Creating the Creating the Change We Want Change We Want

to Seeto See

American Occupational Therapy Political Action American Occupational Therapy Political Action CommitteeCommittee

Chair & Region IV RepresentativeChair & Region IV Representative

Amy Jo Lamb, OTD, OTR/LAmy Jo Lamb, OTD, OTR/L

Created for use byCreated for use byStudent Occupational Therapy OrganizationsStudent Occupational Therapy Organizations

Brick walls are there for

a reason they let us prove

how much we want

something!

~Randy Pausch

How do we create How do we create change?change?

VisionVision BeliefBelief ActionAction

Importance of VisionImportance of Vision

Centennial Vision 2017Centennial Vision 2017 Strengthening our capacity to influence Strengthening our capacity to influence

and leadand lead Demonstrating and articulating our Demonstrating and articulating our

valuevalue Building an inclusive community of Building an inclusive community of

membersmembers Linking research, education and Linking research, education and

practicepractice

The Power of BeliefThe Power of Belief

Belief in the services we offerBelief in the services we offer Belief in the occupational therapy Belief in the occupational therapy

professionprofession Belief in our professional leadership Belief in our professional leadership

(AOTA)(AOTA) Belief in ourselvesBelief in ourselves

Take ActionTake Action

To create change we must take our To create change we must take our belief, connect it to our vision and belief, connect it to our vision and ACT NOWACT NOW!!

How is Creating Change How is Creating Change linked to AOTPAC?linked to AOTPAC?

VisionVision AOTPAC plays a vital role in achieving the AOTPAC plays a vital role in achieving the

Centennial Vision of 2017.Centennial Vision of 2017. BeliefBelief

AOTPAC serves as an educational tool to assist AOTPAC serves as an educational tool to assist in building the belief of others for what the in building the belief of others for what the occupational therapy profession has to offer.occupational therapy profession has to offer.

ActionAction AOTPAC supports the candidates that support AOTPAC supports the candidates that support

occupational therapy concerns and initiatives. occupational therapy concerns and initiatives.

What is a Political Action What is a Political Action Committee?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

What is AOTPAC?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 By law, AOTA cannot give any financial support to any candidate running for support to any candidate running for office.office.

None of AOTA membership dues can be None of AOTA membership dues can be used to support political candidates.used to support political candidates.

How AOTPAC Stacks Up in How AOTPAC Stacks Up in the Tri-Alliancethe Tri-Alliance

20052005

APTA-PAC APTA-PAC $592,674$592,674

ASHA-PAC ASHA-PAC $251,365$251,365

AOTPAC AOTPAC $164,472$164,472

20062006

APTA-PAC APTA-PAC $645,847$645,847

ASHA-PAC ASHA-PAC $246,307$246,307

AOTPAC AOTPAC $225,000$225,000

Receipts of AOTPAC and Receipts of AOTPAC and Other Health PACsOther Health PACs2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007)2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007)

PACPAC AssociationAssociationMembershipMembership

MeanMeanProfessionalProfessionalSalariesSalaries

ReceiptsReceipts

AOTA PACAOTA PAC 37,21037,210 $62,510$62,510 $213,083$213,083

APTA PACAPTA PAC 71,00071,000 $68,050$68,050 $619,572$619,572

ASHA PACASHA PAC 127,000127,000 $60,840$60,840 $145,929$145,929

NASW PACNASW PAC 150,000150,000 $44,950$44,950 $441,211$441,211

AANA PACAANA PAC 35,00035,000 $134,820$134,820 $661,832$661,832

ACAACA 18,00018,000 $81,070$81,070 $177,148$177,148

Note: Mean Salaries according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008)

Comparison of Comparison of Contributing Members to Contributing Members to

Health PAC’sHealth PAC’s2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007)2008 Election Cycle (1/2007-12/2007)

PACPAC AssociationAssociationMembershipMembership

Contributing MembersContributing Members AverageAverageContributionContribution

% of % of ContributorsContributors

AOTA PACAOTA PAC 37,21037,210 3,9733,973 $53.10$53.10 10.68%10.68%

APTA PACAPTA PAC 71,00071,000 8,3008,300 $100.00$100.00 11.69%11.69%

ASHA PACASHA PAC 127,000127,000 5,5005,500 $30.00$30.00 0.04%0.04%

NASW PACNASW PAC 150,000150,000 UnknownUnknown UnknownUnknown UnknownUnknown

AANA PACAANA PAC 35,00035,000 7,0007,000 $55.00$55.00 18.92%18.92%

ACAACA 18,00018,000 3,0003,000 $200.00$200.00 16.67%16.67%

Note: Mean Salaries according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (2008)

AOTPAC GoalsAOTPAC Goals

2008 –$300,0002008 –$300,000

Long Beach SuccessLong Beach SuccessGoal - $30,000Goal - $30,000

Actual - $60,000+Actual - $60,000+

2008 Elections2008 Elections

Elections equal opportunityElections equal opportunity

Allow AOTPAC to help elect Allow AOTPAC to help elect candidates who understand and candidates who understand and support our legislative goalssupport our legislative goals

2008 Elections – 2008 Elections – OpportunitiesOpportunities

US SenateUS Senate 35 Seats in the mix35 Seats in the mix

5 retirements (CO, ID,MS,NE, & 5 retirements (CO, ID,MS,NE, & NM)NM) These are all republican seatsThese are all republican seats

5 more seats where the incumbent is 5 more seats where the incumbent is vulnerable (AK, LA, ME, NH, & OR)vulnerable (AK, LA, ME, NH, & OR)

2008 Elections – 2008 Elections – OpportunitiesOpportunities

House of RepresentativesHouse of Representatives All 435 reps run for re-election every two yearsAll 435 reps run for re-election every two years To date, there are 25 retirements in the HouseTo date, there are 25 retirements in the House

22 Republicans22 Republicans 3 Democrats3 Democrats

There are approximately 45 competitive seatsThere are approximately 45 competitive seats There are another 40 seats that could become There are another 40 seats that could become

competitivecompetitive Throw in the fact that the ratings of Congress Throw in the fact that the ratings of Congress

are as low as they have ever been.are as low as they have ever been.

2008 Elections2008 ElectionsWhy are they important to me?Why are they important to me? They allow you to really impact the process by They allow you to really impact the process by

showing your support for those that have or will showing your support for those that have or will support our professionsupport our profession

More and more health care decisions on issues More and more health care decisions on issues important to OT are being made in Washington – important to OT are being made in Washington – this is the best way to make a differencethis is the best way to make a difference

Other competing interests are aggressively Other competing interests are aggressively voicing their opinions and reaching into their voicing their opinions and reaching into their pockets to help their candidatespockets to help their candidates

It is much more effective to be able to talk to a It is much more effective to be able to talk to a friend than it is to persuade an opponent.friend than it is to persuade an opponent.

Contribute to AOTPAC Contribute to AOTPAC TodayToday

A Dollar A Day CampaignA Dollar A Day Campaign Contributions of every size make a Contributions of every size make a

difference, especially when you tell difference, especially when you tell others to do the same.others to do the same. Facility fundraising drivesFacility fundraising drives

Recruiting 100% participant Recruiting 100% participant contribution!contribution!

A little here a little thereA little here a little there

AOTA currently has approximately AOTA currently has approximately 37,000 members37,000 members

If each member contributed $10 a If each member contributed $10 a year, AOTPAC would have $370,000 year, AOTPAC would have $370,000 to focus on political action and to focus on political action and support legislation that supports support legislation that supports occupational therapy practice and occupational therapy practice and YOU!YOU!

AOTPAC Student AOTPAC Student ChallengeChallenge

University of New Mexico student University of New Mexico student occupational therapy association members occupational therapy association members issued a challenge in 2003 to all student issued a challenge in 2003 to all student occupational therapy and occupational occupational therapy and occupational therapy assistant associations around the therapy assistant associations around the country to meet or beat the funds they country to meet or beat the funds they raised and donated to the American raised and donated to the American Occupational Therapy Political Action Occupational Therapy Political Action Committee (AOTPAC).Committee (AOTPAC).

The Assembly of Student Delegates has The Assembly of Student Delegates has since made this an annual event.since made this an annual event.

Ideas for Student Challenge Ideas for Student Challenge FundraisersFundraisers

Hold a RaffleHold a Raffle Silent AuctionSilent Auction Penny WarsPenny Wars Host a Date AuctionHost a Date Auction Make Make My-SpaceMy-Space work FOR the work FOR the

professionprofession Sponsor a fun student-faculty dinnerSponsor a fun student-faculty dinner Put together an OT cookbookPut together an OT cookbook Bake sales, walking tacos – food works!Bake sales, walking tacos – food works!

What are the Issues?What are the Issues? Therapy cap repealTherapy cap repeal Scope of OT being challenged by other health Scope of OT being challenged by other health

professions including: professions including: Athletic TrainersAthletic Trainers Recreational Therapists Recreational Therapists Speech Language PathologistsSpeech Language Pathologists Physical TherapistsPhysical Therapists Orthotists & ProsthetistsOrthotists & Prosthetists

Home Health Flexibility ActHome Health Flexibility Act Mental health parityMental health parity Health care reformHealth care reform Loan repaymentLoan repayment

Why Donate to AOTPACWhy Donate to AOTPAC AOTPAC represents the Association’s interests based onAOTPAC represents the Association’s interests based on

priorities set by youpriorities set by you, the members and AOTA leadership. , the members and AOTA leadership.

AOTPAC is an AOTPAC is an important educational tool for elected important educational tool for elected officialsofficials. When candidates and officeholders appeal for . When candidates and officeholders appeal for money from AOTPAC it means they want to learn about money from AOTPAC it means they want to learn about you and OT.you and OT.

AOTPAC makes AOTPAC makes carefully studied, well-informed carefully studied, well-informed decisionsdecisions on which candidates and officeholders to on which candidates and officeholders to support. support.

AOTPAC plays an important role in AOTPAC plays an important role in protecting protecting occupational therapy’s interestsoccupational therapy’s interests. It is designed to . It is designed to protect protect youryour rights. Giving to rights. Giving to youryour PAC ensures that PAC ensures that someone is looking out for someone is looking out for you.you.

AOTPAC 2006 ScorecardAOTPAC 2006 Scorecard

Supported 109 U.S. Senate and Supported 109 U.S. Senate and House of Representative candidates House of Representative candidates in 2006 midterm electionin 2006 midterm election

102 won!102 won! 94% Success94% Success

Take Action – Act NOWTake Action – Act NOW

Get Involved!

Contribute Today!

Make Your Voice Heard!

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