Spring 2015

PTRS E-Newsletter

The Newsletter of the PA Therapeutic Recreation Society
In This Issue
President's Message
TRI Registration Guide
TRI News Corner
Board Notes
PTRS Gear
Theme Baskets & Scholarships
RT Licensure in PA
Join our Mailing List!
President's Message

Where has the time gone? Often you hear this question as we embark on the beginning of a new year or as a person ages. For myself, I ask this question often from both angles. As a PTRS/PRPS member for the past twenty-four years I have experienced the growth of Therapeutic Recreation as a profession and seen our society advance in so many directions.

 

The year 2015 brings new leadership for PTRS as Anne Wieland, CTRS, MHA who is employed by Moss Rehab/Einstein at Elkins Park assumed her role as PTRS President (2015-2017) at the Annual PRPS Conference on Monday, March 23rd during the PRPS business meeting. I have the utmost confidence Anne will guide PTRS to a new horizon which will include the passage of the Pennsylvania Recreation Therapist Licensure Act, the continuation of providing the best state conference known as the Therapeutic Recreation Institute (TRI) and continuing with District Workshops which focus on today's educational needs as well as guiding the Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society (PRPS) on the importance of inclusion. I know her passion and forward thinking will continue to keep PTRS moving forward in the right direction for its members. 

 

To continue reading, click here.

Upcoming CEU Opportunities

April 30

Creating a Vision for Positive Leadership (.6 CEUs)

Masonic Village at Sewickly

 

May 11

No Health Without Mental Health (.6 CEUs)

MossRehab Elkins Park

 

Click here for more information. Register Today!

Therapeutic Recreation Institute - Register Now!

47th Annual PA Therapeutic Recreation Institute

June 3-5, 2015

DoubleTree Resort, Lancaster, PA

 

TRI Registration Guide

The TRI Registration Guide is available on the website, click here to download.   Registration is OPEN, click here to register.

 

Exhibit Information

If you would like to exhibit at the TRI, click here for the brochure.

  

Awards Program Entry Information

Click here for more details on the awards and scholarships. The submission deadline is May 8, 2015.

 

Categories

Scholarships

TRI News Corner
by Rachel Guiher, TRI Co-Chair  

 

Today's Keynote Is...

 

Dr. Steve Sobel, Speaker Extraordinaire, is considered one of the top authorities, both nationally and internationally, in the areas of motivation, self-esteem for adults and children, communication, and the power of the humor-laughter-positive-attitude connection. Steve is also the author of the best seller, "The Good Times Handbook - Your Guide to Positive Living and Exciting Life" and appears regularly on television and radio throughout the United States and Canada. Steve regards "boring presentations as slow forms of torture," so presentations are highly customized and sure to leave you inspired.

 

Dr. Sobel has presented at numerous Recreation Therapy conferences around the country and we are pleased that he will be presenting our Keynote "You're a Piece of Work!-Celebrate Joy, Passion and Influence" and will be a wonderfully inspiring and engaging presentation designed to re-energize and rejuvenate your "professional soul." It will allow you to deal with career and life changes that lie ahead. Participants with be able to utilize Dr. Sobel's ideas, wisdom and insights to that each day with the clients and groups they work with will be a "masterpiece." Participants will also enjoy "tips" for building a great recreation therapy team.

 

Along with the Keynote, Dr. Sobel will also present the breakout session "Dancing With Wolves: How to Deal Superbly & Creatively with Difficult People" this will be a superb presentation that gives attendees the ideas and inspiration to deal effectively with difficult people.  

 

These are just two of the exciting sessions you can expect from this year's Therapeutic Recreation Institute. We will see you in Lancaster!

 "FUNdamentals" Where Did That Come From?
by Amber Hauer, CTRS, Member at Large, TRI Co-Chair  
 

Are you curious about this year's theme for the TRI? Do you ever sit back and wonder "why do I do this?" 

 

I just might have the answers.....

As your conference co-chair, my goal for this year's TRI theme was personal, and it is the reason why I attend most conferences. When I attend, I am not only looking to see old faces and meet some new, but I am looking to reignite my spark as a professional for the year to come. When I attend a conference it serves as a refresher; a reminder of what I do and why I do it. I know from many with whom I have shared this, tend feel the same way. That is why this year, Rachel Guiher and I wanted to take everyone back to the basics or the fundamentals of what we do.

It is our commitment as your conference co-chairs and PTRS board to provide you with the best experience, year after year. We want to brush off the dust and bring fresh ideas and new tools to take back and share with those you serve. And to make this happen, we are "Getting Back to FUNdamentals!"

 

Our pre-conference on Tuesday, June 2 will kick off the TRI, and focus on successful program planning for patients with dementia. This revamped session will focus on the disease, new scientific findings, provide effective ways to program plan, and provide the best patient centered care. This all day session will be new information to those looking to learn more about this disease and will help as a great refresher course for those who have been working in the field.

 

Beginning Wednesday, June 3 we look forward to 3 three days filled with creativity and innovation. Our Keynote, general session and endnote speakers will motivate and inspire us to find our passion, enjoy the fun, and get back on track. We are also providing a variety of sessions that will expose attendants to new ideas and present old ideas in a new way. Maybe you take photos and never know what to do with them. Maybe you serve Veterans and want a new idea to honor their service. Perhaps your interpersonal skills could use a tune-up. Maybe that burn-out feeling can be squashed with a new perspective. Our speakers will challenge these topics, and more.

 

Something new this year as well is a change in times and addition to our socials. These laid back times will be the best opportunity to "wine-d" down and see what's brewing.

Board Notes

by Becky Kandrac, CTRS, Recording Secretary  notebook-edges-sm.jpg

  

One of the major goals for the PTRS is the advancement of the profession through educational opportunities. The Board has finalized the educational sessions for the TRI, and as you have read in the proceeding articles - It looks really good! The Board has also put together a Spring and Fall workshop schedule. The Spring schedule has been finalized and published. Please take a look at www.prps.org and look under the Therapeutic Recreation Branch for these great offerings. The Fall schedule is in the process of being finalized, and will be published by the end of June, 2015.

 

PTRS Board of Directors is always changing and we are in an election year. We would like to thank Rachel Giuher, Andrea Newberry, and Paula Ursom for their time on the Board and with them best in their future endeavors. Kirk Rakos, M.Ed/CTRS, will be ending this tenure as President of PTRS, and will move into an advisor role for the President and the Board. Kirk is moving into the position of President Elect for our mother organization PRPS.

 

We would like to welcome Amber Hauer, CTRS and Haley Smith, CTRS, as Members at Large; and Jeff McCormack, CTRS as the new PM&R Representative. Jeff Witman, CTRS has accepted the advisory position of Governmental Affairs, and has been working closely with Anne Weiland, CTRS, MHA and Kirk Rakos, M.Ed/CTRS related to the Recreation Therapy Practice Act. If you are still interested in joining PTRS and the Board, Please contact Emily Connors, CTRS for open positions and any ideas where you might be interested in assisting our professional organization.

Show Your Pride - Pick up some new PTRS gear

by Amber Hauer, CTRS, Member at Large, TRI Co-Chair

 

Pick up some new PTRS gear this spring, and show us you #PTRSpride on Facebook! facebook

 

At the 2014 Therapeutic Recreation Institute, the Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Society unveiled the new PTRS logo and gear; from t-shirts to fleeces, retractable badges and more! If you had the opportunity to purchase any new article of clothing or accessories, PTRS wants to see you wear it.

 

In preparation for the 2015 TRI "Getting Back to FUNdamentals", PTRS wants you to snap some photos of you wearing your new gear, post it to the TRI and PTRS Facebook pages and tag it #PTRSpride. All submitted photos will then be collected in time for the conference and displayed on a running slideshow for all the 2015 attendees to check out the support of its gear wearing members.

  

If you haven't had the opportunity to pick up a new shirt or other PTRS accessories you can now do so online, or at the workshops and the TRI.

 

As an additional movement, we are asking all attendees to wear their gear on any given day at this year's TRI. If you are "caught" wearing your gear by any appointed Board member, you may win a special prize and have your photo taken for the next newsletter.

 

We hope you support our efforts and wear your new PTRS gear with pride! Don't forget to show us on Facebook, and tag #PTRSpride!

Short Term Rehab Residents

by Andrea Newberry

 

How can we best serve our short term rehabilitation residents effectively? Currently many facilities face this quandary. If we put ourselves in their place we can better understand their needs. By understanding this type of resident we can accommodate them in more meaningful ways that will help them heal while they are in our care and maybe accommodate them in ways that cross over into their lives after they leave our facilities.

 

How many times have you invited a rehab resident out for an activity only to hear them politely decline because they are either too tired from physical therapy, family will be visiting soon, or they are being discharged in the next couple of days? If this is what the gathered data shows and makes up the majority of your rehab population then what are some things we can do to help support them?

 

To continue reading, click here.

Theme Baskets and Scholarships
by Becky Kandrac, CTRS, Recording Secretary  movie-tickets3.jpg
  

WOW, I can't believe that in less than two months, I'll be selling tickets for the famous "Themed Basket" Raffle. The year seems to have gone so quickly!! As many of you know, the money raised from the theme basket raffle, goes to support two scholarships offered by the PTRS organization: the Memorial Scholarship and the William P. Dayton Memorial Scholarship. Both of these scholarships offer a FREE TRI to the person being awarded the scholarship. We encourage students and professionals to apply. Click here to apply!

 

In order to raise the money for these scholarships, we are in need of some donated theme baskets, gift cards, or free passes to sporting events. Please consider donating a theme basket or new prize that can become part of our "Basket Raffle". This year's Conference theme is "Getting Back to FUNdamentals," and what better way to get back to the fundamentals of recreation, then to donate a theme basket showing the diversity and fun within our wonderful state. Many great prizes from previous years have been: Hershey Chocolate Baskets, Steelers or Eagle's Baskets, Pittsburgh Baskets, Heritage of Lititz Basket, Local Wine Baskets, Altoona Baskets- the possibilities are endless If you are willing to assist with a donation or if you have any questions, please contact me at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org or call me at 717-367-1121 x33646. Donations from all branches of the PRPS organization will be accepted.

 

The PTRS Board of Directors will also be sponsoring a special "Lottery/Gift Card Board" Raffle for the price of the tickets being $5 each, with a limited number being sold! The money raised from the sales of this raffle will go to reduce the PRPS building mortgage.

 

Thanks for your support, and see you at the TRI! And remember to bring along your address labels, it makes purchasing tickets much easier.
Update on RT licensure in PA...

The new legislative term started a few months ago. Consequently, HB 2290 known as the Recreational Therapists Practice Act has "died"....but not our continued attempt for licensure!

 

If you recall from previous updates, having our own RT licensure board was found to be cost prohibitive. Consequently, our new bill is currently being rewritten to place us under the regulation of the Medical Board. The Medical Board houses a variety of health disciplines, such as Behavior Specialists and Athletic Trainers. This would be a good fit for us.

 

Governor Tom Wolf doesn't have a current position on professional licensure, however in speaking with the Dept of State, they are exploring this with him and feel that we have a much better chance of getting licensure under Wolf than our previous Governor who denied all professional licensure requests.

 

To continue reading, click here.

2014 TRI Sponsors

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PTRS MISSION STATEMENT
To actively engage individuals committed to Therapeutic Recreation, and interested consumers, by supporting professional development, advocacy and resources.
This E-Newsletter is published quarterly. The editor is Becky Kandrac, you may submit articles to Becky at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org. Graphic Design by Emily Schnellbaugh, Communications Coordinator, PRPS. PTRS is a branch of the Pennsylvania Recreation & Park Society, Inc.
  
Sent by Emily Schnellbaugh, Communications Coordinator
PA Recreation & Park Society