Having just left the Annual Business Meeting, I have now learned that the statement on Health and Wellness was adopted by the RA. I was able to briefly touch base with Marge Scaffa, one of the authors of the statement, in the conference center between sessions. Also, I was able to hear about the progress of the document from the RA task groups form NY Rep Gloria Lucker. As an AOTA member, it is important to me that the Association has begun to more closely align itself with Community Health and Public Health initiatives. Having also attended the Slagle Lecture given this year by Dr. Jim Hinojosa of New York, I am mindful of his message that we need to embrace changes in public policy as they happen. So, while the terrific leadership of the RA and collaborative work through COP has generated process in the form of the statement, I am also mindful of the message in the future we may need to streamline process to be more in the forefront of leadership and inclusion of Occupational Therapy in policy as it changes and before implementation has already occurred.
At this moment in time, I am sitting in the member service area, the AOTA booth in the center of the exhibit hall, pausing before I meet and greet friends for the last time this year, and depart from the great city of St Louis. I would be remiss, if I did not mention the wide variety of both printed materials, books and products I have seen while in the exhibits. At this conference, in particular, I have heard many therapists speak about caring for themselves and the need to 'live in the moment', to pause and reflect throughout our daily lives. We are an aging workforce with an average age over forty. We are also becoming members of the older workforce. It is strategic that we apply the principals we use to help others to support and sustain ourselves.
So, signing off from the conference, I will say 'see ya again next year' and I hope that some of you who may be reading hilights from home will have an opportunity to come to Long Beach in 2008.
Ann Burkhardt
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