Annual Business Meeting Summary
The Annual Business Meeting of AOTA's Annual Conference & Expo kicked off with a rousing roll call to establish a quorum (loved Illinois' "We're Broke But Not Broken!"). After the 2010 Minutes were officially adopted, reports were offered by the Vice President, Treasurer, Representative Assembly (RA) Speaker, and Executive Director.
The Vice President's report highlighted the progress of the Centennial Vision; the Treasurer's report highlighted the strength of AOTA's finances; and the RA Speaker summarized RA business from the last year, including the fact that the RA was officially called to order twice since meeting in Orlando. In all, 45 items of business were debated and voted upon, including the following highlights:
- The Practice Advisory: Services Provided by Students in Fieldwork Level II Settings document was adopted and will now be revised to be formatted as an official document.
- A "Complex Seating and Wheeled Mobility Specialized Knowledge and Skills" Paper and a Policy Fact Sheet will both be created.
- The Societal Statement on Health Literacy was approved as amended.
- The revised Definition of Occupational Therapy Practice for the AOTA Model Practice Act was approved as amended.
- Substitute membership momentum motions were adopted to include the RA in the Board of Directors (BOD) Membership Ad Hoc and for the Ad Hoc to report to the RA fall meeting.
- The motion to remove social justice from the Occupational Therapy Code of Ethics and Ethics Standards (2010) was defeated.
- The motions regarding baccalaureate OTA education were defeated.
- The motion to accept the recommendations of the Procedural & Organizational Change Ad Hoc Committee was defeated.
Two items of new business were approved by the RA on Thursday, April 14, 2011:
- The Board of Directors was charged to establish an ad hoc committee to examine the utilization of consumers of OT services in the operations and functions of AOTA.
- The Speaker was charged to develop an ad hoc committee to evaluate the operations and functions of the RA to incorporate the intent of the recommendations of the Procedural & Organizational Change Ad Hoc Committee.
The minutes of all meetings can be found on the AOTA Web site under "Get Involved!"
The Executive Director reported that National Office expenses and revenue are better than they were last year at this time. In addition, this was the largest Conference since Chicago in 1996, with 6,109 registered attendees and 1,581 exhibitors, for a total attendance of 7,690.
As a result of a 2007 Annual Business Meeting member motion to improve accessibility, AOTA installed sliding doors in the main entrance of the building (which also made the building more appealing to commercial renters), and the Association is installing two additional ADA-compliant restrooms. AOTA has increased its communications and advocacy, with 42,350 current members representing an increase in students and first-year members.
Attendees were then invited to share comments or questions, and a member motion was passed for the Executive Director to promote full ADA compliance and accessibility for all aspects of AOTA. The Executive Director responded that this motion is very similar to the one passed in 2007, and that work continues to fulfill this goal.
The meeting concluded with results of the 2011 elections and a call for nominations for 2012, followed by the three new AOTA board members taking the ceremonial oath of office.
The drawing for a free year of membership was won by Mary Barns.
