Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Remembering Massage Magazine founder, Robert Calvert with a gift of roses
(Clicking on the above headline will take you to an obituary.)
I wrote recently in a post noting the 10th anniversary of my defunct newsletter 'The Rub', "I connected with some incredible folk I would not have had the opportunity or reason to connect with." Robert Calvert, founder of Massage Magazine, is one of those incredible folk. I thanked him when he was alive and now I would like to let you know the impact he had on me.
My first brush with Massage Magazine and Robert was when I, without thinking, published the Massage Magazine logo in a newsletter I was working with, in 1995. Robert educated me regarding copyright laws and how to garner permissions for materials I wanted to publish.
After leaving AMTA and launching The Rub, I was told Robert may be a good resource as well as a valuable sympathizer. He was. His interests in serving the massage community led to his helping on a number of levels including mailing lists and some funding. He also helped with suggestions as to how to soften my approach which, unfortunately, did not come until it was too late.
His desire for equitable providing of massage and alternative services led to his supporting a booth at a League of Cities Conference in Boston, in 2000, and later serving on the board of directors of the National Health Freedom Coalition.
Robert believed massage was one of those things that could be rendered anywhere at anytime and on more than one occassion provided, to those in opposition to the licensing of massage, a more accurate history of the events that has led to the AMTA spawned NCBTMB being a measure of competence to do the work. He insisted on remaining anonymous for obvious reasons.
I met Robert only once at the Anatriptic Conference in San Francisco, in 2002. Although I had not published an issue of 'The Rub' in two years he extended me the professional courtesy of a free admission for the conference. Robert was on my list of those I am thanking and presenting virtual roses for being a part of my 20 years in this trade. I wish he were here to receive them.
My sincerest sympathies are extended to the immediate family and close friends. The field of massage has truly lost a good man.
