Colorado Athletic Trainers' Association

CATA Newsletter

Celebration of Athletic Training

CATA and Ref C & D

GRAND TIMBER LODGE, BRECKENRIDGE, CO

FROM THE REVENUE COMMITTEE

FROM THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE

FROM THE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE

NATA Research and Education Foundation Updates

PRESIDENT'S LETTER

October 6, 2005

Dear Members:

I hope you are all surviving the fall season well. In addition to being a very busy time for athletic trainers it is has been an exceptionally busy time for the Colorado Athletic Trainer Association.

We recently hosted an extremely successful Celebration of Athletic Training event, on September 24th. Please read the below articles for a full story on the celebration.

The legislative efforts continue to move along for the CATA. The Department of Regulatory Agencies will release it’s report and recommendations on the regulation of athletic trainers in the state of Colorado. Regardless of their decision we have decided to present a bill to the state legislators in the 2006 session. As our lobbyist continues to “work” the appropriate legislators and the powers to be, we have received very encouraging feedback.

In early September the CATA received $24,150 in discretionary funding from the National Athletic Trainers Association, Governmental Affairs Committee, to support our legislative efforts. The twenty four thousand was in addition to the $1,950 automatic state allotment, and $1,950 matching funds allotment. While it is hard to be disappointed with nearly thirty thousand in funding from the national office it only represents 70% of our requested funding and only 49% of our anticipated legislative costs for this year.

The CATA board of directors is very happy to have the “nest-egg” that the previous board of directors had set up, and our successful fund raiser to supplement the costs of our legislative efforts.

This is a very exciting time for the CATA, if you have any questions, comments or concerns please feel free to contact any of the CATA board members. This is OUR association.

Sincerely,

Chris Mathewson
President
Colorado Athletic Trainers Association

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Celebration of Athletic Training

Chris Mathewson

It is hard to put into words or to clearly express what the board of directors felt during and after our Celebration of Athletic Training Saturday, September 24, 2005 at Invesco Field at Mile High. Relief, excitement, joy, gratitude, so many emotions were there. Some of us were in such a fog it is hard to remember what we felt, if anything.

The board of directors worked for six months in the planning of this event. It was the largest, undertaking the board ever undertook. When we began the planning we knew we were biting off a lot, but as we got going, it became VERY apparent that this was a HUGE undertaking. In the end it was all worth it. The night was better than any of us could have imagined.

We celebrated what and who athletic trainers are. Often times the athletic trainers are willing to help organize events that celebrate OTHER professions and OTHER’S accomplishments. It took a significant change of our in-grained mindset of being behind the scenes and NEVER having the spotlight on us. This was a chance to celebrate us.

Next the event was a chance to present Steve Antonopulos with his Rocky Mountain Athletic Trainers Association Hall of Fame award. He was unavailable to accept his award in April in Phoenix, he was working. There is some significant irony, unable to attend an event to celebrate your career and accomplishments because you are working.

Mr. Antonopulos also gave the keynote speech for the evening. He spoke of the people who have touched him over his 30 years in the NFL. During his talk Mr. Antonopulos showed an emotional side that not too many people have seen of him; he also shared many humorous stories and had the crowd of nearly 400 laughing out loud. Colorado is lucky to have such a fantastic member.

Lastly, but DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, the evening was a fundraiser for the legislative efforts of the CATA. It has always been the hope of the board of directors to raise funds for the cause in other means than just asking members to donate. Both Jim Gillen and Steve Antonopulos urged us to hold an event featuring silent auctions of sports memorabilia. They each had participated in like events, and had seen groups raise significant funds for various causes.

The night was a TREMENDOUS success and I would like to thank all of the legislative task force members, board of directors and professional athletic trainers who helped to make the night so wonderful.

Through the past two years I have spoken to several other state presidents, and district board members and heard about how other states athletic trainer associations are run. I honestly believe that the success of our Celebration of Athletic Training focused our energy and showed that we can be and will be one of the BEST state athletic training associations.

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CATA and Ref C & D

Charlie Hebeler

CATA Lobbyist

As you know, CATA has once again submitted an application for licensure, and two measures on the ballot this November have direct implications for our success. At issue are Referenda C and D. If these referred measures do not pass, the chances of success for our licensure efforts become minimal at best.

The issue is the constitutional budget limitation that Colorado has, called 'TABOR.' This provision limits spending by the state of Colorado, from any source, to a small increase over the previous year. As many of you know, Colorado suffered a steep recession recently, which meant that many lost their jobs. Thus, they paid no taxes, and the state had less money to spend. The Colorado budget was reduced nearly $1 billion (that is not a typo - it begins with a B) as a result. State spending on K-12 education was reduced by $284 million. Spending on higher education was reduced by $177 million. The Department of Human Services lost $117 million. Medicaid was cut by $100 million. The Department of Corrections was cut by $47 million. Other cuts for $153 million included eliminating salary increases for state employees, 'borrowing' from the police and fire pension fund, and cutting funding for the state court system.

Now that the economy is improving again, state revenues are up. However, TABOR means that this year's funding is based on last year's numbers, and so the fact that revenues are fatter does not mean that we can spend them. And here is where the direct implication to CATA is: Because license fees are counted as a part of the overall spending limit, if an athletic licensure bill passed and thus new license fees were collected, it would mean that the state could not restore funding, for example for the court system. Referenda C and D allow the state a 'time-out' for the spending limits for 5 years, and then the rules for funding increases apply again, but to the spending limits in place after the 5 years. If Referenda C and D do not pass, the Legislature would very likely feel it had no choice but to increase funding for vital state programs, and vote no on a licensure bill for athletic trainers. It would have nothing to do with the merits of our proposal. It would have to do with the hard financial realities of TABOR, and the need to spend the small increase allowed to restore vital state programs.

Thus, from the perspective of CATA, it is important that Refs C and D pass, so that our licensure efforts may continue.

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GRAND TIMBER LODGE, BRECKENRIDGE, CO

Dear Colorado Athletic Trainers Association Member,

My name is John Mayes, and after 34 years in education, I retired from Thompson School District in Loveland. Along with teaching, I also coached and served as athletic director at my school. In one capacity or another, I have been involved in about every fundraiser imaginable.

This is a terrific fundraiser! Your organization will benefit financially, and your supporters will be able to enjoy a two nights and three day vacation in Breckenridge.

The following briefly outlines the program’s highlights and basic information:

a. Vacation Certificates are sold for $29.00 each.

b. Organization keeps $20.00 for each certificate sold. (70%)

c. Purchaser is entitled to enjoy 3 Days and 2 Nights in Breckenridge (Sunday thru Wednesday check-in required.)

d. Purchaser is Not Required to take a preview tour of Grand Timber Lodge

e. Certificate holders are offered two upgrades, each requires purchaser to preview Grand Timber Lodge

Offer 1 – Enjoy a Thursday thru Saturday night check-in

Offer 2 – Enjoy $100.00 in dining or activities while in Breckenridge for a Sunday thru Wednesday check-in.

f. Certificate holder has 12 months to redeem this offer

g. Certificate redeemer must be a homeowner over the age of 25.

h. Refundable deposit may be collected at time of reservation to hold room.

i. Limit one visit to GTL per 12 month period.

We are excited to offer you the opportunity to join with us in an effort to raise funds for the Colorado Athletic Trainers Association.

Please call or email Chris Mathewson or John Mayes with any questions you may have.

John Mayes

Grand Timber Lodge

Marketing Executive Director

Mobile: 970-213-3077

Email: jmayes@grandtimber.com

To purchase these certificates please send $29 for EACH certificate to:

CATA-LATF

c/o Chris Mathewson

20885 East Sussex Court

Parker, CO 80138

Make Checks Payable to CATA-LATF

This is not a sleazy time-share scam. The CATA has had a member of the board of directors go through the program, and she reported that it is exactly as easy and no pressure as it claims.

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FROM THE REVENUE COMMITTEE...

CMS Update

The NATA continues its efforts at preventing the implementation of the new “incident to” rule.

On Thursday, July 21, a Dallas federal district court dismissed NATA's lawsuit against CMS, finding it does not have jurisdiction to consider the case. The court did not make a decision on NATA's assertion that the new incident to rule is illegal and therefore should not be implemented. The NATA is disappointed with this decision and plans to ask the court to reconsider and if necessary, will file an appeal

NATA remains committed to its goal of stopping or countering implementation of the new incident to rule. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

A recent posting on the APTA web site reveals their stance on the NATA’s attempt to prevent the implementation of the new “incident to” rule.

Once again, the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) has vainly attempted to find some justification for its expansive view of athletic trainer services in its efforts to secure athletic trainer parity with physical therapists.

NATA's promotion of this extremely questionable "study" is but another example of its willingness to grasp at any straw in support of its ongoing opposition to the recent Medicare decision that excludes athletic trainers from reimbursement under Medicare's "incident to" provision. APTA will continue to monitor information disseminated by NATA relative to physical therapists and the practice of physical therapy, and respond as appropriate.

The APTA is referring to a recent study that was posted on the NATA web site. http://www.nata.org/committees/indocc/ComparaAnalysis.pdf

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FROM THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE...

The nominations for the Spring 2006 election are

President – Chris Mathewson

At Large – Dominic Di Manna

Jason McWilliams

Scott Thomas

The election committee is investigating the use of an on-line voting system. Please contact me if you have any thoughts or concerns regarding the use of a third party controlled, on-line voting system.

Robert Ryan

970-248-1374

rryan@mesastate.edu

FROM THE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP COMMITTEE...

Corporate sponsorship is rounding out its first full year. We are going to be soliciting for sponsors for 2006. We hope to keep all of the ones from last year and add a whole bunch of new ones. I am still looking for anyone with leads of people who would like to help our organization. I would like to have all the orthopedic physicians and doctors who act as "team physicians" to be sponsors.

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NATA Research and Education Foundation Updates

BU-SHU Challenge

Boston University and Sacred Heart University challenge all athletic training student groups to compete in raising money for the NATA Research & Education Foundation. The purposes of this challenge are to generate funds supporting research that lead to the best practice of athletic training, and to expose athletic training students to the world of research and the value of supporting research.

All athletic training student groups at individual institutions are invited to compete. Initial contact will be made with program directors, who will issue the challenge to their respective student leaders. Student groups will then organize and implement fund-raising campaigns during the academic year. The money raised from this initiative will go to the unrestricted accounts of the NATA Foundation.

For more information, please visit the Challenge website http://www.natafoundation.org/pages/BU_SHU_Challenge.htm

Supporting the Foundation

Not too long ago, I became the District 7 Chair to the NATA Research and Education Foundation’s Board of Directors. As part of my orientation to the NATA Foundation, I had the opportunity to visit the NATA headquarters in Dallas where we met with each of the NATA Department Directors and learned a lot about the inner workings of our organization and the dedicated NATA staff that we have working to promote our profession and us. I wish that every

ATC would have this opportunity because it opened my eyes to how the organization works and how hard the staff works for the NATA membership. While I left the orientation with a new appreciation for the NATA, the NATA Foundation and those who work so hard to make them both run, I was dismayed with some of the information that I learned during my time there. With respect to last year’s annual fund for the NATA Foundation, only 15 members of District 7 made a contribution to the Foundation. Why is it that less than 1% of the district membership donated to the Foundation? Do we not know what the Foundation does? Do we not care? Is it too hard?

The Foundation takes on a lot of roles in supporting NATA and athletic trainers. The Foundation’s goals revolve around education, scholarship and research for athletic trainers and athletic training students. With respect to education, Foundation provides funding for educational opportunities at the national and district levels as well as home study for the individual. A wide variety of educational materials are available free to NATA members such as summit proceedings, palm cards and supplements to the Journal of Athletic Training. The NATA Foundation provides approximately 60 scholarships annually, each for $2,000, to worthy athletic training students. And, The Foundation funds research and makes the practical application of the results available to members and the general public. Contributing to the NATA Foundation is easy. When you renew your NATA membership, online or by mail, you can add a small donation to the Foundation to aid in all the projects that support ATC’s. Unlike other districts where a portion of your district dues goes directly to the Foundation, members in our district must take the initiative and make a contribution. All you need to do is skip your Starbucks one day and put $5 aside for a good cause.

Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC is the District 7 Director to the NATA-REF Board. She can be reached at tmcleod@atsu.edu or 480-219-6035.

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