Moving Forward. Making a Difference.

 
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or call RIOTA voicemail at (401) 345-8356


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President’s Message

Dear Members,

It is hard to believe I am half way though my term as President.  We have accomplished so much over the last year and we have already begun planning and brainstorming next years events!
This past year

  • We have offered 32 hours of continuing education
  • Hosted the second annual RIOTA conference
  • Monitored state legislation which may impact our practice
  • Represented the voices of RI OT practitioners at national conference
  • Maintained cost of annual member dues
  • Increased opportunities for member networking and professional volunteerism

Upcoming events

  • Starting in September, our general meeting will focus on low vision.
  • RIOTAs 2011 conference will be May 14th and the theme of the conference is: Seizing The Day: Occupational Therapy through Practice, Education, and Research.  The call for presentations is currently open and RIOTA will be accepting abstracts until October 15th.  Check the RIOTA website for additional events!

It has been an honor to represent RIOTA over the last year and at the AOTA national conference in Orlando.  I moved here 10 years ago and never could have imagined feeling so welcome and so much a part of the OT community here in Rhode Island, more less being the President of this state!  While Rhode Island is not where I was born and raised, I consider this home!

For this reason, I want to stress to all OT practitioners in the state what an exciting and important time to become involved in our state association and be an AOTA member!  We need to come together as a profession, to advocate for ourselves, and stand-up for what we believe in as professionals!  The passage of this health care reform has significant implications for OT.  While the Legislation has passed, the implementation of this legislation and the development of the programs to put the legislation into action will continue to unravel over the next few years.  We must continue to support AOTA with our membership dues so they can continue to lobby on capitol hill for our profession and our best interests!!  At the state level, we need your membership so that we can continue to promote and advocate for OT in this state!  There are over 800 practitioners licensed in this state, yet our membership does not reflect this magnitude! Across the country Occupational therapy practitioners are fighting for their profession, facing limitations on state practice issues and other professions encroaching on the practice OT! 

While I am happy to serve you as your president, the board and I need your help, we can not do it alone!  I am challenging all practitioners in the state to give two hours in the next 365 days to the profession!  I am asking each of you to donate two hours to RIOTA.  You can donate your two hours in many ways including: give two hours to conference planning, volunteer to review conference abstracts, volunteering to facilitate a topic at RIOTA  monthly education session, attend a board meeting, attend our annual retreat.  Many of the activities RIOTA is seeking assistance with are tasks that you can do in the comfort of your home! We are looking to our membership to draw on your strengths, if you are an individual who enjoys doing artistic projects, we can use your artistic talent!  If you are an individual that is highly organized and can donate two hours to assist with planning and schedule of the conference we want to work with you!  If you have new ideas and are a forward thinker we want to have you join us at a board meeting so you can share your ideas and help us develop a plan to achieve these goals.  The opportunities are endless!  I look forward to hearing from all of you!  Email me (president@riota.org) and let me know what skills you are interested in contributing to RIOTA over the next year!

Have a safe and happy summer!

Natalie

Natalie Leland PhD, OTR/L, BCG
President of RIOTA

  

RIOTA Announcements

RIOTA is accepting call for papers for our 3rd Annual Conference on May 14th, 2011!

Want to get involved and contribute to your profession? Consider volunteering for RIOTA's board? Check out our board page for empty positions. We are a fun and lively group! For more information, email president@riota.org

 

 

  
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