December 14, 2007 complaint to ABMP

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(altered only formatting for readability)

(email)
From: cs colvin
To: Debbie@abmp.com
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 3:11:23 PM
Subject: ethics complaint

Good afternoon,

Attached is a report of complaints regarding Rick Vrenios and Connie Vrenios of the Reiki Council and formerly The Sanctuary School. If this should be forwarded elsewhere, please let me know. Though this is awkward, it seems necessary to follow through. Thank you for your time.

Respectfully,
Catherine S. Colvin
cell.630 808 9317

(letter)
To: ABMB Board of Directors
1271 Sugarbush Drive
Evergreen, Colorado 80439-9766
800 458 2267

From: Catherine S. Colvin
7928 Woodlyn Apt 107
Woodridge, IL 60517
cell.630 808 9317

Re: False claim to resolve an injury and details pertinent to a misappropriated $2000 down payment by Illinois licensed massage therapists and continuing education providers: Richard Vrenios and Constance Vrenios through the Reiki Council and The Sanctuary School at 799 Roosevelt Road, Building 6, Suite 016, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137; 630 790 3542.

Because a signed contract was not submitted to TFC, I was unable to complete the massage program and additional classes. Given this experience, pursuing Reiki must be started anew because I cannot regard Reiki instruction by Connie Vrenios or Rick Vrenios to be legitimate. Details are noted in BBB complaint # 94145268 and http://www.cscolvin.blogspot.com. All documentation may be forwarded upon request. I apologize for redundancies. Note: “no response” in prior documentation has become “untimely response”. Events and steps toward resolution include:

1) Due to a 2003 certificate date that expired in 2007 and not completing the program for that certificate, I decided to attend The Sanctuary School. Rick Vrenios and I signed a binding monetary agreement, but my verbal and written requests for payment info were ignored until Rick Vrenios’ email dated August 3, 2007, which is mostly fabricated.

2) A dispute was filed with my credit card company and a $2000 charge is temporarily credited. A complaint was filed with the Chicago BBB. A BBB email was forwarded to Connie Vrenios and Rick Vrenios stating the complaint closed with an unsatisfactory report. They responded with more distortions. Those most clearly evidenced are noted below.

a. A few classes with Connie were said to be necessary to complete the 660-hour program. There was no tutoring in class 6 with the other 3 students or any other time.

b. Rick Vrenios’ and Connie Vrenios’ documentation falsely indicates 163 hours of tutoring, continuing education(?) as a Reiki Council member and 163 hours in the 660-hour massage program at The Sanctuary School. However,

i) there was no enrollment agreement, so I was not a student though I tried to be

ii) I did not become a Reiki Council member until after classes began

iii) the loan or contract specifies a 660-hour program with The Sanctuary School

iv) the Reiki Council was not part of the above written loan or contract agreement

v) from the third paragraph after number 8. of Rick Vrenios’ August 3, 2007 email:
“Since joining the class, you have completed 163 hours of the 660 hour program.”

vi) from page 1 of the BBB complaint regarding continuing education:
“The Reiki Council is also a membership organization. Under state law, “in house education” (education presented for members, or educators hired by a company to teach staff) is not required to be under the jurisdiction of the ISBE. Ms. Colvin was a member and therefore fell under this category as well.”

vii) from page 13, third paragraph of the BBB complaint:
“But she states that because she didn’t get her imaginary “loan”, the 163 hours of tutoring has no value.”

c. The 11/20/07 BBB response falsely claims an injury was resolved for me in a private tutoring session. It remains functionally unchanged for about two years.

i) from page 15 of the BBB complaint regarding the chronic injury claim:
“She had a chronic injury that limited her ability to work as a massage therapist for four years. In a private tutoring session, the issue was resolved in less than ten minutes providing her with valuable relief, and valuable training in self-care and therapeutic work.”

3) If continuing education providers were bound by the same ethics as licensed massage therapists, as both, Connie Vrenios’ and Rick Vrenios’ actions through The Sanctuary School and Reiki Council violate ABMP’s criteria for, though not limited to:

a. Professionalism
I shall maintain the highest standards of professional conduct, providing services in an ethical and professional manner in relation to my clientele, business associates, health care professionals, and the general public.

b. Scope of Practice / Appropriate Techniques
I will not employ those massage, bodywork or skin care techniques for which I have not had adequate training and shall represent my education, training, qualifications and abilities honestly. (Surgery is required to resolve this particular injury.)

c. Image / Advertising Claims
I shall not make false claims regarding the potential benefits of the techniques rendered.

4) With the exception of unrelated and confidential personal information of others, the ABMP Board of Directors may disclose all information in this and related complaints to Connie Vrenios and Rick Vrenios of The Sanctuary School and Reiki Council, and any legal counsel or experts deemed necessary by the ABMP to process this complaint.

I sincerely regret the need to report this complaint. The time and attention of all presiding in this matter is much appreciated. Perhaps these efforts will prevent similar events in the future.

Respectfully,
Catherine S. Colvin