President’s Message

 

Dear Fellow Members,

 

This is a very exciting time for the board of RIOTA. We have been working very hard to put together the first Rhode Island Occupational Therapy Association conference. With each step we take, we get a little more ‘jazzed’. The speaker line up is exceptional in its quality and its diversity. Thank you to all of you who are volunteering your time and knowledge. We have been getting help from other states with their input as to how to get the conference elements on target and their views on what works and what doesn’t. It has, and will continue to be, a lot of work putting this conference together, but what a wonderful thing it will be. It will be wonderful to be able to offer the Occupational Therapy practitioners in Rhode Island the ability to access education for their continuing education at a reasonable fee. It will be wonderful to see the practitioners of this state, gather in one place, to meet each other, network and say hello to long lost friends and colleagues. It will be wonderful to bring other practitioners who are not members, into the fold. We need your support and hope that you are planning on attending the conference on May 2nd 2009.

 

I did experience some disappointment just recently when I learned that, due to financial issues, AOTA has pared down a lot of events and meetings for the national conference in Houston this year. Lisa Edwards will not be attending the Representative Assembly meetings as they are now going to be done online to save the expense associated with gathering in one place from across the country. Also, personally affecting me and my position as president, I have been notified that the presidents’ meetings which normally ran for 2-3 days, will now meet for 3 hours on the Thursday of the conference. Needless to say, I will not be attending. I am disappointed. It is at the meetings that we get inspired to continue, to set new goals, to learn new ways to do things. The meetings are incredibly motivating, but will not be held.

 

AOTA has asked for our help to regain their membership. We know that difficult economic times are upon us, but we need AOTA. It is also at the national meetings that you get a true picture of all that goes on behind the scenes to protect our profession and make it stronger. It’s important. Please make sure that you give great thought to joining or rejoining AOTA if you are not currently a member, and encourage your colleagues to join also.

 

RIOTA wants you too. We want you to come to events and join us at our state conference. See you there!

 

Until next time,

Karen Albright Morgenstein