NEWS RELEASE
March 22, 2005

Contact: Laurie Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Ann D Huston MPA, CTRS, ATRA Executive Director
Phone: (703) 683-9420

2005 ATRA Advocates of the Year

(Alexandria, VA) Several ATRA members recently received special recognition as the ATRA Advocates of the Year at the American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s Mid-Year Professional Issues Forum held March 6-9, 2005 in the Washington DC area. The ATRA Board of Directors decided to recognize all of the RT Medicare Project state contacts as the ATRA Advocates this year for their exceptional contributions in advocating for recreational therapy. The 2005 award recipients are; Dawna Sterner of AZ, Kelly Parker of AR, Janelle Sellick, Sherri Heim, Terri Lumoski, Kelly West & Elizabeth Harris of CA, Erin Ferguson of ID, Dorothea DiGuido & Kathy Murphy of IL, Vicki Scott & Diane Baumann of IN, Doug Boyelyn of IO, Robin Greenfield of LA, David Pellegrino of MA, Charles Bond of DC, Sara Ade & Kari Kensinger of MI, Krista Myhre of MN, Aundrea Araunz & Mike Schnoor of MT, Frank Brasile of NE, Debbie Robinson of NH, Pam Griffin of NJ, Dawn DiMilia of NY, Paula Brown, Julie Bradwell, & Jim Barrett of NC, Amy Whitmarsh & Cathy Jordan of OK, Marilyn Gengenbach Warren & Nancy McFarlane of OR, GT Thompson, Sarah Telthorster, Janet Turner, & Colleen Cooke of PA, Lisa Jo Morgan & Mary Ann Aquadro of TN, Dana Dempsey of TX, Shauna Smith of UT, Richard fritz of VT, Laura Rouse of VA, Chrsystal Smith & Regan Ward of WA, Danny Pettry & Carol Sinsel of WV, Nancy Navar & Patricia Thomas of WI, and Kelly Kaper of WY. These ATRA Advocate award recipients played a key role in organizing and implementing the highly successful Day on the Hill event.

Ann Huston, ATRA's Executive Director from Alexandria, VA remarked "the ATRA Day on the Hill on March 8, 2005 was truly an historic day for ATRA and the recreational therapy profession as we advocated for recognition of and access to recreational therapy services with our federal elected officials. It was an amazing day and exemplified the ultimate in ATRA's grassroots involvement."

ATRA has established an Advocate Award fund in honor of the Advocacy Award recipients to give individuals an opportunity to recognize their contributions to the profession by making contributions to Association’s Advocacy Fund. The Advocacy Fund is utilized to assure access for Medicare beneficiaries to medically necessary Recreational Therapy Services, while raising public policy recognition of the profession. To make a contribution to this fund, please send your check, payable to ATRA, indicate ‘ATRA Advocacy Fund’ in the memo section of the check, and mail to ATRA, 1414 Prince Street, Suite 204, Alexandria, VA 22314. The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) is the national membership organization representing the interests and need of recreational therapists. Recreational therapists are health care providers using recreational therapy interventions for improved functioning of individuals with illness or disabling conditions. For more information about future conferences or the field of recreational therapy please check the ATRA website at www.atra-tr.org or contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.

For more information about recreational therapy or any of ATRA’s resources and opportunities, please contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.

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The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was founded in 1984 to advance the the profession of therapeutic recreation. ATRA is a non-profit professional membership organization dedicating 100% of resources and efforts to promote therapeutic recreation professionals in health care and human service settings. For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office