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President Report President’s Report - Don’t Know What You’ve Got ‘Til It’s Gone Allow me to use myself as a case study for a reflection on the power of occupation and the value of everyday participation. Remember that ice storm in December? I waited until the ice (almost) melted to slip and break my right ankle. As I write this, I have my leg propped up in a purple cast and non-weight-bearing for an undetermined number of weeks. Then I’ll progress to partial WB and a walking boot. My orthopod says that recovery will take a season - until spring. Those of you who have broken bones and sprained ligaments recognize the process. As a result, my occupations are challenged, reminding me of the truth in songwriter Joni Mitchell’s classic “Big Yellow Taxi” that “you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone.” Gone are routines like 5:30 a.m. exercise, Friday night ballroom dancing, neighborhood walks, and driving. Added are occupational adaptations in mobility (my Roll-a-Bout is creating a left Bun of Steel and equipped with a pink bike horn), scooting items around the kitchen on the counters, showering on a bench, and accepting graciously offered rides to work and extracurricular activities. Advice that we freely give to clients and families. Yet taking one’s own medicine is a humbling experience. All of which brings me to the point that our work in developing, restoring, and adapting occupations is vitally important, in both effect and meaning, to society. Participation in necessary and chosen occupations is an immeasurable blessing that becomes conscious once occupations are challenged by context, illness, or injury. Students learning the art and science of occupational therapy and practitioners providing it through education, consultation, and occupation-based practice should take pride in the everyday miracles you work.
President Report Occupational therapy practitioners know the value of encouraging active participation in life. Applying that occupational therapy value for participation to organizations means that active participation is the heart of membership. During the years I was completing my terminal degree, I was an OOTA member but did not participate actively in events. While attending a summer OOTA leadership conference, I realized that even though I wasn’t active, OOTA had been – continuing to represent the profession to the people of Oklahoma. I speculated on the number of hours that other members had held office, chaired, and served on committees, while I was busy with other aspects of my career. I decided that at the next opportunity to serve OOTA, I would give back some of the “professional sweat equity” that I owed the organization. Since then, my small amount of effort for OOTA has been rewarded many times over. I have deepened my knowledge, resources, relationships, and skills through my active participation. When we renew our OOTA membership, we have the opportunity to choose our service to the association. I’m pleased to report that the 2007-2008 membership renewals resulted in 79 volunteer offers to advance the work of OOTA. Ours is a small profession. We all know what it’s like to feel outnumbered by other professionals in our work settings; to be the only one representing our philosophy on the significance of occupations. Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” If it’s time for you to join a growing group of thoughtful people changing the world one occupation at a time - if now is the time for you to repay OOTA’s efforts with some professional sweat equity, OOTA committee chairs and officers ready to help you get started at your chosen level of participation to keep OOTA running and fulfilling our strategic plan. We welcome new and renewing members with the promise that the work of OOTA will continue. Only with your active participation, can OOTA fulfill its vision, mission, and plan. Your active participation lies at the heart of membership.
President Report I often say, “Celebrate every chance you get.” This month we celebrate the accomplishments of and say thank you to two of OOTA’s past presidents.
Join me in thanking both of them for their service as OOTA president and wishing them well in their career directions. Speaking of new directions, OOTA bylaws mandate that the vice-president serve the remainder of the president’s term, so I will serve out the remaining 2 years of Sharon’s Presidency and represent OOTA at ASAP. That means we have an opening for vice-president, a position I regret leaving … The vice president’s position is vital to OOTA’s commitment to provide quality continuing education, the main responsibility of the V-P position. Why is this a great time to consider serving as OOTA V-P? Let’s count the ways…
If you’ve been considering increasing your service to the profession & OOTA, this is the position and time! Contact with me your recommendations for a V-P at toby-hamilton@ouhsc.edu or call me at (405) 271-2131 ext. 47137. Remember to renew your OOTA membership at the new lowered fees and encourage your co-workers and protégés to join, too. Here’s an update on the financial outcome of the OOTA spring meeting aboard Carnival’s Ecstasy. OOTA sold 16 cabins, which gave us two “free” cruisers minus fees, generously donated back to OOTA. Not only did 34 people get free high-quality continuing education, OOTA made $760.00! Everyone has the chance to cruise the free curriculum on occupational health and balance in 2008. We’ll even supply cute little drink umbrellas… I feel honored to serve as OOTA President and look forward to your ideas for the betterment of OOTA and occupational therapy for Oklahoma.
President Report What a great OT Month April was! The public information seminars at Lowes on gardening in raised flowerbeds were a real hit! Thanks to all of you who spent your Saturday informing people about occupational therapy. AOTA Conference in St. Louis, and all of the associated meetings – Representative Assembly, Affiliated State Association Presidents, Program Directors, and others – were very productive and informative. RA is now thirty years old, and the group honored me as a past Speaker. Our Seminar at Sea, aboard Carnival’s Ecstasy, was a fun, as well as educational, experience for the occupational therapists, as well as our spouses and friends. There were 28 of us, now proudly sporting suntans and sand in our shoes. The program was so well received that there is some consideration of offering the content to those who couldn’t make the trip. Our OOTA 40th Birthday Celebration will continue at our Annual Conference September 28-29 at TCC. We hope to see you then!
Report for February 2007 mailed to OOTA members in February 2007 OOTA newsletter
President Report
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Oklahoma Occupational Therapy Association |
