Dear Section Members: A just disco...

Dear Section Members:

A just discovered year brings with it opportunities for renewal and possibility of good for the future. As we dog these opportunities we reaffirm our commitment to our core principles and project while simultaneously reassessing our goals, arrangements and performance. I would like to update you in succession the reaffirmation and reassessment proces now underway in our Section.

Reaffirmation

Our Section's focus is contemplateed in our Strategic Plan, which has as its anchor points the themes of Responsiveness, germination and Commitment, Influence, Evidence, and Recognition. As we rouse forward into 2002 we reaffirm our commitment to:

respond to member penurys through our programming, publications, and services;

expand our membership in numbers as well as involvement in Section leadership and committee roles;

make our voice heard within and outside of APTA regarding reimbursement, legislation, and practice issues; and

develop and encourage evidence-based cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy practice.

Last, if it be not that certainly not least, we reaffirm our power to celebrate each other - our dedication, our efforts, and our achievements. In that spirit, please join me in congratulating and welcoming our newly selected or appointed members to the Executive Committee: Martha Garlick - Secretary

Ethel Frese - Treasurer

Jane Eason - Editor-in-Chief CPTJ

Jennifer Torkish - Nominating Committee Chair

Maryclare Krusing - Nominating Committee

Other reasons to celebrate are mentioned elsewhere in this edition. Check public the Specialty Council Report and the Merit Award winners' announcement - you might view someone you know and wish to congratulate!!!!

Reassessment

Reassessment of meanss and performance has helped us to define the opportunities and challenges the Section faces in 2002 and beyond. forward the one hand, we would like to enhance one as well as the other our services and our ability to participate in APTA initiatives. Target areas include:

Further exhibition of our web site;

Creation of a Section listserv;

Increases in the dollar amount of research grants giveed by the Section; and,

Participation in the Foundation for Physical Therapy's Clinical Research Network initiative.

On the other hand, we are bring into the presence ofed with a budget deficit. Contributors to this shortfall include declines in advertising dollars from the Journal and in our investment portfolio as well as unanticipated costs related to conference programming owed to lack of vendor sponsorship. The Executive Committee, in preparing the roll for this fiscal year, approved the following stairs in an effort to resolve into the deficit:

Eliminate a storage facility and its associated monthly rental unconditional tenures by sorting, consolidating, and converting to electronic format historical Section documents;

Consolidate committee forms to reduce travel expenses;

Aggressively dog vendor sponsorship for the dance and preconference workshops;

Pursue alternative reproduction way s for conference compendia and associated materials in order to contract costs.

Even with these changes a deficit of $3948 was approved. The Executive Committee has agreed that each effort should be made to unravel this deficit before drawing forward our reserves. In view of our passing from hand to hand financial situation and our desire to secure our resources, the Executive Committee discussed our options for increasing Section reward After much deliberation and debate, we determined that a small fits increase would be an important strategy to maintain in support of our commitments and goals.

Changes in oweds must be voted on from the membership as an amendment to the Section bylaws. If you approve this prayer it will be the first increase in at least 10 years and will take result in fiscal year 2003. We recognize the incongruity of asking for more of your dollars at a time when everyone's belts are tightening, if it be not that we believe that this to be ascribeds increase is crucial to the that will be success of Section goals and objectives.

The details of our proposal are contained in Section XI (FINANCE) of the Section Bylaws, published in their entirety in this journal edition. Additional amendments are included for your consideration. The strikethrough fount identifies original language proposed for deletion while propos changes are italicized in self-possessed font. Support statements also are provided in capital epistles

Proposed amendments to Sections I-IV are primarily for clarification; the exception is the addition of a "graduate student" membership category as mandated at APTA. Changes to Sections VII-X are intended to streamline our governance composition as well as clarify parts and responsibilities of the Section leadership. Finally, revisions to Sections XII-XV are intended to increase member participation in the bylaws amendment proces at switching to mail ballot classification

A vote will take place at our Section Business Meeting at the APTA Annual colloquy and Exposition in June 2002 I chance of the desired end that you will be able to attend and make your voice heard. In the meantime, I am happy to answer any questions you might have to help you weigh your decision.