Annual Business Meeting Takes Place at Conference in Long Beach
Molly V. Strzelecki
The American Occupational Therapy Association held its 88th Annual Business Meeting at the Annual Conference and Expo in Long Beach, California. AOTA President Penelope Moyers Cleveland, EdD, OTR/L, BCMH, FAOTA, called the meeting to order, and a roll call of states was taken to establish a quorum.
The purpose of the Annual Business Meeting is for practitioners to learn about the activities of the Association over the year, and voice any questions or concerns they might have. Written reports of activities from the various AOTA committees and councils are available on the AOTA Web site, and Conference goers who attended the Annual Business Meeting heard highlights from three sections.
AOTA Vice President Florence Clark, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, summarized the most recent Centennial Vision Commission activities, and added that the Representative Assembly and the Affiliated State Association Presidents (ASAP) have aligned their strategic plans and activities with Centennial Vision priorities. Also, the Association’s image-building campaign and continued advocacy to ensure funding for services, allowing, for example the 6-month extension of the Medicare cap exceptions process—have helped move AOTA forward toward its Centennial Vision priorities.
The next to speak was outgoing Treasurer Miriam Wedemeyer, MS, OTR/L, who reported that attendance at the Annual Conference and Expo in Long Beach—officially 5,516 attendees, including exhibitors—exceeded the last Annual Conference held in Long Beach by 600. Additionally, Wedemeyer gave the audience a break down of AOTA revenue sources and explained where the Association’s money is spent.
Membership revenue accounts for 37% of AOTA’s revenues, with 29% of expenses allotted to Publications and 30% to Professional Development. Treasurer Wedemeyer noted that the fiscal year 2007 was the third straight year of profit for the Association, and that revenues are up 3.4%, leaving AOTA in good shape.
AOTA’s Executive Director Fred Somers gave a final summary of the Association’s events over the last year. Somers mentioned the roll out of the new AOTA Web site, the continued improvement of its search function, and the ongoing addition of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) to the online database. He also talked about the various public policy works AOTA has done with Medicare, special education, research, veterans, mental health, and more. Licensure was achieved for occupational therapists in Indiana and in Virginia for occupational therapy assistants (OTAs), making Virginia the 44th state to license OTAs.
Somers noted that AOTA’s public awareness campaign has garnered the Association coverage in publications such as The New York Times, Parenting magazine, U.S. News & World Report, and Real Simple magazine. Somers emphasized that the Association will continue to work on strategic collaborations that will move AOTA forward.
Following the summary of reports, President Moyers Cleveland opened the floor to questions and comments from the audience. Election results from the general election were announced, and the ballots were moved to be destroyed. AOTA swore in two new board members at the Annual Business Meeting, Patricia Crist and Paula Kramer.
After a raffle drawing for a free 1-year AOTA membership, President Moyers Cleveland officially adjourned the meeting.