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Message from the President
Marcia D. Smith, MA, CTRS, H/FI
September 2007
As I begin this year as President of ATRA, I thank Sandy Negley for her exemplary leadership over the past year. I also extend my gratitude to each member of the 2006-2007 Board of Directors (BOD) and the National Office staff for their dedication to the Association and for what we have achieved during the year. It is also important that I thank Ann Huston for all she accomplished for the Association during her 13 years as Executive Director. And, I thank you the membership, for making a dream come true, by giving me the privilege to be President of this great Association. It is my honor to serve. I know you are dedicated to the important work of this Association and that I can continue to count on your support as this year unfolds.
This summer I was fortunate enough to meet a young man who spoke with great passion about his job. He was the guide on a five day horseback wilderness pack trip I took. He described his dreams of having his own outfitting company. I talked with park rangers who shared their passion for the park and their job. They all had a level of excitement, passion and commitment that energized me. I wish I could have bottled it to share with you. What they communicated about their dreams and jobs made me think of my own commitment to ATRA, to my profession of recreational therapy, and what I could do to instill this in others in the coming year.
ATRA has been a central part of my life since I first became a member. Long before I was elected to President, I made a commitment to do everything I could to advance ATRA’s mission. I believe my investment in ATRA is an investment in my future. I wonder how many others think the way I do. Perhaps about 2500 others, the approximate number of ATRA members. In 2006, the Leadership ATRA class investigated the level of apathy in the profession. In 2007, I believe that overcoming this level of apathy remains the biggest challenge in moving the Association and the profession forward. But I have hope, because there are committed professionals willing to work to move ATRA forward to achieve the outcomes ATRA is capable of achieving for its members and the profession.
“Not much happens without a dream and for something great to happen there must be a great dream” (The Servant as Leader by Robert Greenleaf). I have dreamed of the great things that ATRA can accomplish for the profession. But much more than a dream is required to make it a reality. There must also be passion and commitment from other professionals. In her book Making Your Dreams Come True, Marcia Wilder states: “commitment is not a dirty word; on the contrary, it is a powerful experience that moves you forward; and the more you strive to meet that commitment the more extraordinary things happen!”
As I prepared for the year, many things ran through my mind. Like previous Presidents, I also reviewed many documents and newsletters. I spoke with members and non-members regarding ATRA to better understand the process of what had gone before, and will help move us forward. It struck me that for several years increasing membership has been a presidential priority. Now I ask, what is ATRA doing or not doing that this goal has not yet been achieved? I will work hard to answer this question. I believe that professional commitment starts with joining ATRA. So my top priority this year will be to increase membership. I also want to see ATRA succeed legislatively. I passionately support the ATRA Recreational Therapy Medicare Project. I believe it is the single most important initiative ATRA has undertaken in my twenty-three years as a member. Therefore, I will continue to commit resources to accomplish the task, but again we MUST increase our membership to make this happen.
Our students are our future and our Chapters are our core, and I believe that there is much for ATRA to do in these areas. But again we need professionals to invest in the future of ATRA and to strengthen its core through grassroots involvement and national membership. For several years the ATRA Board of Directors has worked diligently to address this issue. With the 2006 Pseudonym Report to guide them, the Membership Ad Hoc committee leadership kept the Board focused and working on the issue. Board members have talked to individuals directly as to why they were not renewing their memberships and the Board has worked hard to implement the suggestions of the Pseudonym Report. In the coming year, our Chapter Affiliate Council Chair will join the leadership of the Membership Ad Hoc Committee, as the Board of Directors continues to address the issue of national membership at the chapter level.
Change sometimes evokes fear but it is some times necessary for growth to occur. ATRA, in the coming year, will experience several changes. The BOD is moving forward with an organizational review for the search of a new Executive Director, and evaluating how we provide services to our membership, including a proposal for regional conferences. We have developed an interim Strategic Plan, scrutinized our finances, and developed benchmarks. The Board of Directors is well prepared and committed to addressing the issues facing ATRA in the next year. It will be a busy and exciting year- a year for change and growth. I believe our success will rest on the commitment of CTRSs to become involved and join ATRA NOW.
I ask that each of you assist the Board with the implementation of a membership drive. I welcome your ideas because if we are to gain recognition for the CTRS, secure coverage for those we serve, and support our members through our teams and chapters, we all must work to increase membership. ATRA must retain existing members and recruit new ones. Therefore, I ask each of you to continue your membership, and to encourage one other professional to join ATRA in the coming year. In order for ATRA to effectively meet the needs of its teams, chapters, you the members and the profession, we all have to commit and contribute to ATRA. So let’s dream big, and if that dream is for ATRA to continue our relationship with the Joint Commission, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, the International Classification of Functioning and others, to meet the goals of the Medicare Project, to publish evidence-based practice guidelines, and to pursue state recognition initiatives, then we all need to commit to the dream of a stronger membership base. Walt Disney stated that all of our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.
This year when Cal Ripken was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, his plaque read, “Arrived at the ball park every day with a burning desire to perform at his highest level.” For the next year, I promise you that I will serve the Association with the same dedication and work ethic. All I ask is that you do your part to help ATRA meet it goals for you, its members. Again, I thank you for the honor to serve. I’m excited to work with you as ATRA’s President.
“Committed ATRA members move the profession forward.”