of drawing attention to the Market and also building a larger vendor base, Valerie intends to focus more effort on expanding the Market and attract more craft/fine artists on Saturdays.

The following is a Q & A interview. If you’d like further information about participating in the Market, please email Valerie Hood at info@themassageschool.org or call at 413-529-2900.

1. Tell us a little about yourself...your business partner.

Alexei and I started the massage school in 2001. He is a physical therapist who is very much interested in preventative medicine, and believes that good massage is a critical part of maintaining wellness. I came at this from the standpoint of wanting to become a massage therapist and was frustrated at the choices available to me. The big corporate schools charge an exorbitant tuition, and justify it by requiring hundreds of hours of unnecessary classes. The net result is to keep many people out of this field, people without money but with the desire and the capacity to be good massage therapists. So we made our own school based on what we thought made sense, what was efficient and cost-effective for the student, and what would make this healing and wellness modality accessible to all people, not just the wealthy. As far as we know, we have the lowest tuition in the country.

2. Tell us a little about the massage school and its inception. Why Easthampton?

We first opened the school in Amherst and called it The Amherst School of Massage Therapy. Then a couple of years ago we read that the city of Easthampton was looking for a buyer for the old Memorial Hall building on the rotary in the center of town. It is a beautiful 19 century brick treasure that started life as a school. We visited the mayor's office and were impressed by the accessibility and intelligence of the city's leadership. We loved the city's conscious determination to grow in a way that was healthy and protective of its citizens. The planning commission's intention was to avoid the "gentrification" that Northampton had fallen prey to. This was the royal road to my good impression, ardent populist that I am. (you can visit the massage school website at www.themassageschool.org)

3.What inspired you to start the Saturday market?

I just love farmers' and artists' markets! There is something so jubilant, so big-hearted about them. I adore the idea of people making a living doing what they love and being supported in that by their community. It is just a win win win proposition: excellent for the individuals, wonderful for the community and one more step toward a world where lives and values are in balance with our true natures.

When we first bought the building, the Rotary club contacted us and asked if they would still be allowed to put on their annual Christmas tree fund raiser that they have done here for years. It is a big source of their annual funding, and I think they were a little worried that the new owners would not allow it. We of course wanted them to continue to have their sale here each year. It adds such a cheerful and festive energy in the winter, and we love supporting their charitable activities. When we saw how successful their sale was, it gave us the idea to put on a farmers’ and artists' market in the summertime. The location is perfect, in the center of town, the parking is adequate, and it just seemed like a wonderful way to participate in and contribute to this community that we have come to quite love.

4. How long have you been at it?

We started last summer. Originally we charged a twenty dollar fee to participate. This was to help us cover the $500.00 cost of extra insurance required to host the market. But even that proved burdensome to the participants, so this year we made it free and decided to have it simply be our gift to the artists, farmers and community.

5. Had you been to a particular market that made you think this was possible in Easthampton?

Oh yes. I used to sell bread at a farmers' market in Newport, RI. That was years ago when my children were younger. It was part of our homeschooling curriculum. It was a wonderful atmosphere for my children to learn the priniciples of business practises. But the vision I have for our market is more like the one in Burlington, Vermont. It is perfectly splendid, held in the park in the middle of town. Lots of successful commerce...you see artists getting their starts there, getting exposure for their work, attracting patrons and commissions, and going on to have their own studios. It's quite beautiful really. And what it does for the city is add a joyful, festive, industrious aspect to the life of the community.

6. Were there any difficulties in getting it off the ground?

Well I would say that our market is not yet really off the ground. There is room for so many more vendors. As yet we have had no fine artists participate, only craftspeople. Perhaps if several artists came together, it would be more comfortable for them to participate in a venue like this. I do believe that it is only a matter of time before word gets out and it reaches a critical mass. It will happen.

7. What would a successful Easthampton Saturday market look like for you?

Just like Burlington, with people coming and going all morning long. I picture tables covered with flowers, vegetables, baked goods, pottery, paintings, jewelry, sculptures. Like an art festival every week all summer long.

8. What are your hopes for this market and the artists/farmers who participate?

Without a doubt I would love to see farmers and artists getting their starts here. Finding patrons for their goods, experiencing commercial success, growing their businesses. And for the community, I would love to see this become a destination, attracting patrons from surrounding towns to help Easthampton achieve its intention of becoming a community that supports the arts by supporting its artists.

9. How can an artist or farmer become a participant/vendor?
it is very simple to participate. Simply arrive around 9:30 to set up your table. Market officially begins at 10. Any questions, feel free to call me at the school at 413-529-2900, or email me at info@themassageschool.org.

Posted by Easthampton City Arts at 6:43 AM