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For a number of years now, Texas OT Association in conjunction with the Texas OT Foundation has raffled a quilt made from OT t-shirts.  Check out this year's version.  It is a great way to help raise money and awareness for occupational therapy.  I bet there are other artisans and crafters who could share their talent in promoting OT and raising needed funds for their organizations. 

This year you can get ticket with the possibility of winning the quilt at the TexasOT Conference (Mountain Central Conference) or contact TOTA at www.tota.org.

Think about the many ways you can contribute to your profession.  Through your talent, energy, skills, knowledge and presence, we all grow and support each other.  Then do it!! 

Francie

Have you looked at the conference porgram and found the work-out opportunities at AOTA?  There are three opportunities to help work off the extra calories acquired from sitting in enlightening sessions and from dinner or drinks with friends.  ON Friday, at 6:45 am, there will be a Fun Run and Walk, ON Saturday at 6:45 am, there is a Group Groove (sounds like fun) and on Sunday,  at 6:45 am there will be a Core Conditioning session.  What a great way AOTA is helpong us maintain balance and "Live life to its fullest". 

In addition to the AOTA active sessions, the City of Houston sponsors a few active opportunities.  All of these are held at the stage at Discovery Green right across from the Convention Center.  http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/calendarevents/ebevents/

On Tuesday the 21st (for early arrivals) there is a Pilates class.

On Wednesday the 22nd, there is a Zumba class from 6-7pm.  "It’s not a workout – it’s a party! Inspired by Latin dance and music, Zumba uses cumbia, merengue, salsa, mambo, rumba, flamenco and calypso in its routin"  It sounds active and fun.

Thursday the 23rd, from 12-1 there will be a TaiChi class

Friday the 24th from 9:30 to 10:30 am there is a yoga class

On Sunday the 25th for the late stayers, there is a Nia class at 1:00.  Music, dance and movement in the great outdoors.

So now you can eat and party and go home without gaining pounds!

And don't forget the Contra dance that Cheryl mentioned in an earlier blog.  http://www.hatds.org/

Just wanted everyone to know that we have arranged for a company that provides Bike Cabs to be available during AOTA in Houston.  These are young energetic people who will transport you anywhere (within reason).  These Bike Cabs do not charge a fee, yet work for tips alone.  They are usually knowledgeable about Houston as well.  So after the end of day on your feet, if you dread the walk back to the hotel or diner, consider using one of the bike cabs.  As they say "Why Stroll When You Can Roll"  What a fun way to get around!!

http://www.bikecabhouston.com/aboutus.html

Now that the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is over, the next big event in Houston is the AOTA conference.  Come on down!  Unfortunately, the bluebonnets and azaleas will be long gone by the time confernce arrives.

Here's a link to the area just around the convention center:  http://mailcenter.newmediagateway.com/houston/sites/595/homepage.html?viewers_email=[recipient_email]&email_id=[id]&dh=1

When your brain is full of OT and you are tired of sitting, you'll find lots of cultural events in Houston.  Here's a link to the Events in Houston at the time of the AOTA conference.  http://cbtcws.cityofhouston.gov/events/Results.aspx?date=4/21/2009&mode=1&cat=All.  The Astro's are playing at home, first LA Dodgers, then the Milwaukee Brewers.  The stadium is right next to the conference center.  If you are not into baseball, maybe you'd like to see the exhibit Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul or an exhibit of contemporary glass artists at the Museum of Fine Arts.  Rigoletto is playing at the Grand Opera, and the Alley Theatre is presenting Mauritius.

Another popular happening in Houston the weekend of April 24 and 25 is the International Festival http://www.ifest.org/.  This year's event in highlighting Ireland.  It's lots of fun, but will add to the traffic in downtown.

I should warn you that it will most likely be warmish in Houston in April, yet the inside of the buildings are kept quite cool.  Bring a sweater, but not for outdoors!  You'll need it indoors.

Come by the Hospitality booth for more information on these and other Houston happenings.

Francie for the LCC

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