The
following information was sent regarding the future of AOTA from the Executive
Director, Fred Somers AOTA President, Penny Moyers-Cleveland, and RA Speaker,
Brent Bravehart.
Message to AOTA Leadership Groups from President and Speaker
December 12, 2008
In previous communications, we
indicated the adverse impact of the U.S. economy upon AOTA. This economic
downturn continues to have a significant effect on our revenue from
advertising, investment income, leasing of space in our office building, and
other sources. Although AOTA membership currently is steady, over the next two
months a major renewal period is underway, which will more clearly indicate how
our members are affected. The current economy also creates uncertainty about
participation at the Association's annual conference.
AOTA leadership and staff took
significant steps this past October to cut expenses, but with economic
conditions continuing to decline, further measures are necessary to prevent a
$1 million deficit from being realized by the end of the fiscal year. Therefore
to maintain the Association's financial stability, the Board met by conference
call on Tuesday, December 9th to approve implementation of critically necessary
cost-saving measures.
In addition to another round of
reductions in the national office operating budget, volunteer bodies and ad hoc
committees have agreed to forego face-to-face meetings and to continue their
work in alternate ways. The Representative Assembly meeting in spring 2009 will
also be conducted online rather than in person at the Association's annual
conference. Likewise, AOTA's winter and summer meetings of the Board of
Directors will be held virtually, and individual Board members are paying their
own expenses to attend annual conference. Regardless of these steps, however,
we do have to reduce the size of AOTA personnel by 12 staff members. This will
necessitate modifications in work assignments to ensure central functions,
member services, and support for advocacy, public awareness, research,
outcomes, and education.
In the next several months, it will
be critical to increase membership in AOTA and to aggressively promote the
annual conference in Houston. As leaders of AOTA, we need your help in
accomplishing both of these vitally important objectives that are key to
emerging from this recession stronger than ever before. We are counting on your
energy, creativity and innovation to launch a member-to-member recruitment
effort. If each of our almost 40,000 members recruited one new member, imagine
how this renewed capacity of 80,000 practitioners and students would position
us to influence the future of the profession as national health care reform
unfolds under a new President and Congress. We will be talking about strategies
to gain and retain members on the AOTA listservs and OT Connections. Be sure to
share your ideas, suggestions, and success stories. If you have any questions,
please feel free to contact the President or the Speaker.
Outstanding leadership is required
during tough times, and we are especially grateful for your commitment. In
working hard together, there is an exciting opportunity to create a
recession-proof organization that has chosen to proactively move forward,
regardless of barriers, on its Centennial Vision journey.
Now is the
time for Indiana to show their voice in this trying time and to continue to
educate our fellow peers about this current event and what impact it may have
on all our futures as healthcare reform is developed.
Don Newkirk,
RA Indiana Chris Mahnesmith, IOTA
President
