Sage,
Thanks for reading our post and for joining in the conversation. If we can get more people to express their disappointment with the current leadership maybe we can foster some positive changes for our great profession.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Just a clarification, Sections do now have 2 votes in the House of Delegates as of last year.

Loraine, thanks for your thoughts. How crazy is it that with 40+ years of effort towards direct access that we would still need to get a referral for a cane. Let’s hope the APTA hears our frustration and decides to change course.

Sherwin, It is a great profession which is why I am concerned about our future. We do need the APTA to protect us. I think they could re-capture many past members if they refocused their efforts and provided much more transparency.

Eddie, Just to clarify neither the Sections or the PTA Caucus get to vote on motions, only the State Delegates. However both of those groups can bring motions to the House floor. To your other point, I agree with you 100% that PTA’s are not given an equal voice. I think the Association has not valued their membership as much as they should which is why only 7% of PTA’s decide to join. Thanks for your comments.

CB, that is a great idea and is an example of something that should be part of a comprehensive marketing strategy that PT just doesn’t seem to have.

Anthony, Thank you for everything you have done to advocate for the profession. I agree with you that the membership is the APTA, but with the current structure the members have no direct say. The state Delegates have the final vote and in my 25 years I have never had a state Delegate send me an email, let me know about the proposed motions and ask my opinion. The time demands of day-to-day life don’t leave me with much time to do the research and chase down my Delegate. I truly believe that the Association could do a better job of informing us and soliciting input from the members directly about the direction of the profession. They should also provide more transparency on how dollars are being allocated and the specific actions being done to meet the needs of the membership. That might help with the frustration level that seems to exist currently. Best of luck with the Department of Health Chair position, we need more of us in governing positions!