Winter 2016  

PTRS Newsletter

The Newsletter of the PA Therapeutic Recreation Society
Have you renewed your membership?
Individual members can pay online. Click on Pay Open Orders.To renew Group memberships,contact 
Tracy at 814-234-4272. 
In This Issue
President Message
Awards Update
Making Connections
Save the Date
Upcoming Workshops
NCTRC Internship
Water Color Painting
Fundraising in PTRS
2015 TRI Sponsors
Join our Mailing List!
A MESSAGE FROM THE PTRS BRANCH PRESIDENT
by Anne T. Wieland, CTRS, MHA, PTRS President (2015-2017)

Hello. I do hope everyone has dug out from the Blizzard of 2016. I am counting down the days till spring arrives.

PTRS is offering two Spring Education Workshops. One will be held in District 1 on March 8, 2016 and the other will be held  in District II on  April 6, 2016. Please see additional information on each workshop within this newsletter.  To register online for either workshops click here. 

The 48th Annual Therapeutic Recreation Institute will be held from May 31 to June 3, 2016 at the DoubleTree Resort by Hilton in Lancaster. The theme this year is "TRI: Voice of YOUR Future." 

I would like to share a brief update on RT PA Licensure.  Heather R. Porter, Ph.D., CTRS (who has spent countless hours working on securing licensure for PA) met with the Government Relations Office at Temple University. This office is going to develop a 'strategy" for us to tackle PA Licensure. We are very fortunate that Doctor Porter will be speaking the 48th TRI. Her session will include a full update and discussion about what is currently being done to secure RT licensure in Pennsylvania.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, we appreciate your interest in the Pennsylvania Therapeutic Recreation Society. We look forward to engaging you in professional relationship and meeting your professional interests.  Make it a great day!    

Sincerely,
Anne T. Wieland, CTRS, MHA                                                                                             PTRS President (2015-2017)

We must be wise taskmasters and not require of ourselves what we cannot possibly perform. Recreation we must have. Otherwise, the strings of our soul, wound up to an unnatural tension, will break. Elizabeth Prentiss          

AWARDS & RECOGNITION
by Karen Hammond, PTRS Awards Committee Chair 
 
We have all heard that PTRS gives out awards each year at the TRI.  You have probably also heard that awards are often given to larger and more familiar communities and agencies over and over.  No doubt that you know that the Therapeutic Recreation professionals in the State of Pennsylvania have incredible Volunteers, New Professionals and Programs to be proud of?   But, did you know that these awards are given to those familiar winners because they are some of the few that submit nominations for these awards?  And did you hear the great news that the PTRS Awards Committee has worked very hard to bring you what you want based on the surveys that you filled out last June at the TRI?

After compiling the results of your surveys, we found that you want us to start collecting submissions for awards earlier in the year....possibly all year long.  You also told us that the process to nominate may be too complicated and you do not know enough about it.  Although many of you knew that there are scholarships to the TRI are offered for students as well as professionals, just as many told us that they did not know about the scholarships.  We found that the majority that completed the survey had not ever nominated someone or a program for an award, mostly due to the fact that you needed to know more about the process.  

So with all of this said, we are going to begin to introduce the different award possibilities, how to successfully complete the nominations, and the path to winning that scholarship to make the details of our trip to the 2016 TRI a bit easier.   Watch for more information to follow soon on the scholarships, special event award and the outstanding program award.  
THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING CONNECTIONS
by Misse Tomko, District 1 PTRS Representative

In our profession, person centered care should come naturally, but every once in a while you can find yourself getting sucked into the day to day tasks of the healthcare profession.  With the changing culture of healthcare, it is very important for us to step back and remember why we are here.  It is to take care of the individuals we serve; to make someone smile, to give someone purpose and meaning to each day.  This is not always through group programs.  The most meaningful connections are done through simple pleasures.  What exactly is a simple pleasure?  Let's think about that for a moment.  Think of one thing that makes you feel really good.  For some of us it may be as simple as eating chocolate, feeding the birds, petting a dog, having a good cup of coffee, or helping a friend.  These usually are not complicated things; what can be complicated is finding the time to make the connection with the individuals we serve to find out what their simple pleasure is.  It is our job as recreation professions to make this connection, to educate team members on what each person's simple pleasure is, and supply the resources to make it happen.  It is difficult to educate other disciplines in the change of the role of the recreation professional.  The times of large group programming are over, small groups or 1:1 visits with meaningful programming for that individual is what makes person centered so important.  Let's continue to pave the way for person centered care, make the connection, and find out those simple pleasures.
SAVE THE DATE!  TRI (MAY 31-JUNE 3, 2016) LANCASTER

 

 

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS
Making the Most out of the Regulations - How to navigate F-Tag-248 & 249
(.6 CEUs)
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Beaumont at Bryn Mawr
 
Developing and Refining Therapeutic Recreation Skills Spring Workshop (.5 CEUs)
April 6, 2016
8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
York College of PA West Campus Community Center-Alumni Hall York, PA

Click here to download the brochures. Register online today!
NCTRC INTERNSHIP
by Brian Malcarne, PTRS District 2 Representative
 
Are you interested in hosting a therapeutic recreation intern? If so, you will want to consider some internship site/supervisor expectations, internship requirements, and job task standards to maximize the learning experience for your intern. For sites offering internships to prepare interns to sit for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC), check out the NCTRC.ORG website to access the most current information and details on NCTRC internship requirements. Here are a few requirement highlights to get started.
WATER COLOR PAINTING---IT'S A BEAUTIFUL "WASH"
by Sherry Freels, CTRS

Reviewing 
Crayola Washable No Drip Paint Brush Pens
 
Ever since I learned this re-"mark"-able technique for creating water color art, I, as well as the clients I work with, have been hooked.
 
We regularly gather together to create, share and "paint" water color pictures, collages, etc.  We make framed art for keeping or giving, put our projects in notebooks, make bookmarkers, etc.  Prior to the group, clients are given choices for what type of paper, pictures, and paints they desire to use.  There is a selection of water color-colored pencils, washable markers, watercolor paint sets, etc.  Recently I found Crayola Washable No Drip Paint Brush Pens and decided to add them to our supplies for painting and art groups.  The pens are not pens, not paint and not brushes.  They are washable markers in a tube shaped like a large brush and the brush part is more like a wide edge flared to a pointed tip that gives the feel of a soft, flowing marker pen. It is held more like a pen than a paint brush too.  With all of that being understood, these paint brush pens quickly became the instrument of choice on more than one occasion!  There are five colors, red, yellow, green, blue, and purple, in the set we are using.  Clients love the feel and the fact that they can make thin lines or thick lines on their projects.  However, they do look for other markers for additional colors since the pen set only has 5 colors. 

The water color art technique we've been using successfully and has become the "paint" of choice is not a palette of water color paints but the markers!  Clients love to in-line (rather than outline) a printed picture with the washable marker or paint brush pen, not filling in the entire space.  Then, when all of the lines of the picture have been in-lined they use a soft bristled water color brush with just water on it and pull that color from the marker lines to the center of the space.  It creates a beautiful wash of color over leaves, wings, feathers, flowers, etc. on their picture!  Clients are eager to ask when the next group will meet. If you purchase these washable no drip paint brush pens you and your clients will enjoy many hours of creating colorful art and beautiful memories!
A WINTER SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
by Genee Bower, PTRS Member at Large
 
Looking for a fun and informative science activity?  I have done the following experiment with residents of assisted living, and with residents of memory support.  It was a big hit with both.  It's a simple experiment using materials that are readily available, and there is a great visual aid available online. There are also several demonstrations which can be utilized in explaining how the experiment works. 
 
The question to be answered is very timely in the winter: How does salt melt ice?  For the experiment, the materials needed are ice cubes, string, salt, and small plates or bowls.  Additional materials for demonstrations include magnets and just about anything round that can be used for molecule models.  Before beginning, discuss the use of salt in the winter for roads and sidewalks. 
 
The experiment:  can an ice cube be picked up with string? Click here to continue reading.
PTRS FUNDRAISING EFFORTS
by Becky Kandrac, PTRS President-Elect
 
WOW, I can't believe that time of year to start fundraising for the TRI.  Did you know that the TRI does fundraising, besides selling tickets for the prized themed baskets?   Well, every year the TRI Committee works hard booking exhibitors, getting sponsors, and getting packet stuffers, to help off-set some of the costs for the overall TRI and keep the cost down for you.  Do you have a favorite vendor that you purchase your activity supplies from?  Do you want them represented at the TRI?  If you send me their information, at bkandrac@masonicvillages.org - I would gladly contact the company and do everything in my power to have them represented at the 48th TRI in June.

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 monies made from the theme basket raffle, go 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.

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 "The Voice of Your Future", and what better way to celebrate your unique voice then to donate a theme basket showing the diversity 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 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 Themed Raffle for the price of the tickets being $5 each, with a limited number being sold!  The monies raised from the sales of this raffle will go to reduce the PRPS building mortgage.
2015 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.