Page 36 - OPTA Access Spring 2019

Political Action Committee Report Heather Schradin, PT, DPT, CIDN - Chair
What an exciting year it has been for the PAC with your hard-earned dollars going towards advancing our profession . This year, we rolled out an app to help gain support and make it easier for members to contribute . I’m pleased to announce that we were able to have a PAC fundraiser hosted by each district . Although we did not reach our target number for donations this year, we are headed in the right direction!
Looking to the future, we will be hosting our PACcy hour fundraiser and basket drawing at TRANSFORM: OPTA’s Annual Conference . Stay tuned for more details . If you’re looking to get more involved, donating to the PAC is always helpful . OPTA will be hosting Advocacy Day on April 4 in Columbus where you can help educate and support legislation for your profession . My
Student SIG Report Carolyn Hinkle, PT, DPT – Chair
goals for the PAC this year include continued district involvement with a goal of $500 from each district fundraiser, continued education to our members as to what the PAC is and why it is important to donate and reaching our donation goal of $19,000 in 2019 .
Thank you to those involved in the PAC for your hard work . If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to contact me . Feedback and ideas are always welcome .
For more information, contact Heather at:
hschradin@yahoo.com
Exciting things are happening in the SSIG as the board and members are working towards this year’s goals: to foster collaboration with the Early Professionals SIG (EPSIG), promote SPTA involvement in the SSIG, highlight OPTA membership benefits, and improve the flow of information sharing.
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We are getting ready for Annual Conference, where the formerly-named Student Challenge will now become Therapy Madness and include some fun changes – like the addition of teams from
the Early Professionals SIG! Ohio University is
the reigning champion, but who will take the win this year, and will it be the students or the early professionals? Come enjoy the Therapy Madness and cheer on your favorite teams at Annual Conference, Friday April 5 from 4:45-5:45pm!
As part of the Student Volunteer Challenge, schools have been logging volunteer hours to increase SPT and SPTA community connections and involvement . Last year, the University
of Cincinnati won the $250 prize for charity donation . This year’s winner will be announced at Annual Conference, but a new twist could rock the standings – the SSIG hopes to foster relationships between PT and PTA programs, and for the first time is offering bonus hours credited for volunteer activities completed in SPT/SPTA collaboration . Everyone who participates in the Challenge wins, as this truly embodies how #PTtransforms!
The SSIG board and members have also been focusing their efforts this year on highlighting OPTA/APTA membership benefits and improving the flow of information sharing. We have had excellent discussions with guest speakers on
our monthly calls – sharing conference experiences, understanding the transition to new PT professional, learning about how membership is an important
part of our professional development and also an important part of the development of our profession . For more information, the student website and social media accounts remain great resources and in further streamlining communication, a monthly email update now goes out to representatives from each PT and
PTA program . There is a new OPTA student blog in the works as well, which will aim to provide information for student involvement and advocacy .
The time is approaching for our current SSIG board to pass their duties to the next group of student leaders, and we need your votes! “Meet the Candidates” information is available at OhioPT .org/page/SSIG . Students will receive voting information by email and be able to cast ballots directly from the link included . Voting will be open March 6 – April 4 and election results will be announced at the Annual Conference Membership Meeting on Saturday April 6 . We hope you will attend!
Thank you to the Student SIG board, school representatives and student members for your excellent work this year and continued dedication to our profession!
For more information, contact Carolyn at:
cmhinkle9@gmail.com