Hi Ron, I am taking no offense at all...this is part of what a list serve is...
In regards to membership (I was referring to those that are NOT members, in general). Most practitioners that I work with are NOT members of ANYTHING. You are right, serving on a national or state association is not for everyone...I DO wish that AOTA and state associations WOULD allow non-members to participate on their list-serves. That would allow for better communication as to why our membership numbers are down. Thank you for NOT charging for this list-serve. (heehee) What initiatives (specifically) are you referencing (re: AOTA)? Of course, no one likes bureaucracy but it IS EVERYWHERE...in our work, in the kids' schools, in our churches, heck...it's in our homes! But, that is the state of life and we just have to deal with it (hopefully, with a bit of good communication and heartfelt concern). That may sound simplified...but what do we do? ...not live in the world today? What is amazing about our profession? Well, I have only been an OT for 14 years. I have been able to work in schools, home health, hospital-based rehab, SNF (for the most part), free-standing outpatient...what a BLESSING to have options. We are not bound to psych. as our profession started out (not that it's a bad thing, I enjoy this area of practice too.) The patients that I have met and the experiences WAY out weigh the bureaucracy. I have 4 children. I have been free to work full time or part time when the need arose. I have worked part time for one company and PRN for others to increase the income and gain flexibility. I have owned my own business and independently contracted myself to multiple companies... What profession allows for so much diversity, freedom and opportunity? I feel so blessed in the opportunities that are available to me. As a matter of fact, my husband thinks it's RIDICULOUS what opportunities there are ALL OVER for my profession (dare I say, "He's jealous"?). What other job could you pick up and leave without a job and practically have no concerns b/c you KNOW that there are jobs waiting for you when you get there? The other amazing parts of this profession, possibly the best, are the patients that I have been impacted by (and most likely all that would read this). I have sooo many vivid memories of patients that I have been able to treat (in Salt Lake City, UT; Sarasota, FL; Kansas City, MO/KS; Davenport, IA; Chicago, IL...). APTA would love for us to have NO practice area delineated for us alone. You know that, right? I know that I am not involved in AOTA, as I would like to be. But it sure feels nice to know that someone out there IS looking out for my job and practice on Capitol Hill (since I have no time to). Sorry for being windy. Jeanie Fountain, OTR/L, COF Area Manager, Quad Cities MILLENNIUM THERAPY SERVICES 401 Trilein, Suite 4; P.O. Box 367 Ankeny, Iowa 50021 cell: 563.543.4525 fax: 563.514.0667 "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." Proverbs 11:2 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Ron Carson Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 9:01 PM To: Jeanie Fountain Subject: Re: [OTlist] questions Hello Jeanie: Thanks for writing... Isn't our membership considered participation? Also, serving in a either a State or National organization is not for everyone. But, that does not mean that those of us not serving should not voice our opinions, both positive and negative. And, I think national and state organizations are cutting off their faces to spite their noses. For example, awhile back, I went through a ruckus because my state OT association did not like my suggestion that its list serve should be made available to non-members. At the time, I was not a member of the organization and I took a lot of heat one, for not being a member and two, for suggesting that non-members should have access to the list serve. And even though I am a current member of my state OT assoc, I still think they should make their list serve public. Heck, AOTA is the same way. If you aren't a member, then you can't access their list serves. It's a good thing that I don't charge people for access to OTnow. Heck, I can't even get a single dollar donated to help pay for this site!!! Wait a minute... reading what I just typed, sort of feels like the pot calling the kettle black. I'm complaining about AOTA wanting money for access while at the same time complaining about not getting donations for OTnow, hum?? But you know what, if I did charge for access to this list and other resources on my site but there were people who thought it wasn't worth it, then I wouldn't want them to pay. Of course, I wouldn't offer it too them for free but I wouldn't look down on them for not joining. I guess that's sort of how I feel about the whole AOTA thing. IF people feel that there money is well spent, they might more eagerly give to AOTA. I for one, question the initiatives of AOTA, so I question giving them more money. I was once involved in South Carolina's state association. Every meeting I attended was worse than going to the dentist. Nothing hardly got accomplished because of all the rules and crap. I hate bureaucracy, maybe because I served in the U.S. Navy for 11 years. Rules, rules and more rules and nothing gets done! Jeanie, I am going to ask a straight forward question. What do you see that is amazing about the profession of OT? I am not talking about individual practitioners, but what is amazing about our profession? Again, thanks for writing. Please don't take anything I said as a personal attack. I am just in a writing mood, which sometimes happens when the OT list is quiet for long periods. -- Ron Carson MHS, OTR/L HOPE Therapy Services ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeanie Fountain <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Subj: [OTlist] questions JF> I am a member for AOTA, NBCOT and my state association. JF> For those that aren't members or are and have complaints...have you JF> considered taking a position within or at least participated in these JF> associations? If you have an opinion, I would suggest participation...I JF> don't think that we would continue to have a profession without the works of JF> these associations. JF> Or maybe we should just let APTA take over our profession too??? JF> It is very sad that so many of our colleagues refuse to support our JF> profession (IN ANY WAY)...but continue to reap the benefits of an amazing JF> profession. JF> Jeanie Fountain, OTR/L, COF JF> Area Manager, Quad Cities JF> MILLENNIUM THERAPY SERVICES JF> 401 Trilein, Suite 4; P.O. Box 367 JF> Ankeny, Iowa 50021 JF> cell: 563.543.4525 JF> fax: 563.514.0667 JF> "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom." JF> Proverbs 11:2 JF> -----Original Message----- JF> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] JF> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf JF> Of Bill Maloney JF> Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 4:03 PM JF> To: [email protected] JF> Subject: [OTlist] questions JF> This is my first posting to this list. I am curious JF> about a few things, so please feel free to respond: JF> How many of you reading this are currently members of JF> AOTA? Your state OT association? Use designation of JF> OTR, indicating that you are current with the NBCOT? JF> How many of your colleagues (same questions as above JF> if you know)? JF> Thanks, JF> Bill Maloney, OTR JF> -- JF> Unsubscribe? JF> [EMAIL PROTECTED] JF> Change options? 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