Dear Colleagues;
     Happy New Year and very best wishes for a peaceful and productive 2007! This is my first opportunity to reflect on our 2006 SCI Conference in Las Vegas, celebrating our 20th anniversary. A summary of your comments indicates that the programs were very well received. The AASCIPSW Program Committee is already actively involved in planning for our next gathering, known as the 2007 North American Spinal Cord Injury Conference and Disability Expo at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, August 27–29. Many of you provided wonderful suggestions and recommendations for speakers, topics and considerations to strengthen our meeting and preliminary information about the Gaylord Palms suggests that we will find ourselves in a comfortable and welcoming facility. Beginning with the 2007 conference, our association is also reaching out to students and professionals new to the field of SCI care. I would be remiss if I did not mention the many contributions to our celebration in Las Vegas last year. The conference was launched with the viewing of a 20th Anniversary DVD of highlights of our history. The conference space was festooned with banners marking our anniversary and our booth included memorabilia as well as every issue of SCI Psychosocial Process. All who attended the fabulous party featuring the band Reel Goode and Fo’phree had a wonderful time. Our thanks to the members of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Program Committee and band members for a wonderful celebration.
Now, it’s on to the next decade!
     I recently returned from a meeting in New York with United Spinal Association Executive Director Paul Tobin; General Counsel Jim Weisman; Special Projects Director Stephen Sofer, PhD; Associate Executive Director Vivian Beyda, DrPH; American Paraplegia Society President Indira Lanig, MD, and Cathy Parsa, MA, RN, president of the American Association of Spinal Cord Injury Nurses. The Tri-Association presidents were invited to a planning meeting facilitated by Associate Executive Director Steve Perkel and our goal was to futher define our partnership with United Spinal and the collaborative relationship between the three professional associations. Mr. Tobin informed us that United Spinal is fully committed to hosting the conferences in 2007 and in the future while working closely with the associations to ensure that the conferences are of the highest quality, meet the needs of each association, and are as accessible and affordable as possible to attract members and potential members. Attendees to the 2007 conference will note that United Spinal is also reaching out to consumers through a Disablity Expo that will offer information seminars that some, or many of which, may be presented by interested members of the associations. United Spinal is also moving to create a fourth professional association for physical and occupational therapists. As in the past, however, attendees can expect a conference curriculum for our members, while also enjoying the freedom to attend seminars hosted by the other associations. United Spinal will continue to underwrite the administrative infrastructure of the associations and Mr. Tobin announced that United Spinal is underwriting a portion of the hotel costs for members attending the 2007 conference at Gaylord Palms. The three association presidents discussed pursuing a stronger working relationship between the three Program Committees and we committed to an ongoing dialogue on other collaborative opportunities.
     On the heels of our meeting with United Spinal, the Tri-Association presidents were invited to a meeting with Paralyzed Veterans of America in Washington, DC. We held an initial meeting with Louis Irvin, Executive Director of PVA, and key PVA staff while in Las Vegas. PVA has assured our associations that they are committed to ensuring that our members have access to a quality conference and that we remain vital as professional organizations. Between the two meetings, the three presidents, Mr. Irving and PVA staff participated in several phone calls discussing proposals for funding. The meeting in DC was to discuss the most recent proposal and we learned that Mr. Irvin would support our requests before the PVA Board of Directors in early February. We requested support for conference faculty, assistance in bringing an executive VA administrator for a Tri-Association plenary session and reception, funding for AV equipment for the conference, funding for curriculum and faculty for an introductory SCI course (SCI 101) and assistance to ensure that VA members have access to the conference. At this writing, it looks very positive that we will have their assistance in some, if not all, of these areas. I will keep you informed when we receive the PVA Board’s decision.
     Finally, as we strive to mature as a professional organization, PVA is offering to host a strategic planning session this spring for the three associations. We embrace their support and this unique opportunity to design a long-range strategic plan. As a Board, we are very grateful to share a mission and enjoy the support of United Spinal and PVA. We are forming a Finance Committee to assist in developing a financial strategy and model to ensure growth of our programs. That plan is likely to include an expanded coalition of professional and advocacy groups and new partnerships. In the coming months, the Board will draft a memorandum of understanding with United Spinal toward establishing a committed working relationship that serves the needs of both organizations. This will serve as a model for future partnerships with other organizations. The Board is exploring bylaw changes that reflect our independence and growth. We are likely to spend time on issues related to Board development to meet the needs of new challenges and opportunities.
     I hope you can sense the excitement and I hope you will seriously consider investing in our association at this time of growth and maturity through presentations, posters, articles in SCI Psychosocial Process or The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, committee participation, member recruitment, list serve discussion, financial contributions, serving on the Board, participating in an ad hoc capacity, or serving as a professional mentor. Your membership counts and we thank you for your ongoing commitment to the highest standard of SCI psychosocial care.

Best Regards,
Terrie Price, PhD, ABPP (Rp)
President

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This entry was posted on Thursday, March 8th, 2007 at 2:42 pm and is filed under Psychosocial Process, President's Message. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.