Thank you to all members who have given of their time and talents to this organization even if not receiving formal recognition this year. No matter what amount of time or what task, all volunteers contributed to making this group stronger and more effective in representing our professional peers.
Any MiOTA members who have yet to share of their talents should seriously consider doing so. When we have more people giving of their time we will find greater strength in community and less load on each individual.
- Mary Jo Vaughn, Awards Coordinator
The Honorary Member Award was given to Karmen Brown.
This Honorary Member Award bestows lifetime membership to Ms Brown to MiOTA in appreciation for her career contributions. In the words of her nominator, Ms Brown retired in August of this year from Wayne State University where she served as Director of Fieldwork Education and Assistant Professor in the Occupational Therapy program for over 30 years. Throughout her career, she has been an active member and supporter of MiOTA. She presented at numerous Fall Conferences, in addition to serving on the ED SIS (formerly the Council on Education) and the Black Caucus. She also is a Fellow of the Michigan OT Association. During her career in academia, Ms Brown assisted hundreds of students through their fieldwork experiences in addition to networking and training clinicians throughout the metropolitan Detroit area to become fieldwork educators. Through her efforts and dedication to the field of occupational therapy she has helped the collaboration between education and practice that exists today.
The Continuing Education Committee whose efforts came to fruition at conference received Service Awards.
Co-chairs: Maryellen East /Angie Bayci.
Committee Members: Howard Achtman, Cindi Batts, Cheryl Chapko, Lydia Christesen
Phyllis Clements , JoAnne Crain, Wendy Early, Linda Netzel , Debbie Pettitt, Susan Robosan-Burt and Linda Steigerwald.
Student Committee members from Macomb Community College: Irene Gadzinski-Giezyng, Robert Wills, Matt Moroschan and Grace Van Hamme.
A Certificate of Appreciation was also presented to the following Macomb Community College Staff: Mary Lou Kata and Elaine Mach
Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the following individuals identified for assisting with Reactivating and /or supporting Chapters over the past year:
LaDonn People - Detroit Chapter,
Nancy Powell - Grand Rapids Chapter
Kim Sherwood - Huron Valley Chapter,
Shelly Roots - Northern Chapter,
Don Early and Jean Prast - Saginaw Valley Chapter and
Laurie Saunders for Hand SIS.
Service Awards related to their contribution to the area of Communications are awarded to the following individuals. Their tasks take more time and effort ongoing throughout the year.
Claudette Reid – website coordinator and Michigan Rep. to AOTA
Sandy Thom – MiOTA list serve Coordinator
Donna Case – MiOTA Newsletter Editor
Service awards were presented to the Executive Committee:
Rob Ferguson - Advocacy Director
Nancy Krolikowski - Membership Director
Pat Bernier – Communications Director
Kirsten Matthews - Member at Large and
Laura Woodwoth – Finance Director and Leader of the Executive Committee