2021 Annual Business Meeting
The 2021 AOTA Annual Business Meeting was held Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Following a short video presentation showcasing AOTA’s new facility in North Bethesda, Maryland, AOTA President Wendy Hildenbrand, PhD, MPH, OTR/L, FAOTA, welcomed and acknowledged the nearly 200 participants from almost every state in the country, commenting that “through our virtual connection, AOTA is reaching people in new and intentional ways.”
The agenda for the night’s proceedings focused on AOTA’s work over the past year and directions for the year ahead, an overview of AOTA finances, and presentations of AOTA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategic and the Governance Enhancement Plans.
In her opening remarks Dr. Hildenbrand spotlighted outgoing AOTA Board members Paul Arthur, PhD, OTR/L, OTA, and Vice President Debra Young, MEd, OTR/L, SCEM, ATP, CAPS, FAOTA; and the newly elected President-elect Alyson Stover, MOT, JD, OTR/L, BCP. She introduced incoming Vice President Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, and Board members Brigitte Desport, DPS, OTR/L, BCP, ATP; and Victoria Garcia Wilburn, DHSc, OTR, FAOTA, who enter office July 1, 2021.
Executive Director Sherry Keramidas, PhD, FASAE, CAE, presented highlights of several AOTA achievements during the pandemic, extolling the Association’s “extreme agility” in providing occupational therapy professionals with the information and tools to navigate the COVID-19 crisis and operate in a very challenging environment. These triumphs include:
- Launch of the licensure compact in five states, with four more in the wings
- Strong advocacy to ensure members had access to protective equipment, were able to work remotely, that telehealth policies were put in place, and that other reimbursement adjustments were made
- Conduct three major studies to understand members’ needs and how AOTA can provide real value going into the future.
In previewing AOTA’s fiscal year 2022 agenda, Dr. Keramidas interpreted major themes she deemed as “transformative”:
- DEI as the “lifeblood” of all facets of AOTA’s work
- Improved data collection via the newly formed AOTA Data Science Division to inform decision making
- More defined advanced certifications
- Stronger collaboration with state associations
- New membership offerings and new pricing options that provide more value.
AOTA Treasurer Debi Hinerfeld, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, reported that AOTA has remained financially stable during the pandemic and is fiscally prepared to support the important and new activities next year that will offer more information and knowledge to members, advance our practice, and also support our regulatory and advocacy efforts. She cited the sale of the old AOTA building, a robust reserve, and insurance payment for cancellation of the 2020 Annual Conference & Expo, along with smart and agile fiscal management as contributors to the Association’s financial vigor. She also noted that AOTA was among the few associations that did not need to use money from reserves during the pandemic crisis.
In sharing the DEI Strategic Plan, its vision, its goals, and the processes leading up to it, Dr. Hildenbrand emphasized that DEI “is an integral part of our profession and is at the core of what we do, what we should do as a profession, and ways in which we can contribute to society.” The plan, created by the AOTA DEI Task Force chaired by Adrianne Smiley, OTD, OTR/L, is organized into four major themes: governance and accountability; education and awareness; diversifying the profession; and language and communication. For Dr. Hildenbrand, “this plan is an important starting point for a journey as a profession and as an Association. This is not a plan that is going to collect dust on the shelf. It’s not going to be one that gets ignored.” She stressed that it will be a living and breathing plan that “the Board is excited to make a reality.” The complete DEI Task Force report and strategic plan will be available to members soon.
AOTA Governance Enhancement Task Force Chairperson Denise Chisholm, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, reviewed the Task Force’s journey to create the Governance Enhancement Plan that was presented and approved by the Board in June. She articulated the principles guiding the Task Force’s work which included the need for an intentional focus on DEI in all aspects of governance and the need for focused on enduring governance bodies built on collaboration not hierarchy. Some of the structural modifications involve replacing the Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures Committee with a task force, creating a DEI Committee whose chairperson will serve on the Board, and redirecting the reporting line of Commissions to the Board to reflect the important work these bodies undertake to support a wide scope of AOTA activities. The Task Force also looked at other interrelated components such as size, terms, and composition of bodies; new approaches to engaging students; and changes to election, selection, and appointment processes. Dr. Chisholm also reported that the Representative Assembly is considering refining its structure to have an even stronger focus on addressing practice and professional issues. The Plan will ultimately go to the membership for a vote, and members will have many opportunities to hear and comment on the changes that are being proposed.
The two plans were very well received by meeting participants, who look forward to the implementation of both plans.
The DEI Task Force report and strategic plans for the DEI Committee will be shared in July. Watch for additional information on Governance this fall.