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Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association |
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CATA Newsletter - Fall 2008 Edition
SAVE THE DATE - Spring Symposium Scholarship and Award Committee Chair From the Corporate Sponsorship Committee From the Public Relations Committee Infectious Skin Disease Website
November 14, 2008
Dear CATA Members
I hope this newsletter finds you and yours well. I am happy to say that all of “mine” are doing quite well. Dance class, chasing a puppy, singing High School Musical and Hannah Montana songs and all that fun stuff are normal activities in the Mathewson household.
As you will see by reading through this newsletter a great deal of work is being done by a very dedicated group of CATA members. It has been a very exciting time with the CATA.
First, Pat Hoxsey has been appointed as the new chairman of the Scholarship and Awards Committee. He came highly recommended and we are expecting great things from him. I would very much like to thank Colleen Conroy for her years of service as the S&A Committee chair.
Secondly, on Tuesday the CATA received confirmation from the office of Governor Bill Ritter that they are pleased with the adjustments we have made to our athletic trainer legislation bill and they are now OK with us presenting the bill to the legislature during the 2009 session.
We now know that IF we can repeat the success we had in 2006 and 2007, by passing an athletic training legislation bill through the house and the senate, that the Governor WILL NOT VETO it. Good news!
N ext, this past weekend the CATA held it’s third annual fall meeting. The CATA has partnered with Vail Summit Orthopedics to offer a multi-topic symposium. As of today, we are still tabulating the surveys submitted by the attendees, but the initial responses have all been positive. I would like to thank Greg Schlossinger of VSO for his hard work and dedication to the fall meeting.
Lastly, the CATA board held a retreat this past week following the CATA fall meeting, legislation efforts past and upcoming were the main topic of discussion. Please read further in this newsletter to see some of the “results” of that meeting.
As always if you have any questions, comments or concerns OR if you have an interest in serving OUR association please feel free to contact either me or any CATA board member.
Sincerely,
Chris Mathewson, President, Colorado Athletic Trainers Association
Optimism – Pessimistic -- Fire Up?! Chris Mathewson
Recently the CATA board of directors held a retreat in Vail following the 3rd Annual Fall Meeting. The 2009 legislative effort was the predominant topic at the meeting. In preparation for the meeting I asked several members that I know who have closely followed or been involved with our previous efforts, to answer three questions. The responses we received were enlightening and I believe they will help us to succeed in 2009.
Question #1 … Based on what you have observed or personally experienced what reasons to do you feel we have to be optimistic about the chance of success in 2009? (The answers below are ranked based on frequency; with some of the explanations that people provided with their responses) 1. Charlie 2. Previous opposition is now neutral 3. History – experience with the process 4. Previous Bill Sponsors – Riesberg and Williams are returning to Colorado Legislature 5. Money – CATA is financially stable and has the ability for funding from NATA 6. Active CATA people – strong BOD, previous LATF group, Chris Mathewson
People were willing to offer many reasons on why they feel optimistic about our chances in 2009. There was a strong positive tone with many responses.
Question #2 … Based on what you have observed or personally experienced what reasons to do you feel we have to be pessimistic about the chances of success in 2009? (The answers below are ranked based on frequency with some of the explanations that people provided with their responses) 1. Membership – members don’t seem to care; tired of hearing about it; AT’s don’t see how changing legislation will effect them 2. Politics – can’t trust politicians; previous actions of the Governor 3. History – previous losses; Charlie blindsided previously
The first two answers were by far the most frequent. There is a general feeling by those “involved” that the vast majority of people don’t care one way or the other and if they were to care they only care as far as it affects their personal interests.
People also feel burned by the “system” and consequently have a rather large distrust of that system of politics.
Question #3 … How do you feel we can fire up the membership for a strong 2009 legislative effort? (The answers below are ranked based on frequency with some of the explanations that people provided with their responses) 1. Education – How will this effect them; frequent information and (brief) updates; Town hall meetings; beefed up facts on how and why legislation is important 2. Public statements – high profile AT’s utilizing media contacts to get public exposure 3. Unsure
Often times there were many comments that those responding did not believe the general membership can be fired up. People seemed to think that IF the general membership CAN be fired up to participate in a 2009 legislative effort it would be through education. Through our previous efforts we have been told that many people appreciated the frequent updates on the legislative process; yet we know that these updates must be brief and concise.
Prior to our 2006 effort we held several town hall style meetings across the state to present a universal message and answer questions that members might have. These were very well received by those that attended. The board felt a similar type effort could be helpful. We are currently investigating the possibility of either face to face town hall style meetings or a web based meeting(s).
Overall the CATA board of directors is quiet optimistic for our 2009 effort, I actually dare to say -- we anticipate success. Yet a VERY LARGE, in fact the LARGEST, concern of the board of directors is how will our membership respond? IF we can have a greater than 25% participation rate than we usually do – in CATA activities – (i.e. elections, conferences, surveys, etc.) we will do VERY well.
If you are willing to participate and assist in this upcoming legislative effort please let me or any other board member know.
In August, the CATA developed a survey regarding our annual spring symposium to solicit increased input from our membership – 121 members responded. Thank you to all who provided your thoughts and suggestions. We hope to implement many of the suggestions for the 2009 spring symposium.
Questions on the survey ranged from cost of the symposium to what kind of food you would like provided to when the spring symposium should be held. Respondents offered many, many comments which we greatly appreciate. Thank you! An abbreviated summary is follows – for full summary, please contact me: Carrie Meyer, carriemeyeratc@bresnan.net. · 65% would like to have the CATA meeting at a similar time every year. Comments overwhelming did not want the CATA meeting to overlap with RMATA. · 25% would like to have the meeting in late May; 24% would like to have the meeting in early April · 76% would like to have the meeting in an academic lecture hall and pay less for registration · Importance of offering food was almost evenly split (47% in favor). · 65% of respondents would pay more for registration if food is supplied
Another success!! Thank you to everyone who attended the 3rd Annual Fall Symposium on Saturday, Nov 8th. From the evaluation feedback and my personal thoughts, this was the best Fall Meeting yet! Our partnership with Vail Summit Orthopedics (VSO) has allowed us to offer a quality educational symposium for a reasonable cost. Greg Schlossinger, ATC has worked hard in securing quality speakers to volunteer their time to share the knowledge with our members as well as with other allied health professionals – we had almost 20 non-ATCs attend our conference! I think that speaks well of the type of quality education being offered in addition to the exposure of the Athletic Training Profession to these other allied health professionals. We also had 11 exhibitors for the meeting allowing the attendees many people to talk with and get information about their products (something that has been asked for in the past by our members). Speakers ranged from the Keynote by Gwen Short, ATC to Emergency management by Eagle County Paramedics to ACL advances by Rick Cunningham, MD to Pilates by Laina Scolnick, PT & Certified Pilates Instructor - it was great to see all the attendees getting their core workout in during the Pilates demonstration! J We always appreciate the feedback from the meeting and will do everything we can to make 2009 even better! We look forward to our continued partnership with VSO for the fall symposium – Save the date: Nov 7, 2009!! If you have comments or ideas for speakers or symposium topics, please contact me at carriemeyeratc@bresnan.net Carrie Meyer, EdD, ATC
Thank you all who attended the 2008 fall CATA/VSO conference held on November 8. Nearly 100 attendees came out to listen to the speakers talk on cervical, GH, elbow/hand, knee and thoracolumbar injuries despite the snowy conditions at 11,400ft on Vail Pass! Have you ever attended a conference that you actually did Pilates for 45minutes? Me either! Gweneth Short ATC gave an amazing talk on the future of the Paralympics which was both interesting and inspiring. This year we introduced a silent auction to benefit a high school student interested in athletic training and I am proud to say that we raised over $350. Next year, mark your calendars for November 7, 2009, again at Vail Christian High School. Please feel free to contact me at gschlossinger@vsortho.com if you have any questions, suggestions or would be interested in speaking. For those who attended, thank you very much for your support! Greg Schlossinger ATC
SAVE THE DATE - Spring Symposium
May 16 and 17, 2009 - Annual Spring Symposium and Business Meeting Location to be announced soon! Watch the CATA website for updates!
The following individuals have accepted the nominations for the office of President or Member at Large. The election will be completed by online ballot starting in April 2009. The online voting will be open for a four week period and close 2 weeks prior to the Spring Business meeting.
President Jennifer Dougherty
At- Large Member Brian Hardy Greg Holm Michael Keating Jason McWilliams Christine Odell Corey Oshikoya Scott Thomas
For more information contact Robert Ryan , CATA Secretary. Scholarship and Award Committee Chair
The CATA would like to congratulate Pat Hoxsey on his appointment to serve as the new Chair of the Scholarship and Award Committee. Thank you, Pat, for your willingness to serve in the CATA!
If you or an athletic trainer you know would like to assist Pat on this committee, please contact him at phoxsey@du.edu
Three key areas were addressed at a CHSAA/CATA October meeting.
From the Corporate Sponsorship Committee
The CS Committee is excited to announce the addition of three new sponsors: Howard Head Sports Medicine, DeRoyal, and Cardionics. Jason McWilliams, Chair of the CS Committee, is continuing to work on finding more companies interested in becoming a corporate sponsor and is also reformatting how corporate sponsorship is set up. From the Public Relations Committee
We have filled 5 out of 7 Regional Representative positions. We still need volunteer representatives from region 1 and 5. Region 1 consists of the following counties: Boulder, Gilpin, Clear Creek, Denver, Jefferson, Arapahoe, Adams, and Broomfield. Region 5 consists of the following counties: Mesa, Delta, Montrose, Gunnison, Lake, and Chaffee
If you are interested in becoming a Regional Representative, please contact PR Committee Chair, Kevin Margarucci.
Infectious Skin Disease Website
With the start of the wrestling season, both at the high school and collegiate level, many ATCs are seeing an increase of incidence of infectious skin diseases. Check out the following website for very useful information: http://www.nwcaskinprevention.com/webinar/home.asp
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