Creating the Change We Want to See

1. Creating the Change We Want to See American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee Chair & Region IV Representative Amy Jo Lamb, OTD, OTR/L Created for use by Student Occupational Therapy Organizations

2. Brick walls are there for a reason they let us prove how much we want something! ~Randy Pausch

3. How do we create change? • Vision • Belief • Action

4. Importance of Vision • Centennial Vision 2017 • Strengthening our capacity to influence and lead • Demonstrating and articulating our value • Building an inclusive community of members • Linking research, education and practice

5. The Power of Belief • Belief in the services we offer • Belief in the occupational therapy profession • Belief in our professional leadership (AOTA) • Belief in ourselves

6. Take Action • To create change we must take our belief, connect it to our vision and ACT NOW!

7. How is Creating Change linked to AOTPAC? • Vision • AOTPAC plays a vital role in achieving the Centennial Vision of 2017. • Belief • AOTPAC serves as an educational tool to assist in building the belief of others for what the occupational therapy profession has to offer. • Action • AOTPAC supports the candidates that support occupational therapy concerns and initiatives.

8. What is a Political Action Committee? a group formed (as by an industry or an issue-oriented organization) to raise and contribute money to the campaigns of candidates likely to advance the group's interests

9. What is AOTPAC? • Political action arm of AOTA that complements AOTA’s public policy agenda & supports its lobbying efforts • By law, AOTA cannot give any financial support to any candidate running for office. • None of AOTA membership dues can be used to support political candidates.

10. 2005 APTA-PAC $592,674 ASHA-PAC $251,365 AOTPAC $164,472 2006 APTA-PAC $645,847 ASHA-PAC $246,307 AOTPAC $225,000 How AOTPAC Stacks Up in the Tri-Alliance

11. Receipts of AOTPAC and Other Health PACs2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007) Note: Mean Salaries according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008)

12. Comparison of Contributing Members to Health PAC’s2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007) Note: Mean Salaries according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008)

13. AOTPAC Goals 2008 –$300,000 Long Beach Success Goal - $30,000 Actual - $60,000+

14. 2008 Elections • Elections equal opportunity • Allow AOTPAC to help elect candidates who understand and support our legislative goals

15. 2008 Elections – OpportunitiesUS Senate • 35 Seats in the mix • 5 retirements (CO, ID,MS,NE, & NM) • These are all republican seats • 5 more seats where the incumbent is vulnerable (AK, LA, ME, NH, & OR)

16. 2008 Elections – OpportunitiesHouse of Representatives • All 435 reps run for re-election every two years • To date, there are 25 retirements in the House • 22 Republicans • 3 Democrats • There are approximately 45 competitive seats • There are another 40 seats that could become competitive • Throw in the fact that the ratings of Congress are as low as they have ever been.

17. 2008 ElectionsWhy are they important to me? • They allow you to really impact the process by showing your support for those that have or will support our profession • More and more health care decisions on issues important to OT are being made in Washington – this is the best way to make a difference • Other competing interests are aggressively voicing their opinions and reaching into their pockets to help their candidates • It is much more effective to be able to talk to a friend than it is to persuade an opponent.

18. Contribute to AOTPAC Today • A Dollar A Day Campaign • Contributions of every size make a difference, especially when you tell others to do the same. • Facility fundraising drives • Recruiting 100% participant contribution!

19. A little here a little there • AOTA currently has approximately 37,000 members • If each member contributed $10 a year, AOTPAC would have $370,000 to focus on political action and support legislation that supports occupational therapy practice and YOU!

20. AOTPAC Student Challenge • University of New Mexico student occupational therapy association members issued a challenge in 2003 to all student occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant associations around the country to meet or beat the funds they raised and donated to the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC). • The Assembly of Student Delegates has since made this an annual event.

21. Ideas for Student Challenge Fundraisers • Hold a Raffle • Silent Auction • Penny Wars • Host a Date Auction • Make My-Space work FOR the profession • Sponsor a fun student-faculty dinner • Put together an OT cookbook • Bake sales, walking tacos – food works!

22. What are the Issues? • Therapy cap repeal • Scope of OT being challenged by other health professions including: • Athletic Trainers • Recreational Therapists • Speech Language Pathologists • Physical Therapists • Orthotists & Prosthetists • Home Health Flexibility Act • Mental health parity • Health care reform • Loan repayment

23. Why Donate to AOTPAC • AOTPAC represents the Association’s interests based on priorities set by you, the members and AOTA leadership. • AOTPAC is an important educational tool for elected officials. When candidates and officeholders appeal for money from AOTPAC it means they want to learn about you and OT. • AOTPAC makes carefully studied, well-informed decisions on which candidates and officeholders to support. • AOTPAC plays an important role in protecting occupational therapy’s interests. It is designed to protect your rights. Giving to your PAC ensures that someone is looking out for you.

24. AOTPAC 2006 Scorecard • Supported 109 U.S. Senate and House of Representative candidates in 2006 midterm election • 102 won! • 94% Success

25. Take Action – Act NOW Get Involved! Contribute Today! Make Your Voice Heard!

26. If you don’t stand for OT, who will?