This year as in years past, AOTA has allowed the local conference committee to select a local charity and a service project. http://www.aota.org/ConfandEvents/Conf/Charity.aspx
This local conference committee has chosen Camp for All http://www.campforall.org/index.cfm as the local charity. Camp for All is a host camping facility in the rolling hills near Houston which provides weeklong camps, weekend retreats and day programs for more than 55 different special needs groups. The camp has specially trained staff who plan and implement an array of individualized, fun and therapeutic activities for each group. From children with PKU to physically disabled adolescents with a taste for adventure, it is a special place that embraces the foundation of occupational therapy by helping the campers "Live Life to its Fullest"
The service project chosen is Dress for Success http://www.dressforsuccess.org/whoweare.aspx. This organization is dedicated to improving the lives of women located in 85 cities across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the Netherlands and New Zealand. The professional clothing, employment retention programs and ongoing support that we provide our clients symbolize our faith in every woman's ability to be self-sufficient and successful in her career. Dress for Success also embraces the ideals of occupational therapy by helping women in their quest to "Live Life to its Fullest".
Consider putting some items in your suitcase when you are packing to come to Houston. When you donate the items, you will leave space for all the goodies you will take home from conference.
The following three items are needed:
- Appropriate women’s Interview suits that are clean and on hangers
- Black handbags
- Scarves appropriate to be worn with their interview suits
Please bring the items to the People Power Booth in the Registration Area, on the 2nd level of the George R. Brown Convention Center.
See you soon
Francie
Hello all from the Houston Local Conference Committee
We are so excited that the AOTA conference is coming to Houston. In the last years under the direction of our Major, Houston has undergone a wonderful transformation. If you have never been here before, be prepared to see a sophisticated, culturally diverse, friendly and very green city. Many people are surprised by the number of trees, gardens and plantings in our city. If you have been here before, we still have traffic, but you will be surprised by the transformation of our city. It is beautiful. You will find wonderful restaurants that compare to other big cities in flavor, but much less cost. The theater and museums are world renowned and well worth visiting if you have the chance. AOTF reception will be at the Museum of Natural Science where the gem stone collection is housed, breathtaking gems of all shapes, sizes and colors. I'll have more about what's happening in Houston as the conference gets closer.
I do hope that if you are thinking you didn't want to come to conference because you had no desire to see Houston, you'll change your mind. There are fabulous sessions offered and April in Houston is warm, but not hot and one of the best times to see our fair city. Please come for the weather, the learning, the friendships, the culture, the bar-be-que. Whatever brings you.
If you have any questions, comments. Please write, we will help in any way we can.
I'll post regulary to give you more connections, and details about Houston