What do you get when you mix energy, passion, and advocacy? The Student Conclave!
Wow! I have to add my report about the student conclave held in Baltimore this past weekend. I was so proud to be there just to soak up the energy of our OT and OTA students. Actually it was an ending to a great week. Before I left for the Conclave, we had a very special visitor to UAB to talk to our Student OT Association. Gail Fisher, Region Director for AOTPAC came to talk to us about healthcare reform and advocacy. She did a great job in helping the UAB students learn about how federal policy affects occupational therapy. Then I went to the airport to go to Baltimore. Four of the UAB students had already left for the Conclave. Per my usual travel experience, the computers of the FAA had been down most of the day so many planes were delayed. I sat for about two hours in the Birmingham airport waiting. Actually, I benefitted from the extra moment to put on the headphones and listen to great music while I caught up on e-mail. My e-mail is a constant stream of requests for some kind of action, even if it is to delete. Finally we left about 7:45 pm and I arrived to the hotel after 11:00 pm. Luckily my key-note address was ready as for once I had not procrastinated to wait until the last moment to make final changes and tweaks. I went to bed promptly, but I laid awake thinking about the next day.
The day started early with a capital briefing prior to the over 100 students loading on buses to travel to Capitol Hill. I planned on visiting the AL Senators and one representative, Artur Davis. The four UAB students had made these appointments. We split up as the Senatorial appointments were at the same time. We had great visits, with two of the students spending extra time with Senator Session's staff because it went so well. I went on ahead with the two other students who went to Senator Shelby's office with me. I am a slow walker and we did not have much time to trek across the Capitol to the Congressional offices. Evidence of the slow walking was when the two students who were delayed easily caught up with us. All five of us crammed into Congressman Artur Davis' office to talk to a staff member. The students explained occupational therapy to the staffer and did a nice job too. We really pushed the workforce issues during this visit. Then the five of us had lunch together in Union Station prior to getting on the buses to go back to Baltimore.
I was so tired when we got back. I needed to change my clothes prior to delivering the Keynote at 4:15. Unfortunately I made several trips up to my room and back to the desk as my door keys were not working. And, no, I did not have the keys in my purse next to my cell phone! On the third try, I finally got smart and asked for a Bellman to accompany me up to try the third set. They didn't work either so the battery in the keylock was apparently dead. He got engineering up to fix the door. Meantime, it was getting close to time to start my talk! Finally I get in the room and had a typical crisis over what to wear. I decided I needed to jazz up my outfit so I went to the hotel store and bought an orange shawl and a neat looking pin. I don't know if that helped my keynote, but I believe when you think you look good, you definately feel better. When I arrived at the ballroom, the staff looked relieved to see me. I think they were getting ready to send security to find out what could have happened to me. Anyway, the students all liked the speech and felt motivated to become involved in AOTA advocacy. So, proof that the orange scarf was what I needed to find my energy reserves.
Speaking of energy again, the main day of the Conclave was all that and more! I spent the entire day meeting students, getting pictures taken with them, and learning about their dreams and aspirations. These were very interesting discussions, which then provided a better context for the leadership panel in which I participated. (By the way, I wore the neat pin all day!) I then went to the AOTPAC, So You Can Dance contest. I was a judge. You know what happens when you spend the night judging? Well, the students expected me to dance. There are probably pictures of me on Face Book somewhere dancing the night away. Students can motivate you to participate! They have been taught well about activity engagement.
Penny Moyers Cleveland
AOTA President