ALOTA News
06/2008
Call for Presentations for the Fall Conference Has Been Extended
It's time to prepare for our fall conference in Orange Beach. The last three years have been dynamite. Low cost, excellent presentations, and location, location, location.
Are you interested in presenting this year? The call for presentations has been extended. Click here to
read the submission criteria. Don’t delay. We want to include you in the lineup at the beach! We will have the brochure posted here before you know it.
A Summary of the Athletic Training Issue
As you’ve read here throughout this spring, ALOTA has been actively lobbying against proposed changes in the Athletic Trainer Practice Act
(to get caught up on what has happened to this point, read our news section). The regular session ended on May 19th, 2008,
and the AT bills are officially dead. The House Health Committee never brought HB565 up for a vote which suggests that the members of the committee saw the
bill for what it was: an inappropriate expansion of athletic trainer’s scope of practice that was potentially detrimental to healthcare consumers in Alabama.
The Senate never voted on SB457; the bill was kept off the calendar that would have allowed that happen. Since the education budget did not pass, there will
be at least one special session. ALOTA will monitor this issue, and make you aware of what you can do to help should bills be reintroduced at that point.
Just another way ALOTA is serving all of the occupational therapy practioners and healthcare consumers in our state.
ALOTA Elections
We have three openings on the Executive Board for this coming year, specifically Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. Qualified candidates include
occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants who are active members and whose membership in ALOTA has been maintained in good standing for
a minimum of two years prior to election; candidates should also have served as a state or district officer, chair of a standing committee or SIS, COTA
liaison or RA representative to AOTA for a minimum of one year. If you have not met these criteria but would still want to be considered, let us know!
The ALOTA Executive Board has the authority to waive the minimum qualifications for person with comparable qualifications. Follow the Contact Us button on the
left hand side of your screen for links to email addresses.
05/2008
April Was a Great Month For Occupational Therapy in the State of Alabama!
So much happened for occupational therapy practitioners and students in April. The South District Conference was a free-to-members event held at
the beginning of the month, and the turnout was great (over 60 attendees). This was quickly followed by the ALOTA Spring State Conference on the campus
of Alabama State University, which was also well attended (over 80 registrants). The feedback at both events was exceptionally positive. In addition
to things going on locally, there was also quite a showing of people from our state in Long Beach, California earlier this month at the AOTA Annual Conference.
Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and students from all over the state made the trek. Want to find out more about what happened?
Click here to find out.
Update on Concerns with Proposed Changes to the Athletic Trainer Licensure Act
All of your phone calls and emails have been heard by your Representatives and Senators in the state government. The last legislative day for this session
is May 19th. Check back here on that day for an update on the status of the Athletic Trainer Bill. To find out what has happened so far, visit the
ALOTA News page.
ALOTA Elections
We have three openings on the Executive Board for this coming year, specifically Treasurer, Secretary, and Vice President. Qualified candidates include
occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants who are active members and whose membership in ALOTA has been maintained in good standing for
a minimum of two years prior to election; candidates should also have served as a state or district officer, chair of a standing committee or SIS, COTA
liaison or RA representative to AOTA for a minimum of one year. If you have not met these criteria but would still want to be considered, let us know!
The ALOTA Executive Board has the authority to waive the minimum qualifications for person with comparable qualifications. Follow the Contact Us button on the
left hand side of your screen for links to email addresses.
04/2008
Happy OT Month!!!
The South District Spring Conference Was a Wonderful Success!
The South District Conference was a free-to-members event held earlier this month, and the turnout was great. There were over 60 attendees,
and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Kudos to Tracy O’Connor, ALOTA South District Chairperson, and all others involved for putting
together such a memorable and educational gathering.
The Statewide Spring Conference is this Saturday
The ALOTA Spring State Conference will be held on the campus of Alabama State University on Saturday April 26th.
Check out the brochure for the conference by clicking here, and click here
to see travel and accommodation information. Up to 5 contact hours will be available, and the cost (as always) is extremely affordable.
To pay your conference dues on-line, follow the link on the left hand tool bar for Continuing Education, or
click here. Onsite registration will be available but don’t leave this to chance. Register today.
Not a member yet? Now would be a perfect time to join.
Click here to find out how.
Many from Alabama in Attendance at the AOTA National Conference
There was quite a showing of people from our state in Long Beach, California earlier this month. Occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants,
and students from all over the state made the trek. Want to find out more about what happened? Click here to find out.
Update on Concerns with Proposed Changes to the Athletic Trainer Licensure Act
The Health Committee in the Alabama State House of Representatives held a public hearing on April 16th for HB 565, the Athletic Trainer Bill.
There were many in attendance including representatives from ALOTA – Valley McCurry (ALOTA President), Ann Cosby (Executive Director of the State Board of
Occupational Therapy), Chris Eidson (ALOTA Board member), and Jay Murrill (ALOTA Lobbyist). ALOTA spoke in opposition to HB 565, as did representatives from
the Alabama Physical Therapy Association, and the Alabama Chiropractic Association. The discussion was lively and civil, and the concerns that have been
previously outlined on the ALOTA website were heard by all in attendance. The Chairman of the Health Committee closed discussion by asking all of the groups
involved in this issue to renew attempts at compromise, and ALOTA has done just that. The vote on this bill by the Health Committee has been delayed pending the
outcome of these renewed attempts between all of those involved. Please check back. We will have substantive updates regarding this soon.
What Has Happened So Far
Looking for the full story on the ALATA issue as it was initially reported on the ALOTA website? Visit the ALOTA News page.
04/2008
Happy OT Month!!!
An Update on the Recent Concerns with Athletic Trainers
As many of you read here last month, the Alabama Athletic Trainers Association (ALATA) has pushed forward proposed changes to their
regulatory statues that could affect you as an occupational therapy practitioner, and the quality of care that your future potential patients
could receive. Your phone calls and emails, along with efforts by AOTA and ALOTA, have been an effective part in delaying a vote on SB 457,
and in delaying the companion bill (HB 565) from being heard in committee in the House of Representatives. The first stage of our grassroots
efforts was heard by your legislators, but we have more work ahead of us.
The Most Recent News
As was previously reported here, House Bill 565 was scheduled for a committee hearing on the afternoon of March 12th, but this was delayed
per the recommendation of the committee chair so that a more public hearing could be held. It was the eventual recommendation and action
of the Tourism and Travel Committee to move this bill to the Health Committee, where it will be heard sometime in April.
Make no mistake; your message was heard before and it helped to make a difference. But it is not over yet. . .
Status of the House Bill
As stated above, HB 565 will be heard in the Health Committee sometime in April. We will post updates of this on our homepage, so check back
for a specific date of the hearing. Is your representative a member of this committee?
Click here to find out. Unsure of who your
Representative is? Visit the Alabama Government Website, www.legislature.state.al.us by clicking here and enter your ZIP+4 in
the box in the blue sidebar on the page. Please call your Representative if he or she resides on the Health Committee,
and let him or her know you oppose HB 565 (the House Athletic Trainer Bill) as it is currently written.
Status of the Senate Bill
In the meantime, SB 457 is now officially out of committee and could be put on the calendar for a vote in the Senate at anytime. Unsure of who your
Senator is? Visit www.legislature.state.al.us and enter your ZIP+4 in
the box in the blue sidebar on the page. Please contact your Senator today and let him or her know you oppose SB 457 (the Senate Athletic Trainer Bill)
as it is currently written.
The occupational therapy community in Alabama and across the nation is committed to ensuring that healthcare rendered to the public is provided by
qualified healthcare professionals who can provide services safely and effectively. As such, ALOTA is actively opposing this legislation as it is currently
written and would like to encourage you join us by voicing your opinion to your legislators.
What You Can Do To Help
A telephone call is *the* most effective way to let your legislator know how much you care about the bill, and your
opinion matters greatly to them!
Please keep it short, polite, and respectful. If you don't know what to say, here is a suggestion:
"Representative or Senator (name), my name is (name) and I live in your district. I am an (occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant,
or occupational therapy student) and I wanted to let you know that I am opposed to (House Bill 565 or Senate Bill 457), the Athletic Trainer Bill,
the way it is written because it has the potential to misrepresent what athletic trainers are qualified to do, and could do harm to healthcare consumers.
Thank you for your time, have a pleasant day."
You don't need to say a great deal more than that, unless they ask you questions, in which case you could refer to
these talking points.
Curious about the national implications of this? Click here
to read a letter on the matter from AOTA’s Paul Fontaine to his congressman.
It cannot be stressed enough: if you, personally, call your Senator about SB 457 AND your House Rep about HB 565, we will stand a much
better chance of defeating this effort by the ALATA as it is currently being proposed. If you are unable to call your Representative or Senator,
you can also email or write to them via the Legislature.
Now is the time to act, and it is your action that matters. Need help?
Let us know by clicking here; we will get back with you ASAP.
What Has Happened So Far
Looking for the full story on the ALATA issue as it was initially reported on the ALOTA website? Visit the ALOTA News page.
Spring is Here, Which Means ALOTA One Day Conferences
You have probably already heard that ALOTA is offering up to 5 free contact hours for members-only at the South District Conference on March 29th.
But did you know that the ALOTA Spring State Conference is just around the corner?
The South District Conference is co-sponsored by the University of South Alabama, and will be held at the Baldwin County Campus of USA in Fairhope, Alabama.
On-site registration will be available, but don’t leave this opportunity up to chance. Register today.
Click here for the brochure and registration form.
The ALOTA Spring State Conference will be held on the campus of Alabama State University on Saturday April 26th.
Check out the brochure for the conference by clicking here, and click here
to see travel and accommodation information. Up to 5 contact hours will be available here as well,
and the cost (as always) is extremely affordable. To pay your conference dues on-line, follow the link on the left hand tool bar for
Continuing Education, or click here.
Not a member yet? Now would be a perfect time to join.
Click here to find out how.
03/2008
The Time is Now – We Need Your Help
The Alabama Athletic Trainers Association (ALATA) has pushed forward proposed changes to their regulatory statues
that could affect you as an occupational therapy practitioner, and the quality of care that your future potential patients could receive.
This is a nationwide trend, with similar situations recently occurring in Georgia and Minnesota, and it is now hitting home in our state.
Specifically, the ALATA is trying to redefine “athlete” and “athletic injury” in a manner that could apply to virtually any
person with any injury across the lifespan.
Click here to read the proposed wording changes.
This bill was heard in Montgomery on the afternoon of March 6th in a Senate Committee Hearing that was hastily scheduled that day, and
will now go before the general assembly of the Alabama Senate for a vote. By changing these defining components of their practice
in the manner proposed, athletic trainers increase the risk of harm to the healthcare consumer on two different fronts: by
increasing the possibility of confusion among the public regarding the scope of services they provide, and by increasing the
possibility of misrepresentation of the knowledge, skills, and abilities of athletic trainers to the public. The language
is simply too broad, and calls into question the ability to ensure competence given the current educational training of athletic trainers.
Curious about the national implications of this? Click here
to read a letter on the matter from AOTA’s Paul Fontaine to his congressman.
Your Help is Critical
The occupational therapy community in Alabama and across the nation is committed to ensuring that healthcare rendered to the
public is provided by qualified healthcare professionals who can provide services safely and effectively. As such, ALOTA is
actively opposing this legislation as it is currently written, and we have collaborated closely with the Alabama Physical
Therapy Association (ALPTA) as a matter of shared concern for our consumers. Despite the work that has gone into this issue
to this point, the most important piece is yet to come and we need your help to do it.
Please visit www.legislature.state.al.us and enter your ZIP+4 in
the box in the blue sidebar on the page. This will give you the contact information for your Alabama Legislator. Please call your
Senator and Representative and let him or her know you oppose SB 457 (the Senate Athletic Trainer Bill) and HB 565 (the House Athletic Trainer Bill)
as it is currently written. A telephone call is *the* most effective way to let your legislator know how much you care about the bill, and your
opinion matters greatly to them!
Please keep it short, polite, and respectful. If you don't know what to say, here is a suggestion:
"Representative or Senator (name), my name is (name) and I live in your district. I am an (occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant,
or occupational therapy student) and I wanted to let you know that I am opposed to (House Bill 565 or Senate Bill 457), the Athletic Trainer Bill,
the way it is written because it has the potential to misrepresent what athletic trainers are qualified to do, and could do harm to healthcare consumers.
Thank you for your time, have a pleasant day."
You don't need to say a great deal more than that, unless they ask you questions, in which case you could refer to
these talking points.
It cannot be stressed enough: if you, personally, call your Senator about SB 457 AND your House Rep about HB 565, we will stand a much
better chance of defeating this effort by the ALATA as it is currently being proposed. If you are unable to call your Representative or Senator,
you can also email or write to them via the Legislature.
Now is the time to act, and it is your action that matters. Need help?
Let us know by clicking here; we will get back with you ASAP.
Unfortunately, this matter took precedence over our regularly scheduled front page news. If you are looking for more information about the one
day south district conference later this month, click on the news link directly below.
03/2008 -- part II
An Update on the Recent Concerns with Athletic Trainers
As many of you read here earlier this month, the Alabama Athletic Trainers Association (ALATA) has pushed forward proposed changes
to their regulatory statues that could affect you as an occupational therapy practitioner, and the quality of care that your future potential
patients could receive. Your phone calls and emails, along with efforts by AOTA and ALOTA, have been an effective part in delaying a vote on
SB 457, and in delaying the companion bill (HB 565) from being heard in committee in the House of Representatives. The first stage of our
grassroots efforts was heard by your legislators, but we have more work ahead of us.
The First Step is Over, the Next Step is the Week of March 26th
As stated above, our grassroots efforts – meaning your phone calls and emails – were an effective part in delaying the vote on SB 457.
Your voice was also heard in the House of Representatives. HB 565 was scheduled to be heard in a committee meeting on the afternoon of March 12th, but was
delayed per the recommendation of the committee chair so that a more public hearing could be held. Make no mistake. This was because of your
phone calls and emails.
ALOTA will be in attendance at the committee meeting on the 26th, speaking out in opposition to HB 565 as it is presently written. The Alabama Physical
Therapy Association (ALPTA) is also opposed to this bill as it is written, and will also be in attendance at this meeting. But the most important piece,
again, is your voice. While it may not be practical to come to Montgomery in the middle of a work day, your phone calls and emails have been, and continue to
be, a critical part of influencing the outcome of this bill.
Your Help is Critical. . . Again!
The occupational therapy community in Alabama and across the nation is committed to ensuring that healthcare rendered to the public is provided by
qualified healthcare professionals who can provide services safely and effectively. As such, ALOTA is actively opposing this legislation as it is currently
written and would like to encourage you join us by voicing your opinion to your legislators.
Your message was heard once; it needs to be heard again, particularly in the House of Representatives on the day of the 25th of March, or the morning
of the 26th.
HB 565 will be heard in the Tourism and Travel Committee in the House of Representatives the afternoon of March 26th. Is your representative a member
of this committee? Click here to find out.
Unsure of who your Representative is? Visit www.legislature.state.al.us and enter your ZIP+4 in
the box in the blue sidebar on the page. This will give you the contact information for your Alabama Legislator.
ALOTA is making a focused effort to contact occupational therapists who live in the districts of members of the Tourism and Travel Committee to urge
them to contact their legislator and voice their opinion on the bill. At this point, a focused effort such as this is the most likely way to be effective
in influencing the outcome of HB 565. Depending on the outcome of this hearing, we may need to make another widespread effort to contact all members of
the House of Representatives, and perhaps the Senate too. Please check back. We will post reports of all significant progress right here.
What Has Happened So Far
Looking for the full story on the ALATA issue as it was initially reported on the ALOTA website? Visit the ALOTA News page.
Spring is Here, Which Means ALOTA One Day Conferences
You have probably already heard that ALOTA is offering up to 5 free contact hours for members-only at the South District Conference on March 29th.
But did you know that the ALOTA Spring State Conference is just around the corner?
The South District Conference is co-sponsored by the University of South Alabama, and will be held at the Baldwin County Campus of USA in Fairhope, Alabama.
On-site registration will be available, but don’t leave this opportunity up to chance. Register today.
Click here for the brochure and registration form.
The ALOTA Spring State Conference will be held on the campus of Alabama State University on Saturday April 26th.
Check out the brochure for the conference by clicking here, and click here
to see travel and accommodation information. Up to 5 contact hours will be available here as well,
and the cost (as always) is extremely affordable. To pay your conference dues on-line, follow the link on the left hand tool bar for
Continuing Education, or click here.
Not a member yet? Now would be a perfect time to join.
Click here to find out how.
02/2008
The Call for Presentations for the Spring Conference is Complete
In what is becoming a trend over the last few years, ALOTA is putting together another memorable continuing
education opportunity. The line up for the Annual ALOTA Spring Conference should offer something for everyone.
Affordable, stimulating, and conveniently located for virtually everyone on the beautiful campus of Alabama State
University in Montgomery, the spring conference should be a hit! Mark your calendar now for Saturday April 26th,
and then check back here for more details. Once pre-registration opens, you will be able to reserve your spot
and pay for your conference fees on-line.
FREE CEUs!
Yes, that is not a typo. ALOTA is offering up to 5 free contact hours for members-only at the South District Conference on March 29th.
This event is co-sponsored by the University of South Alabama, and will be held at the Baldwin County Campus of USA in Fairhope, Alabama.
What a wonderful way to enjoy the beach and take care of your continuing education needs! On-site registration will be available, but
don’t leave this opportunity up to chance. Register today.
Click here for the brochure and registration form.
Not a member yet? Now would be a perfect time to join.
Click here to find out how.
Call for Representatives to the AOTA Representative Assembly
Interested in being a member of the AOTA Representative Assembly?
Click here to find out more information.
Still have questions?
Click here to send us an email.
Interested candidates must have their information in to ALOTA for submission to AOTA by March 10th, 2008.
Did You Know You Can Advertise Job Postings on Our Website?
Interested in a new job? Want to get the word out about a position that is open at your place of employment? Use the ALOTA website to let people know.
Check out our job postings by following the link on the left hand tool bar for Employment, or click here.
You will also find information about our affordable ad rates at the bottom of the Employment page.
10/2007
ALOTA Welcomes New Board Members at the Fall Conference
The fall conference was such a success on so many levels. For the first time in recent years,
the executive board has no vacancies. Jewell Dixon was officially inducted as the new Vice President.
She made many wonderful contributions to the planning and implementation of the conference this year.
We also welcomed Tosha Gaines as our new Historian, Brittny Allison as the new Recognitions Chair,
Valorie Rollo as the new North Central District Chair, Greshundria "Nikki" Raines as the new East Central
District Chair, and Les Hogan as the Wiregrass District Chair. We are thrilled to have such a enthusiastic
and active core of leaders at work for ALOTA. You can be part of this too! There are openings for committee
positions in virtually all areas of the organization. Just click on the Contact Us button on the left hand side
of the screen and send us an email. We want to hear from you.
AOTA President Attends Fall Conference and is Impressed!
The President of the American Occupational Therapy Association, Dr. Penelope Moyers,
attended the fall conference this year at Orange Beach and wrote about it in her on-line journal.
Click here to see the article.
Record Numbers at the Fall Conference, Good Time Had By All
Wow. What a memorable conference this year. A definite highlight of the conference was the student forum.
This was the first year that something like this was held, and students from all the schools in the state participated.
Check out the synopsis of what they did by clicking on the Forum button on the left hand side of the screen
(Note: you will need to be a registered user to see this posting. It is easy and free.). The variety and scope of the presentations
was certainly another highlight, as was the attendance -- over 180 registrants! And it didn’t hurt that it was at the beach.
ALOTA will strive to continue to offer high quality, low cost continuing education as a benefit to our members. In fact, the state spring conference
for 2008 has already been confirmed for April 26th on the campus of Alabama State University in Montgomery.
09/2007
Fall Conference Registration is Full!
Wow. In the interest of trying to keep registrants as comfortable as possible, we are officially closing registration
for the 2007 Annual Fall ALOTA conference. If you missed the deadline this year, we are sorry. The good news is that
officials from Orange Beach have been in discussion with us since our last conference, and they anticipate having new,
larger facilities available for 2008.
Nominate Your Colleague for an ALOTA Award
Do you know someone who is an ALOTA member that has made significant contributions to the organization and our profession?
Take a minute to nominate them for one of the ALOTA recognition awards!
For a description of the awards and selection criteria, click here.
You can submit your nomination by printing out this form and returning it to the address listed,
or by including the required information in an email to the Awards and Recognitions Chair, Larry Zachow.
We will be adding a dedicated Recognitions and Awards section to the website soon, where these forms will be available indefinitely, and where you can find a list of previous winners.
Did You Know You Can Advertise Job Postings on Our Website?
Interested in a new job? Want to get the word out about a position that is open at your place of employment? Use the ALOTA website to let people know.
Check out our job postings by following the link on the left hand tool bar for Employment, or click here.
You will also find information about our affordable ad rates at the bottom of the Employment page.
An Exciting Update on What ALOTA is Doing for You
With the help of our new lobbyist and others, ALOTA was able to avoid being left out of a ruling on the use of laser modalities.
Our association president, Valley McCurry, worked diligently with our lobbyist and also collaborated with the president of the Alabama Physical Therapy
Association (ALAPTA) and the executive director of the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy (ASBOT) to get occupational therapy
included in an exemption in the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners rule for use of lasers and other modalities affecting living tissue.
While laser modalities are not among the more commonly used by occupational therapists today, the future implications of this ruling are huge.
Thanks to the hard work of your state association, this potential roadblock to our ability to serve our clients and patients has been averted!
For a PDF of the ruling, check out the discussion forum
(note: to view this posting, you will need to be a registered user. It only takes a minute, and it's free).
07/2007
ALOTA Morns the Loss of a Board Member
East Central District Chair Charles Stresino died tragically June 24th from injuries sustained in an automobile accident the day prior.
Charles was an Air Force veteran who had just recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq. We are all deeply saddened by his death.
He will be missed greatly. Charlie is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edgar F. Stresino, as well as by two sisters and two brothers.
Click here to read the story in the Auburn-Opelika News.
An Exciting Update on What ALOTA is Doing for You
With the help of our new lobbyist and others, ALOTA was able to avoid being left out of a ruling on the use of laser modalities.
Our association president, Valley McCurry, worked diligently with our lobbyist and also collaborated with the president of the Alabama Physical Therapy
Association (ALAPTA) and the executive director of the Alabama State Board of Occupational Therapy (ASBOT) to get occupational therapy
included in an exemption in the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners rule for use of lasers and other modalities affecting living tissue.
While laser modalities are not among the more commonly used by occupational therapists today, the future implications of this ruling are huge.
Thanks to the hard work of your state association, this potential roadblock to our ability to serve our clients and patients has been averted!
For a PDF of the ruling, check out the discussion forum
(note: to view this posting, you will need to be a registered user. It only takes a minute, and it's free).
It Will Be Here Before You Know It
The fall conference is just around the corner. The call for papers is complete and recruitment of speakers went exceptionally well.
There will be a wide variety of topics and presenters, much more so than in previous years. There should be something for everyone,
and as always, it is a terrific value given the location and the number of CEU’s. And remember you can pay your dues for the conference on-line.
Follow the link on the left hand tool bar for Continuing Education, or click here.
Check out the brochure for the conference by clicking here.
Want to Get Involved? Here’s Your Chance!
ALOTA has an opening on the executive board for the position of Vice President. This is a wonderful opportunity to mentor under our
current President and former Vice President, Valley McCurry.
Click here to send us an email letting us know of your interest.
Nominate Your Colleague for an ALOTA Award
Do you know someone who is an ALOTA member that has made significant contributions to the organization and our profession?
Take a minute to nominate them for one of the ALOTA recognition awards!
For a description of the awards and selection criteria, click here.
You can submit your nomination by printing out this form and returning it to the address listed,
or by including the required information in an email to the Awards and Recognitions Chair, Larry Zachow.
We will be adding a dedicated Recognitions and Awards section to the website soon, where these forms will be available indefinitely, and where you can find a list of previous winners.
Did You Know There are Job Postings on Our Website?
Interested in a new job? Want to get the word out about a position that is open at your place of employment? Use the ALOTA website to let people know.
Check out our job postings by following the link on the left hand tool bar for Employment, or click here.
You will also find information about our affordable ad rates at the bottom of the Employment page.
05/2007
Dr. Penelope Moyers from UAB is inducted as AOTA President!
April was quite an exciting month for occupational therapy in the state of Alabama. Governor Bob Riley officially
acknowledged April as OT month, the state spring conference in Huntsville was an unmitigated success, and to top things off,
our own Dr. Penelope Moyers, Chair of the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
was inducted as the President of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) at the annual conference in St Louis!
The conference was the best attended in years; approximately 5800 therapists, assistants, students, and supporters made it
to St. Louis for the four day conference.
Click here for conference highlights.
The ceremony for Dr. Moyers’ inauguration was entertaining, inspirational, and empowering. During her inaugural address, she shared some hilarious anecdotes
of her life experiences, and used these as an allegory for the importance of seeing the
Centennial Vision as a call to action.
Click here to see the press release for her induction.
Also, a nice story about Dr. Moyers’ new position with AOTA recently ran in the UAB Reporter.
You can see it by clicking here.
For more details and follow up discussion about the ALOTA conference and the AOTA conference, and other things related to OT, take a minute
to join the discussion board. Follow the Forums link on the left hand side of screen, and then click on the Register
link on the top right side of the forums page. By registering, you will be granted access to additional content that you
can’t otherwise view, like district discussions, event planning, and government affairs. Plus, it’s free and easy.
Call for Papers for the ALOTA Fall Conference
It's that time of year again. The fall Conference will be here before you know it. We already have some high profile speakers lined up for
annual conference at Orange Beach, and you could join the lineup! The deadline for submission is June 1st 2007. Submit your proposal
for presentation today!
You can download the Submission for Presentation Form by clicking here.
Great things are happening at the national and state organizational levels in our profession.
Now is the time to get involved,
and it can start right here!
04/2007
April is OT Month
As many of you already know April is OT month. Thanks to Governor Bob Riley,
the state of Alabama now officially recognizes it as such. In his statement, Governor Riley
“call(s) upon all citizens to recognize the achievements (and) contributions of these valued health professionals.”
Read His Official Proclamation by Clicking Here
In honor of OT month, ALOTA held the State Spring Conference in Huntsville, Saturday the 14th,
and it was quite a successful event. Tim Nanof, a lobbyist for the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), gave a stirring keynote speech
about the state of our profession. Not only was it compelling and informative, there was a considerable
amount of interaction from the audience as well.
Click Here To See a Copy of His Presentation
For more details and follow up discussion about the ALOTA conference and other things related to OT, take a minute
to join the discussion board. Follow the Forums link on the left hand side of screen, and then click on the Register
link on the top right side of the forums page. By registering, you will be granted access to additional content that you
can’t otherwise view, like district discussions and government affairs. Plus, it’s free and easy.
Great things are happening at the national and state organizational levels in our profession.
Now is the time to get involved,
and it can start right here!
04/2007
April is OT Month
As many of you already know April is OT month. Thanks to Governor Bob Riley,
the state of Alabama now officially recognizes it as such. In his statement, Governor Riley
“call(s) upon all citizens to recognize the achievements (and) contributions of these valued health professionals.”
Read His Official Proclamation by Clicking Here
In honor of OT month, ALOTA is holding the State Spring Conference in Huntsville, Saturday the 14th.
Click Here For the ALOTA Spring Conference Brochure
And you can now pay for conference dues online; click on the Continuing Ed link on the left hand tool bar
on this page. And of course, later this month AOTA is hosting the national association annual conference in St. Louis.
Click on the links on the calendar for more information.
Great things are happening at the national and state organizational levels in our profession.
Now is the time to get involved!
04/2007
AOTA Meeting a Success
The Town Hall Meeting from the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham was a success. There were 65 attendees,
consisting of a mix of therapists, therapy assistants, students, academicians,
and administrators. The evening began with an introduction from the AOTA President-Elect
Dr. Penelope Moyers. This was followed by an enlightening presentation from Christina Metzler,
the Chief of Public Affairs for AOTA. Free continuing education credits were provided courtesy of ALOTA to all
in attendance, regardless of membership in the organization. ALOTA would like to pay a special thanks to the
Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for hosting the event. It was an exciting and motivating evening,
and is a perfect example of the things that the Alabama Occupational Therapy Association is dedicated to bring to you.
What Can ALOTA Do For Me?
A big part of what ALOTA does for you is to consistently provide high quality continuing education opportunities that are low cost or free.
There were several such opportunities just within the last month, such as the South District Spring Conference and the Marie Moore Lyles Symposium
presented by Tuskegee University. And next month is the state spring conference held in Huntsville. You can now pay your conference dues on-line.
Just follow the continuing education link on the left hand side of the screen.
Click Here For the ALOTA Spring Conference Brochure
Come be part of making a difference, and get continuing education credits in the process!
03/2007
AOTA is coming to Alabama!
The American Occupational Therapy Association has two high profile events in our state in the month of March.
First, Dr. Carolyn Baum, our current AOTA President will be speaking in Tuskegee
at the 2nd Marie Moore Lyles Symposium, presented by the Tuskegee University
Occupational Therapy Alumni Association. The theme of the symposium is,
“Occupational Therapy Changing Healthcare: Reaching Our Potential”, and it will be held
on the campus of Tuskegee University on Friday, March 16th and Saturday, March 17th.
Click here for the brochure
The following week, Frederick Somers, the Executive Director of AOTA,
and Christina Metzler, Chief of Public Affairs of AOTA, will be holding
a town hall meeting in Birmingham at the School of Nursing Auditorium
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The meeting, to be
held on Thursday March 22nd from 4:30 pm until 6 pm, will begin with a
presentation entitled, "AOTA's Centennial Vision: Charting a Path to the Future".
This will be followed by an open forum for questions from the audience.
All are welcome, including those who are not yet members of ALOTA or AOTA,
and admission is free.
Click here for the brochure
Click here for directions
These are wonderful opportunities to host our national professional organization,
and to hear the latest information of the current state of affairs of occupational
therapy from the larger perspective. Being part of making a difference starts with
a simple step. Mark these dates on your calendar, and help spread the word.
More News
March is a busy month for continuing education opportunities with ALOTA. On Saturday March 24th,
the South District Spring Conference will be held at the University of South Alabama -- Fairhope Campus.
Click here for the brochure
And next month is the state spring conference held in Huntsville You can now pay your conference dues on-line.
Just follow the continuing education link on the left hand side of the screen.
Click here for the brochure
02/2007
It's Finally Here!
After much discussion, and hopefully some anticipation, the new website is here.
While it may not have been visibly apparent, much effort has taken place behind
the scenes over the last several months to get us to this point. It is our intention
to make the website the centerpiece of communication for our organization. Out of that,
we are striving to make the website a user friendly tool that serves the needs of our
members. Please take a few minutes to read about what’s new, and then take a look around.
One of the new features is the ability to pay for membership/renewals and conference fees
over the internet. It’s easy; just follow the “Join” link on the toolbar. You will be able
to pay through a credit card, a debit card, or by a Paypal account. The option to pay for
conference fees will be added when registration for these events opens.
You will also notice that there is a calendar of ALOTA events and other events of interest
on the right side of the home page. The calendar also acts as an archive. As you have
events that you want added, just let us know and we will add them.
Perhaps most importantly in terms of affecting how we communicate, there is a new website-based
discussion forum. You’ll notice the link for it on the toolbar on the left side of the screen.
The forum is divided into different sections: practice issues, districts, and organizational issues.
This is intended to replace the yahoo group as a more effective way of sharing ideas. There is
vital information listed below about how to access these groups, but first a bit of information
about how they are organized.
The practice issues are based on the recent proposal for broader areas for organizing practice,
which has been presented as part of the American Occupational Therapy Association’s Centennial
Vision; you can find a PowerPoint presentation on this topic by following the link below:
AOTA Centennial Vision 2017
These categories are intended to replace the special interest sections. All visitors to the website
will be able to view postings in these areas, but only registered members will be able to post information.
Anyone can register to participate in the discussion forums, but only members of ALOTA will be granted
access to the district forums (i.e., based on the geographical districts of the state), as well as the
forums on organizational issues (e.g., legislative affairs and event planning). Register today!
It’s a free and easy way to start getting involved.
More News
In addition to our new website, ALOTA has retained the services of Miller, Hamilton, Snider, and Odom, LLC
for our legislative lobbying. Check out the resume of the firm by following the link below:
Miller, Hamilton, Snider, and Odom, LLC Resume
We are excited about having this experienced and dynamic law firm representing our interests at the state
level of government. In addition to providing lobbying services, Miller, Hamilton, Snider, and Odom also
offer a 10% discount off their normal flat fee to all ALOTA members who wish to engage their firm for work
We are excited about being able to offer all of these new services, and we hope that this is the first
of many good things to come. We want to make ALOTA a vibrant organization that serves the needs of our
members. We want to be proactive. We want to promote solidarity within our profession. We want to make
a difference. We are working on giving you the tools to do this, but ultimately it will come down to you.
Keep checking the website for new news, join the discussion forums, and give us feedback.
We’re listening!
ALOTA Newsletters
Dec 2006 (pdf)
Alabama Occupational Therapy Association