It is my pleasure to report to you the motions to be presented at the upcoming spring RA meeting that will be held at the AOTA conference in Indianapolis on April 27, 2012.  This year, the motions proposed are specific to a charge that was issued at the spring 2011 RA meeting which stated the following:

Motion made and accepted to charge the Speaker to develop an Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate the current operations and functions of the RA with recommendations developed to incorporate the intent of Agenda #7 (Charge 27, Ad Hoc Comm. Recommendations) to the fall RA meeting.

Recommendations should include but not be limited to:

1. Review and revision of standard operating procedures.
2. Structure/function of the existing committees, commissions, and councils.
3. Leadership development
4. Communication to address how business is done and changes that would increase the responsiveness of the RA to keep pace with Association and professional needs.
   
   As a member of this ad hoc committee, I had the opportunity to work closely with my RA colleagues to draft and present the following motions for your consideration.  Please note that full descriptions and verbage can be found on the AOTA website at www.aota.org/governance/RA/springRA.aspx. 
   
   

   Motion 1: proposes the development of a recruitment program for current and past members of ASD and other AOTA members interested in participating in the RA.
   
   

   Motion 2: proposes the development and implementation of the Volunteer Leadership Development Committee by having Recognitions and Nominations committee combine, develop SOP, job descriptions, and transition plan in collaboration with the BPPC.
   
   

   Motion 3: proposes for the RALT (RA Leadership Team) to develop criteria and a process for motions based on uniformity of procedures and timelines, and for soliciting and accepting motions on an on going basis.
   
   

   Motion 4: proposes to develop regionally based RA leadership networking communities
   
   

   Motion 5: proposes the elimination of the Alternate Representative position
   
   

   Motion 6: proposes establishing a Representative Elect position
   
   

   Motion 7: Establishes an OTA Representative Elect position
   
   

   Motion 8: Charges the Agenda Chair to monitor the member forum on OT Connections and provide information about 1.) available resources for addressing the concerns or moving motions forward and 2.) to direct concerns and /or appropriate motions to the appropriate body of the RA, RALT, or the RACC
   
   

   Motion 9: proposes to charge the Vice-Speaker and the Agenda Chair to develop and incorporate guidelines for civil discourse into Rep Prep and Task Group Leader Trainings
   
   

   Motion 10: proposes the development of electronic resources to aid Representatives in disseminating information to constituents.
   
   As your representative at this meeting, I would very much like to hear your comments and thoughts regarding these motions.  And, if you have any questions, I would be happy to have a conversation with you or your colleagues.  Please let me know if I can be of any assistance!
   
   Debi Hinerfeld, OTR/L