Occupational Therapy Now / Actualités ergothérapiques

July / August 2000 Table of Contents

2000-2001 CAOT Board of Directors

Vacancy - Chair, Certification Examination Committee

Annual General Meeting Highlights
Considering the early morning hour for this year's Annual General Meeting, the room was packed with CAOT members. On Saturday, May 27, at 9:00 a.m., following the Awards Ceremony and the Muriel Driver Lecture, CAOT President Lorna Reimer welcomed everyone to the 74th Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

Lorna was presented with flowers and a gift from the CAOT Board and National Office Staff to thank her for her service to the Association and the profession. Lorna's term as President of CAOT will end September 30, 2000. Lorna thanked CAOT members and the Board and stated "Soon my role in CAOT will change but my belief in occupational therapy and its role in Canadian society will not. Our own leadership will secure our future into the 22nd Century and beyond."

Lorna's work in restructuring the Board for a more responsive and efficient Association will mark her term in our history and she leaves CAOT in good stead for the years to come.

CAOT's Progress
Lorna began by presenting a mid-year report on CAOT's activities which can be found in the print version of the May issue of Occupational Therapy Now or online in the article Setting CAOT's Strategic Direction at www.caot.ca/otnow.

Financial Report
Unfortunately CAOT Treasurer Kim Lenahan was unable to attend the AGM due to an illness in her family. Claudia von Zweck, CAOT Executive Director detailed the Association's present financial status, along with the Board's immediate and long term plans.

The 1998-99 fiscal year, ended with a budget surplus which we reinvested into member services such as the Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy (CJOT) and our web sites. This year we expect that we will surpass our savings targets once again for members equity. The full financial statements are available on www.caot.ca or call Claudia von Zweck at 1 (800) 434-2268, ext. 224.

Members' Forum
At each AGM, after the formal business is completed members are invited to ask questions and speak on issues of concern to them. These are then considered by the Board and responded to as soon as possible and reported on at the next AGM. At last September's AGM, Elizabeth Townsend from Dalhousie University asked that we review the revised Bylaws and insert gender neutral language, i.e. "they", "their", etc. rather than the present "she" and "her". The CAOT Board agreed to consider changing the Bylaws to use gender neutral language at a future date. Because of the time and expense of ByLaw revisions for the Association, change to gender neutral language was deferred until the next major review of the Bylaws.

Former CAOT Executive Director Wendy Campbell gave a tribute to former CAOT President Stella Tate who passed away earlier this year. During Stella's term, several landmarks in CAOT history were made such as the move of CJOT to Montreal to ensure bilingual content and the transition of CAOT from an Ontario-based organization to a truly national one.

The final member to speak was Mary Egan of the University of Ottawa. She thanked the CAOT Board and Executive for their continued support and efforts, recognizing in particular, the Tri-Joint Congress which brought us together as rehabilitation professionals and primary care specialists. "I know when it comes time to make out the cheque, it's difficult, until I remember the support I have received throughout the year," concluded Mary.

CAOT Board met at Tri-Joint
An additional Board Meeting was held on Sunday, May 28, just following the Tri-Joint Congress in Toronto. The following are highlights from this meeting:

a set of principles were approved for working with COTF and the Board agreed to fund COTF for an operating grant for 2000-2001 for $100,000; a long term plan will be negotiated with COTF for grants from CAOT after this year.
the report from the Membership Committee was received and the Board supported all directives identified in the report; the Board expects work on revisions to the policy relating to waivers for the certification examination to come to the November Board meeting.
the Board received a report on a potential joint membership with AAROT which will be further explored.
the report of the Education Task Force was received and discussed extensively; the Board expects a draft position statement plus a report on the proposed methodology and budget to update and validate the Profile of Occupational Therapy Practices in Canada to come forward to the November Board meeting; the Board also supported the development of the document outlining the implications of differing academic credentials as soon as possible.
a plan for a one day strategic planning session for 2000-2001 in November 2000 was approved.
the following position statements were approved: Home Care, Primary Care, Telehealth and Tele-Occupational Therapy.
Mary Manojlovich was appointed Vice-President from October 1, 2000-Sept. 30, 2001.
Lorna Reimer was appointed as Chair of the Nominations Committee.
the terms of reference for the Certification Examination Committee were approved.
a plan for a national award for excellence in practice was discussed.

For more information, contact Claudia von Zweck at
1 (800) 434-2268, ext. 224; E-mail: cvonzweck@caot.ca.

2000-2001 CAOT Board of Directors
A fond farewell and thank you to both Jane Cox and Judith Keeping, Board Directors for Ontario. Jane was also the Coordinator of Board Function.

President Elect Huguette Picard presented the CAOT 2000/2001 Board of Directors effective October 1, 2000.

President Huguette Picard
Treasurer Kim Lenahan
Secretary Diane Méthot
External Member Mary Hearn Hendala

Provincial Board Directors

British Columbia Cara Shorter
Alberta Annette Rivard
(began term March 10, 2000)
Saskatachewn Maureen Coulthard
Manitoba Heather Colquhoun
Ontario Sharon Cunningham
Quebec Pierre Yves-Thérriault
New Brunswick Janelle McKinnon
Nova Scotia Debra Boudreau
PEI Marjorie Hackett
(also Coordinator of Board Funtion)
Nfld./Lab Mary Manojlovich
NWT/ Yukon and Nunavit Karen Watt
WFOT Delegate Anne Carswell

A special welcome to Mary Hearn Hendala, Sharon Cunningham and Annette Rivard who are new members to the Board.

VACANCY
CHAIR, CERTIFICATION EXAMINATION COMMITTEE
BEGINNING OCTOBER, 2002

Jan Polgar will be completing her term as Chair of the Certification Examination Committee at the end of September, 2002.

Qualifications:
According to CAOT Policy 5/VII/11201, "The Certification Examination Committee", procedure 1(e) the position of Chair "should alternate between a person with an academic and clinical background." To preserve this balance on the CEC, this nominee should have a Masters or Ph.D. and be actively involved in clinical work.

As well, the nominee should:

have individual membership of CAOT in good standing for at least four years;
be a past or present member of the Certification Examination Committee.

Position is for 4 years: one as Chair elect; two as Chair; one as past Chair.

Responsibilities:

attending two three-day meetings in Ottawa/year;
active participation in the maintenance of the content and integrity of the examination as required; and
providing leadership for an enthusiastic national committee with the assistance of CAOT and educational experts from the University of Alberta.

Applications for this responsible and important volunteer position are invited from suitably qualified individuals. This should include a curriculum vitae and a statement of eligibility for the position and should be received before October 31, 2000, by the CAOT Executive Director from whom further information can be obtained. Call 1 (800) 434-2268, ext. 224 or e-mail: cvonzweck@caot.ca.

July / August 2000 Table of Contents