President's Message
January 23, 2009
Happy New Year! May all good things come your way in this year of change! Your Board of Directors has been working hard to reorganize and move the Association forward. We have an energetic core of Board members. Donna Costa joined us this past fall as both Secretary and Continuing Education Committee Chair. A schedule of continuing education events for spring and summer will be coming out in the next couple of weeks. Under the leadership of Heidi Hanley, the Board retained a lobbyist prior to the December holidays. Mr. Moody is keeping an eye on legislation on Capital Hill that may influence the practice of occupational therapy in the state of Utah. Brenda Lyman serves as the RA Representative to the AOTA Representative Assembly-she keeps the membership up to date on what is happening in the national government and within AOTA. These are just three benefits that you get from being a member-there are more. Cathy Szumigala replaced Nancy Johns as Treasurer when Nancy and her family moved to Washington last summer. We continue to offer and scholarships through a program sponsored by AOTF to help OT and OTA students in the state. What do you think of the website? How can we serve you better? Call me!
I have been in Utah now for going on 5 years. I want to tell you that I am very passionate about occupational therapy. As Mary Reilly put it, if we didn’t exist, another profession would rise up to take our place. I believe we provide a very valuable service to all of those we serve. I also believe we can do a better job and that we need each other to accomplish this. What would it take for you to get involved in the governance of the Association? Are you ready for leadership? What are your talents? Do you like getting out and networking with other therapists? Perhaps you would like to work with the membership committee or be a regional liaison. Do you like to create education programs? You might wish to join the Continuing Ed committee or the committee that plans the annual conference. Are you a COTA who is interested in promoting and supporting COTAs in the state? You could be the COTA Representative! Do you like marketing? You could take on Public Relations. Interested in policy and legislation? You could be a liaison with our lobbyist, Mr. Moody. There are many ways in which to serve-big and small. Your involvement could help to expand the support and visibility of occupational therapy practice and practitioners in Utah! Are you ready? Call me!
Again, my sincere wishes to you and yours for a healthy, peaceful, and prosperous new year!
Pollie Price, PhD, OTR/L
UOTA President