National Athletic Trainers' Association
District One

January 4, 2008

To: District One Membership
From: Jeff Stone
NATA District One Director

Re: Notes from Stoney- New Year’s 2008

Happy New Year…I hope everyone in the District had a happy and safe Holiday Season, and have high aspirations for a healthy and fruitful year in 2008…

I bring greetings of joy (Chad Kelley’s new child), sorrow (the passing of Marcia Anderson’s father) and improving health (the successful kidney transplants of Nancy Bleam (Keene State) and Jim Thornton (District Two Director)

The first Sunday of the year is marked as Epiphany in many religions…the Twelfth Day after Christmas, Epiphany commemorates the visit of the three wise men to the manger…a monumental event!

An “epiphany” is also a perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization…”a brain flash”…

After attending the NATA Board of Director’s Meeting in December, I realized that the NATA has experienced an “epiphany”…and has laid plans for moving our Association into the future and supporting our membership like never before…

From a membership of 101 members in 1950, today’s NATA involves a diverse membership of over 30,000…over half of our membership is under the age of 32, and the NATA experienced a membership loss in 2006- more people quit than joined in 2006…the NATA is looking to give “young professionals” opportunities, ensure membership is relevant to all and keep NATA vibrant through ever-expanding technology…as well as developing leaders while considering time commitments and life balances…

In this regard…you’ll be hearing about NATA: Involve & Evolve- a concerted effort to make membership and participation exciting and relevant for you…

 Taking the recommendations of the Governance Task Force
on expanding roles for State Associations, changing the NATA
Presidential Nomination Process, encouraging District-based Student Delegations and standardizing qualifications for prospective District Directors
 Changing some committees into work groups and learning
committees- and adding committees for students and young professionals
 Re-designing the NATA News and websites, and make the NATA brand more up-to-date…have state and district websites in common design with the NATA…
 A new definition of ‘athletic trainer” that is consistent and relevant to all…
 Creating shorter terms, to allow more people to serve and become leaders (for everyone from the president to the board to committees) {These items will require votes to change NATA By-laws}
This information will be presented at the District Meeting at the EATA Meeting in Valley Forge in power point form…and will be available on the District website after the EATA meeting…

Here are some extra items for your attention…

1. EATA Annual Meeting will be in Valley Forge from January 11-14…pre-registration is closed, but pertinent information is available on the EATA website (www.goeata.org) … if you’re flying into Philly, the best bet for getting to the hotel is Tropiano Travel at 215-643-5397…shuttle service is $23 one-way and $40 round trip (a cab will cost you between $60-70)

Collins Sports, PATS and Hibiclens invite you to the
EATA’s 60th Shake your Hibi Party!!
Saturday, January 12th (EATAs)- 9:00 pm- ????
Radisson Hotel- Waterford Ballroom
Featuring the return of the PARTY DOLLS!!!

District Meeting- Sunday, January 13th 9:00-10:30 am in General Secessions Rooms 1 & 2
Approval of District By-law revisions from fall election

2. Donations to the NATA Foundation can still be credited to your 2007 taxes if your check is received in Dallas by January 15th…

On behalf of the Foundation I again want to thank the members of District 1 for their generous contributions that resulted in District 1 being the top NATA District for meeting and exceeding their 2006 contribution goal! As we approach the end of the 2007 calendar year I also want to thank the individual members, state organizations, Athletic Training Education Programs (BU SHU Challenge) and the District for your generosity this year. I am hopeful that if you have not made your voluntary contribution this year that you will do so before the end of December.

Contributions to the Foundation are well spent, supporting research, education and scholarship. Last year (2006), in the form of scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students and Research Grants more money came back to our district than was actually contributed.

I am hopeful that District 1 will continue its long tradition of leadership in the Athletic Training profession and remain at the top of the District list for financial support of Foundation activities. For those who have made your 2007 voluntary contribution, again, THANK YOU. If you know of a colleague who has not made a contribution please encourage them to do so. For members and states, that have not made a contribution to date please do so. It is not the amount of the contribution but the participation in support of the Foundation and growth of the Athletic Training profession.

Contributions can be made on-line or by mail:
NataFoundation.org
NATA Research and Education Foundation
2952 Stemmons Freeway
Dallas, TX 75247

Thank you.

Charlie Redmond
District 1 Director, Research and Education Foundation

3. 2008 NATA MULTIMEDIA CONTEST

DEADLINE:
All submissions must be postmarked by Friday, February 15, 2008.
The NATA Office will notify winners by March 20, 2008.

Guidelines/Parameters:
The purpose of the production must be educational in nature and designed to address specific content and/or psychomotor skills within the profession of athletic training. A commercial production is defined as a product that requires the target audience to pay a fee for using or accessing. A non-commercial production is defined as a product for which no fee is required for access or utilization. At least one author on the production team must be either an athletic training student or certified athletic trainer. Three winners will be selected in each of the submission categories (one winner in each author category) for a total of six winners. Additional information is available at: http://www.nata.org/2008multimediacontest.htm

Questions- Contact District One Chair Mary Barnum 413-748-3763
mbarnum@spfldcol.edu

4. Donations to NATAPAC

Dear Members of District 1,

In addition to my duties as District 1 Treasurer I have also been appointed by NATA President Chuck Kimmel to act as the District 1 Representative to the NATAPAC. In that capacity I have the responsibility to obtain funding from you the members of District 1 for the NATAPAC. I am well aware of the financial situations many of you face in your everyday lives and believe strongly that to ask you to contribute to the NATAPAC can be a hardship. For this reason I would not ask any of you to contribute if I didn’t think that your money was being put to good use right here in District 1.

As you may know the profession of athletic training is facing significant challenges due to numerous actions by other medical professionals throughout the county as well as here in District 1. Unfortunately, when it comes to political action it takes votes and money to get anything done or NOT done. For this reason I am asking you to donate to the NATAPAC to protect our profession today and tomorrow.

The threat to our profession is real and it is here today. Two years ago a bill went before the RI house which would have prevented RI ATCs from making custom braces and splints. Last year we narrowly avoided losing licensure for ATCs in RI. Numerous ATCs from throughout the country have lost their jobs due to the current battle with CMS. As you can see the political battle being waged for our profession is real and everywhere and affects all of us.

The NATAPAC needs your financial support if it is going to be able to fight this battle nationally as well as locally for all of us. I am therefore asking you to donate to the NATAPAC to ensure that the profession of athletic training continues to thrive in this politically volatile time.
THE EASIEST WAY FOR YOU TO HELP IS TO DONATE TO THE NATAPAC WHEN YOU RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP WITH THE NATA.

A donation of $5 from every member of District 1 would go a long way to help ensure that the interests of all of the athletic trainers in District 1 are protected!!!

Paul A. Ullucci, Jr., ATC, LAT, PT, SCS, CSCS
NATAPAC District 1 Representative
Paul@RISportsMed.com

5. 2008 US Figure Skating Synchronized Team Skating Championships

Lyle J. Micheli, M.D., Medical Director, Ellen Geminiani, M.D. Assistant Medical Director, and Brian FitzGerald, BSN, ATC, Assistant Medical Director, are requesting your services to provide medical coverage for the 2008 US Figure Skating Synchronized Team Skating National Championships to be held at the Dunkin Donuts Center, Providence, RI, February, 19-23, 2008. Some team practices will also be held at the William Thayer Arena, Warwick, RI, February 19-23, 2008. Rhode Island licensed allied health professionals are preferred but all are welcome.

Children's Hospital, Division of Sports Medicine is the Medical Sponsor for this event and our entire staff will be involved in coverage. We need to provide full coverage, (MD plus two ATC, PT, RN, EMT or combination of) at the Dunkin Donuts Center, which is the official practice and competition venue, but also need single coverage for each shift at the William Thayer Arena.

You can also go on line; www.synchronationals2008.org to find further information about this event.
Please respond at your earliest possible convenience as we need to secure medical coverage for this event.
Thank you for your time, attention and prompt response for coverage of this major sporting event.

Brian FitzGerald, BSN, ATC, LAT
Office: 617-355-6534 Fax: 617-730-0785 Pager: 617-355-7243 #0587
ADDRESS: Children's Hospital, Sports Medicine Division, 319 Longwood Avenue, 6th
Floor Boston, MA 02115

 

Thanks Folks!

Stoney

Jeff Stone
District One Director

jstone@suffolk.edu
617-573-8772