Abstract
The meeting was called to order by President Stoffel at 12:05 p.m.
The President introduced those sitting on the dais: Fred Somers, Executive Director; Pamela Toto, Director; Mollie Verdier, Director; Patrick Bloom, Director; Kristina Finnel, Consumer Advisor; Susan Parker, Public Advisor; Shawn Phipps, Director; Anne Cronin, Director; Timothy Wolf, Director; Mary Frances Baxter, Speaker, Representative Assembly; Diana Ramsay, President, American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF); Nathan B. Herz, Treasurer; Amy Lamb, Vice-President; and Brent Braveman, Secretary.
President Stoffel welcomed the audience and honored guests.
Laura Robinson (MI) won a drawing for free membership.
Secretary Braveman called the roll of the states and announced that a quorum was reached. Forty-three election areas were represented at the meeting.
Secretary Braveman announced the volunteer members of the Minutes Review Committee. The Committee consisted of the following individuals: Dawn Sonnier (LA), Laurel Radley (DC), Ashley Fecht (NV), Kate McCracken (NH), and Heather Thomas (CA).
Secretary Braveman moved for adoption of the agenda. President Stoffel asked for any changes or additions to the agenda; there being no opposition, the motion was adopted.
Secretary Braveman announced that minutes from the 2013 Annual Business Meeting were published in the November/December 2013 issue of the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. He moved that the minutes be adopted. President Stoffel asked for any changes to the minutes; there being no opposition, the minutes were approved.
Written reports from the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Commission on Practice, Commission on Education (COE), Ethics Commission, Commission on Continuing Competence and Professional Development, Special Interest Section Council, Affiliated State Association Presidents, Assembly of Student Delegates, American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee Chair, Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education Chair, World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) Delegate, and Speaker, Representative Assembly, were submitted and included in the Annual Business Meeting Report Booklet. AOTF also provided copies of its Annual Written Report. There were no questions from the floor.
President Stoffel informed attendees that the AOTA Board of Directors had recently approved a position statement reflecting a consensus reached by the Board on the desirability of the profession moving to a single point of entry at the doctoral level. She indicated that the Board would soon be issuing this statement to the membership, consulting with key leadership bodies within the Association, and facilitating a professionwide dialogue on this important issue. The President asked that questions on this topic be deferred until the Board had formally issued its statement and the process of dialogue had begun.
The following individuals gave brief verbal reports:
– Amy Lamb, Vice President, reported on the Centennial Vision highlights, including leadership development, public awareness, efforts to meet society’s occupational needs, and prioritization of the Centennial Vision goals. There were no questions for Vice President Lamb.
– Ben Herz, Treasurer, gave a brief update on the financial status of the association through 2013. Highlights included continued growth in membership revenue and the fourth consecutive year of record positive growth in the Association’s finances.
– Mary Frances Baxter, Speaker, Representative Assembly, gave a summary of the activities of the Assembly from throughout the year as well as those that occurred at this year’s Spring Online Meeting prior to conference. Highlights included work of the Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures Committee related to governance documents of the Assembly, adoption of the revised Occupational Therapy Practice Framework, 3rd Edition, and adoption of a position favoring voluntary accreditation of postprofessional doctoral programs with “occupational therapy” in the title. There were no questions for Speaker Baxter.
– Fred Somers, Executive Director, announced that conference registration was approximately 8,700, including exhibitors, and represented the largest paid attendance at conference in Association history. This was followed with highlights on activities from the national office:
▪ AOTA's NBCOT Exam Prep product is being positively received.
▪ Specialty conferences were held, including conferences on school-based practice, stroke, and an educational summit.
▪ Practice guidelines were released on home modifications and neurodegenerative disorders.
▪ An AOTA residency program is in pilot stage.
▪ The new AJOT Online platform was announced.
▪ Public awareness campaign continues with exhibits at eight national conferences of physicians and payors; extensive earned media coverage; and expanded paid advertising, including ad placements on National Public Radio (NPR) reaching 27 million weekly listeners.
▪ The Hartford driving evaluation coverage program, providing an occupational therapy driving evaluation to those holding Hartford auto insurance policies, was announced.
▪ Advocacy efforts continue, including those focused on repeal of the Medicare Cap, expansion of behavioral health recognition of occupational therapy, and state licensure efforts.
▪ Membership has increased 10.2%, which is the best single-year increase in history. Membership is now more than 50,000 members for the first time in 15 years.
– Members had the following questions and comments, which the Executive Director responded to:
▪ Debra Doherty (WI) asked for a breakdown of membership.
▪ Barbara Kornblau (VA) asked if the Exam Prep course was accessible and provided feedback on online accessibility of products as well as concerns with conference and hotel accessibility.
▪ Marjorie Vogeley (MD) complimented the Association on website improvements.
▪ Rachel Dargatz (IL) complimented the efforts of the Board of Directors and thanked them on behalf of the membership.
▪ Tonia Dekona (DC) asked about the hotel and conference accessibility assessment process.
▪ Mary Ellen East (MI) complimented the Association on accessibility issues.
▪ Arameh Anvarizadeh (CA) complimented the Association on its diversity and leadership development initiatives including the Emerging Leadership Development Program.
President Stoffel called on Debi Hinerfeld, Chairperson of the Volunteer Leadership Development Committee, to give the results of the 2014 general election. Chairperson Hinerfeld announced that Patrick Bloom was elected Treasurer, Kimberly Hartmann and Wendy Hildenbrand were elected as Directors, Anne Jenkins was elected as WFOT Alternate Delegate, and Loretta Starnes was elected as OTA Representative-Elect to the Assembly.
Chairperson Hinerfeld announced the call for 2015 nominations for the positions of Vice President; 2 Directors; WFOT Delegate; COE Chairperson-Elect; Ethics Commission Chairperson-Elect; Early Intervention, Home and Community Health, and Mental Health Special Interest Section Chairpersons; and Representatives for CA, IN, IA, LA, MD, MI, MN, NC, NH, NM, NV, OH, OK, PA, SD, VT, and WY.
President Stoffel opened the floor to new business, and members made two motions:
– Gerri Duran (NM) submitted the motion “Supporting State Affiliate and AOTA Collaboration.” The motion read as follows:
“I move for AOTA to consider providing State Affiliates with one free conference tuition. These tuitions will be distributed by the Affiliates with the intent of promoting joint AOTA/State Affiliate membership and participation in volunteer activities that promote OT. A Report back to the Board of Directors regarding implementation of this activity will be due by March 31, 2015.” Estimated cost was $15,600.
After discussion, the motion was defeated.
– Carla Wilhite (NM) submitted the motion “Conference Accessibility Auditing.” The motion read as follows:
“AOTA will endeavor to have conference facilities and hotels that meet the needs of people with disabilities (i.e., vision, mobility, hearing) through auditing for facilities by people with disabilities (as opposed to disability groups); and also, to resolve to have all conference materials submitted and available in alternative formats by 2017. The Board of Directors will submit a report at the Annual Business Meeting.” Estimated cost was not identified.
After discussion, the motion was adopted and will be submitted to the Board for consideration.
President Stoffel called the newly elected board members to the stage and administered the oath of office.
President Stoffel adjourned the meeting at 1:49 P.M.