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Attended by over 350 practitioners and students, the 30th Annual Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association Conference was a huge success! Held this year on October 12th and 13th in Harrisburg, POTA Conference 2007 – Putting All The Pieces Together– was a great opportunity for practitioners and students to network and participate in two full days of educational sessions, exhibits and social events.
The conference was organized by the Local Conference Committee (LCC) and POTA Central Conference Committee (CCC). POTA extends a heartfelt Thank You to the LCC for their dedication and hard work . . .Conference Co-Chairs – Andrea Mowen & Georgette Vrabel; Program: Kim Chaney & Chris Parker; Registration: Diane Clopper; Exhibits: Mary Weidman-Boushell; Special Events: Elisha Feight, Amy Varner & Stephanie White; and People Power: Chris Auchenbach. In addition to the LCC members, there were numerous other volunteers involved in making the conference a great success . . . A special Thank You to the practitioners who served as Conference Proposal Reviewers. Through their efforts, the quality of the conference was set, assuring a diverse presentation of topics pertinent to today’s practice . . . over 70 education opportunities (Institutes, Short Courses and Posters). In keeping with efforts to increase student participation in conference, over 20 POTA student members provided people power during the conference, serving as session greeters/conveners, selling raffle tickets, and running prizes at the raffle drawing. Any conference would not be a success without the financial support of our sponsors. This year’s sponsors included Gold Level: Austill’s Rehabilitation Services, Inc., Centers for Rehab Services, Chambersburg Hospital and Chatham University; Silver Level: Thomas Jefferson University and Philadelphia University; Bronze Level: Elizabethtown College and University of Pittsburgh; Breakfast with the Educators: Chatham University, Duquesne University, Elizabethtown College, Misericordia University, Philadelphia University, Saint Francis University, Thomas Jefferson University, Towson University, University of Pittsburgh, and University of Scranton.
The “kick off” for the 30th Annual POTA Conference was on Thursday evening at the Welcome to Conference Social sponsored by Elizabethtown College. Attendees received a Conference Tote Bag sponsored by Chambersburg Hospital. The Conference Program Guide was sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh, and Conference Name Badges were sponsored by Chatham University. Conference participants enjoyed Breakfast with the Educators on Friday – special thanks to the schools who supported this event. POTA Conference 2007 officially began on Friday with the Opening Ceremony, which featured welcoming remarks by POTA President, Sharon Kurfuerst, followed by the Keynote Address sponsored by Austill’s Rehabilitation Services, Inc. The Keynote Address was presented by William Stillman, founder of the Pennsylvania Autism Self Advocacy Coalition (PASAC) which endeavors to educate and advise state and local government, law enforcement, educators, and the medical community about the autism spectrum from the “inside out.” Mr. Stillman shared his message of reverence and respect, and highlighted the exquisite sensitivities of our most valuable, wise and loving “teachers” in his Keynote Presentation . . . What is Autism Really? Visit www.williamstillman.com for more information about William Stillman. Attendees enjoyed lunch sponsored by Thomas Jefferson University and were able to Meet the Authors at the Friday Poster Session.
Friday evening highlighted POTA: Taking Care of Business & Celebrating Our Profession-Awards Ceremony & Celebration sponsored by Centers for Rehab Services. The POTA Business Meeting, brought members up-to-date with past, current, and future POTA activities. Immediately following was the Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception – Celebrating Our Profession.
This year’s award recipients included:
OT Award of Recognition: Valerie Bey OTR/L
OTA Award of Recognition: Bernadette Susan Vas Dias, COTA/L
Master Clinician Award: Jana Poole, OTR/L, CHT
OT Student Award of Recognition: Courtney L. Fellows & Matthew C. Wilcox
President’s Award: Rebecca Austill-Clausen, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA
Reba M. Sebelist Scholarship: Danielle Shuttleworth & Amalie Andrew
Saturday was the second and final day packed solid with educational sessions, exhibits and social events, including the Annual POTA Raffle. Attendees enjoyed lunch sponsored by Philadelphia University; were able to Meet the Authors at the Saturday Poster Session. After lunch, the POTA’s Legislative Chair, Legislative Lobbyist, and Legal Counsel addressed a “full house” audience during the Forum on Legislative & Regulatory Issues: Building Our Future sponsored by Rehab Care, which featured updates related to the POTA’s legislative agenda.
To ensure continuing education credit, attendees received Certificates of Attendance, upon completion of all educational sessions, including the Keynote Address, Legislative Update, and Poster Sessions.
The online POTA Conference 2007 Evaluation was a great success! Thank you for your feedback! Congratulations to Amy Hudkins – winner of the evaluation drawing for the $50 Registration Gift Certificate for POTA Conference 2008!
Last, but not certainly least, the LCC and CCC are sincerely grateful to the countless people who provided support to the conference in various ways, including the over 40 vendors who filled the Exhibit Hall and numerous businesses and individuals who provided over 100 fabulous items donated for the Annual Raffle.
Thank You . . . to the attendees, sponsors, presenters, exhibitors, contributors, & volunteers of POTA Conference 2007!
It is with great anticipation that POTA looks forward to next year’s annual conference – POTA Conference 2008 in King of Prussia at the Crowne Plaza Valley Forge, October 3 & 4, 2008! Visit www.pota.org for details. See you there!
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