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Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association |
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CATA NEWSLETTER FALL EDITION
NATA Expresses GREAT Support in the CATA Legislative Campaign
Can 12% Carry the ENTIRE load? Please Support Representative Riesberg Student Athletic Trainer Committee NATA Public Relations Efforts in August Thanks to our Corporate Sponsors... President's Letter
I hope this newsletter finds you and yours well. By now I am sure most of you are up to your eyeballs in fall sports. I am sure that those of you in the know spent a lot of time outdoors this summer relaxing and recharging before the mayhem.
While the CATA board did manage to get some rest and relaxation this summer we also were quite busy working on our legislative efforts. As a result of our efforts we have had some very good things happen: we received more than $35,000 in funding from the NATA -- Governmental Affairs Committee; we signed a contract to work with Charlie Hebeler again for the upcoming legislative session; we held fourteen conference calls to update and inform our members on our efforts; and we also have been coordinating efforts to support Jim Riesberg our bills sponsor in the house. Please read through the below newsletter for detailed stories on these topics.
Following one of our conference calls a friend of mine contacted me with his thoughts about some of the issues we were presenting on. He thought that maybe the CATA was too concerned with drumming up support from our members. His comments were “you go to war with who you know will be there”. While I completely agree with him that when the rubber hits the road there are only so many CATA members that are going to be active; I KNOW it is vital to have as many soldiers as we possibly can. We have a large task ahead of us and it will MOST CERTAINLY be easier if MORE members took part.
Legislation will affect EVERY individual who carries the ATC credential. WE ALL ARE BUSY. I have a full time job, I run a small landscaping business, I lead a Fellowship of Christian Athletes bible study at Ponderosa, I am the vice chair of the Douglas County Special Education Advisory Council, I manage to work out three or four times per week, I do personal genealogy research, and I am also starting classes to become a home inspector; all of which comes secondary to my wife and two little girls. Each of our board members are just as busy as I am; YET WE ALL FIND THE TIME to serve OUR profession.
I would ask that EACH you who receive this newsletter to join our effort. Please contact me to put your name on the “I’m in, in 2007” list. WE NEED YOU!
Best of luck with fall sports.
Sincerely,
Chris Mathewson, President Colorado Athletic Trainers Association 2006 FALL Symposium
The 1st Annual CATA Fall Symposium will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2006 in Vail, Colorado. Eight CEU's will be awarded to the attendee. Click here for the brochure, registration information and program of speakers.
Don't miss out on this exciting and informative opportunity - registration needs to be in by October 28, 2006 (to avoid a late fee.) The early registration fee is ONLY $25!! We look forward to seeing you in Vail!
NATA Expresses GREAT Support in the CATA Legislative Campaign
Last month the CATA received notice that one aspect of our legislative effort this year will a little less stressful than we had anticipated. The National Athletic Trainers Association – Governmental Affairs Committee (NATA – GAC) awarded $35,800 in funding to our legislative effort this year.
In June and July as we began planning for our upcoming effort we looked at our budget and saw some very significant shortcomings. We knew what we had spent in the previous campaign, and we knew what we had in the bank. The numbers did not add up. We also were well aware of the fact that at that time last year we were already three months into the planning of the “Celebration of Athletic Training” and we recognized that we would probably not be able to capture that same type of energy again just 14 months later.
We submitted a proposal for funding ($2,000 state allotment, $2,000 in fundraising matching, and $31,800 in discretionary funding for a total of $35,800) to the NATA GAC and it was accepted 100% by their group. The NATA GAC saw how close we came in our effort this past year and they would like to see us succeed in 2007.
Funding by the NATA GAC has NEVER been meant to be the sole revenue source for states legislative efforts; it is intended to be an adjunct. The CATA is going to do our part as we plan to raise $10,000 from our membership. We are planning on “launching” this phase of our legislative game plan after elections are complete.
I would like to thank Judy Pulice, NATA Governmental Affairs Manager and the entire NATA Governmental Affairs Committee in support and confidence in the CATA.
Can 12% Carry the ENTIRE load? Should they have to?
The Colorado Athletic Trainers Association (CATA) is made up of just fewer than 500 certified members. Currently we have 62 members (9 board members + 53 legislative action task force members) who have said they will play an active role in our upcoming legislative effort. That is less than 12% of our membership who have said they will carry the load for state legislation of ALL certified athletic trainers.
Shortly after our regretful announcement of the veto of house bill 1127 we asked for members opinion on what we should do. Some responded, but not many.
As elected members of the CATA we are tasked with the management and charting the best direction for the association. We unanimously felt that seeking licensure again in the 2007 session was the best choice for the advancement of our profession. We felt we came too far and was so close to passing a law that would truly advance all aspects of our profession; we felt we owed it to our profession to try again.
Following our decision to try again we asked our members to join us in the effort. The board and I approached all the members we knew personally and asked them to join the task force. We sent out several requests for volunteers to our members via e-mail, newsletters, phone calls and personal letters. To date, we have had ONLY 53 members say “I am in, in 2007”.
That is not to say that only those 53 members will write letters, send e-mails, call legislators, donate funds, or volunteer time for our effort. There is no guarantee that even they will do that. It is to say, that ONLY 53 members have even taken the time to contact us and show interest.
I have spoke to many other state association presidents, and apathy is prevalent everywhere not just Colorado. No state is immune; and to this date no state president has found the magic cure. J
Chuck Kimmel’s, NATA President, speech to the membership at the annual meeting mentioned this epidemic as it was in relation to state legislative efforts … “In each of these examples, there are many people pitching in to make these good things happen. All too often, though, I hear there are even more members who are not helping. I do not understand this. We already have fewer numbers, less experience in this area and so much less money than our competitors – it’s scary. Please help us. Do not let our efforts fail for a lack of involvement. If we are to lose, make those who oppose us beat our best. As a profession, we’re always concerned with taking care of our patients, our athletes, our students. Now it’s time to step up and take care of ourselves. Our future depends on it.
Athletic training legislation will affect EVERY individual who carries the athletic trainer credential in Colorado. By you receiving this newsletter you can be CERTAIN that it will affect you.
On behalf of the entire board of directors of the Colorado Athletic Trainers Association, our legislative action task force 2, the other members of the National Athletic Trainers Association I would ask that YOU become involved in our effort. It is important for the now and the future of OUR profession.
Please contact me and “Say I’m in, in 2007”. We need you.
Chris_Mathewson@msn.com or 720.233.3233
Please Support Representative Jim Riesberg!
Next few weeks are extremely important!
As you know Representative Jim Riesberg sponsored the “Athletic Trainers Practice Act” bill in the 2006 Legislative session. I can attest that he did so with GREAT effort. He truly took the time to learn, understand our profession, and believed in why this bill was so important. He is now in a tough race for re-election! Well, it’s our time to return the favor!
We are still looking for help with: 1) “Walking” in Jim’s district (Greeley) to help get out the vote. Walks take place M, W & F at 5pm or Saturdays at 9am or 2pm. 2) Making phone calls to constiuents… he will also need help over the next few weeks (through first week of November)-making phone calls to constiuents. The calls can be done by going to his Greeley office or we can get you a list and you can make calls from your home phones or cell phones (cells might be better if you can call on weekends or have minutes, to avoid long distance charges.) 3) Financial help!
Donation checks can be made out to Riesberg in 50
committee and mailed to:
Please contact me…Jenn Dougherty at jdougherty-atc@mindspring.com if you want to help with #1 or #2! I will get you scheduled to help. 23 out of 468 Members Take Part in Conference Calls
Only 23 out of the 468 possible CATA members took part in the 14 legislative conference calls held by the CATA board. We intentionally held several different calls at many different times of day over a two week period with the idea that the variety will create opportunity for our members to attend a call. Only 5% of our membership took part.
On our website we have a recording of one of the calls, that if members wish they can either click on and play or download it and listen to it later. We ask that EVERY CATA member listen to the presentation. A lot of good information on our legislative effort was presented on the call.
Financial Update as of October 2, 2006:
LATF Checking Account - $7,982.27 CATA Checking Account - $11,248.64 Putnam Investment Account - $9,135.84
Results of the 2006 election President Chris Mathewson 113 votes
At Large Dominic DiManna 60 votes Jason McWilliams 54 votes
There will not be an election in 2007. The positions of Vice-President, Secretary and one At-Large position will be open for election in 2008.
For more information contact Robert Ryan 970-248-1374 or rryan@mesastate.edu
Student Athletic Trainer Committee
E-Blast Page Added to CATA Website
In an effort to keep the membership up-to-date with information, an "E-Blasts" page has been added to the website. Any email that is sent out to the entire membership will also be posted to this page. Past e-blasts will also be archived here as well.
Not receiving the e-blasts? These messages are sent to the email address on file with the NATA. Please make sure your information is current with the NATA so you do not miss out on important announcements from the CATA.
Dear NATA State President or
Representative
From the Secondary Schools Athletic Trainers Committee...
The NATA and the SSATC are working to evaluate the worth and effectiveness of the athletic trainer in the secondary setting. Click here for a recent study on the effectiveness of athletic trainers in the high school setting.
The CATA would like to thank the following corporations for their continued support:
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