April 2009

Dear Occupational Therapy Assistant Members,

AOTA is a membership organization representing the interests of occupational therapy practitioners, students, and consumers and you are an important part of our Association. Occupational therapy assistants have held a crucial role since their inception 50 years ago by providing direct services to millions of patients and clients, contributing to intervention teams, educating students, and promoting the value of our profession.

Now, more than ever, AOTA needs participation from all its members, to keep our profession strong, visible, and relevant in these turbulent economic times. I personally invite you to enhance your professional growth by getting involved in AOTA leadership and volunteer opportunities, including responding to our Legislative Alerts by sending e-mails to Congress concerning issues that affect occupational therapy. You can contribute in small ways like recruiting a new member, commenting on proposed papers and projects, and blogging on OT Connections located on AOTA's Web site, or in big ways like serving on a committee, running for elected office, or nominating an occupational therapy assistant for recognition.

There are many opportunities for you to participate in leadership or volunteerism within the profession and AOTA. Your perspective as an occupational therapy assistant is needed and encouraged in our leadership and governance bodies, such as the Board of Directors, Representative Assembly, Special Interest Sections, ACOTE, Commission on Practice, Commission on Education, Ethics Commission, and many other bodies of the Association.

The new online OTA Leadership Development Toolkit (www.aota.org/otatoolkit) has many helpful resources to assist you in your journey,including links to information about leadership opportunities within the Association and the profession. In the near future AOTA will be unveiling the Coordinated Online Opportunities for Leadership (C.O.O.L.), a database tool that will allow members to identify their leadership and service interests and experiences, and AOTA to use that information to match members with (nonelected) opportunities.

In 2017 we will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of our Association. To reach our Centennial Vision we will need the support of all our members. I invite you to share your strengths, perspectives, and interests as an occupational therapy assistant and member of AOTA through volunteer and leadership participation, and together we can achieve the Centennial Vision.

Sincerely,