Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 I do believe with lower membership dues, that membership numbers would increase. I also feel that we would see an increase in section membership, as some do not join sections now due to the total fee of APTA and state chapter memberships. I do not feel that the therapists appreciate all that the APTA does for our profession, and how critical the representation is these days. I continue to strongly encourage our staff to join, but it is not a " benefit " provided by the employer. As fewer employers subsidize membership, I wonder if fewer people join. On the other hand, when we spend our own money, we tend to be more actively involved! Good questions! Kerry Wood, P.T. Operations Manager Inpatient Rehab Therapies UHC Campus Phone: 656-2750 Fax: 656-5556 email: Kerry.Wood@... > APTA membership/dues > > Fellow listmembers: > > On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning > APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 > posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. > The original discussion was centered on the need to increase > membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization > and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. > Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an > increase in membership? Any thoughts? > > Elmer Platz, PT > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 I would agree that PT membership is too high. In 1993 our rehab department surveyed our PT staff to see if they valued having membership in their professional organization. Up until then we paid for their dues + cont ed on top of it. When the response was that they did not value membership in the organization, dues were no longer paid for. Needless to say, we have very few PTs and PTAs that are APTA members. I no longer am because of what I perceived to be a lack of commitment on their part to customer service and concern about retention of long time members. If dues were lower I might reconsider. Vinson, PT Supervisor Ingham Regional Medical Center Lansing, Michigan >>> " Elmer Platz, PT " 03/18 9:44 AM >>> Fellow listmembers: On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. The original discussion was centered on the need to increase membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an increase in membership? Any thoughts? Elmer Platz, PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 Many of the PT's I talk with state they do not belong to the APTA because of the high cost of national and state dues. Those that do not contribute to PAC fund state they cannot due to having already paid $400-$500 on dues. Based on this limited personal survey, I think lower dues may result in bringing some PT's and PTA's " back into the fold. " Kujawa, PT, OCS Director, Outpatient Therapy Services Medical College of Ohio >>> " Elmer Platz, PT " 03/18 9:44 AM >>> Fellow listmembers: On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. The original discussion was centered on the need to increase membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an increase in membership? Any thoughts? Elmer Platz, PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 One is either committed or not. Reducing membership by $80 will not dramatically increase membership. Unfortunately, many PT's out there live in a box and do not see the importance of our national organization. I try to stress what the APTA is working on, as well as project where we'd be right now without their voice to the " non-members " . Sherman, MA,PT,OCS BMJ Medical Management Inc. Boca Raton, FL APTA membership/dues Fellow listmembers: On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. The original discussion was centered on the need to increase membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an increase in membership? Any thoughts? Elmer Platz, PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 Quick! List all the organizations (of which you know) which have only the good of physical therapists as their reason for being... It's a very short list, isn't it. Dick Hillyer, MBA, MSM, PT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 About 10 years ago, a reader of the PT Bulletin commented that the APTA should consider a monthly or quarterly payment system. His idea was rejected outright by other letters to the editor mainly because it would be too expensive, which would raise dues even higher. Maybe the APTA should revisit this idea. It would be a lot easier for all of us if we had to fork over $100-$125 every three months rather than $400-$500 each year. Jim Karnes, PhD, PT D'Youville College Buffalo, NY > ---------- > From: Kujawa[sMTP:dkujawa@...] > Reply To: ptmanageregroups > Sent: Thursday, March 18, 1999 11:17 AM > To: ptmanageregroups > Subject: Re: APTA membership/dues > > Many of the PT's I talk with state they do not belong to the APTA because > of the high cost of national and state dues. Those that do not contribute > to PAC fund state they cannot due to having already paid $400-$500 on > dues. Based on this limited personal survey, I think lower dues may result > in bringing some PT's and PTA's " back into the fold. " > > Kujawa, PT, OCS > Director, Outpatient Therapy Services > Medical College of Ohio > > >>> " Elmer Platz, PT " 03/18 9:44 AM >>> > Fellow listmembers: > > On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning > APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 > posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. > The original discussion was centered on the need to increase > membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization > and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. > Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an > increase in membership? Any thoughts? > > Elmer Platz, PT > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 The PT school I went to (many years ago) required us to join APTA as seniors at the affordable student rate. I remember debating long and hard before sending in the next year's dues, but sent it in because I felt it was the responsible thing to do. Now, in retrospect, I know that the information and resources the APTA has provided me with have advanced my career. Why? Because I was the staff member that knew what was going on in the field. This information has been critical in all aspects of inter and intradepartmental planning. APTA membership is expensive, but it is worth it. Maybe the APTA could hook a few more happy customers with a less expensive trial membership? Re: APTA membership/dues Quick! List all the organizations (of which you know) which have only the good of physical therapists as their reason for being... It's a very short list, isn't it. Dick Hillyer, MBA, MSM, PT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 18, 1999 Report Share Posted March 18, 1999 Perhaps we have fostered non-involvement in our association by having our dues paid by our employers! Members do not realize the real bargain of APTA membership because they are not involved. No other group represents us on Capitol Hill and provides us with the collateral information to defend our practice on a state level. APTA also ensures that the profession continues to move forward while many of us our caught up in our daily fire fighting. I do not believe it is the cost, PTs and PTAs must make the commitment to their profession. Chuck Gulas, PT, GCS APTA membership/dues Fellow listmembers: On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. The original discussion was centered on the need to increase membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an increase in membership? Any thoughts? Elmer Platz, PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 Barrett Dorko wrote: > > I agree with this entirely. As I travel to teach I find at every > course PTs who are only there to maintain licensure, or because their > boss made them go, or because they wanted to get out of town. They > haven't read anything in the literature in years, they are obviously > just putting in time at work following protocols or sitting somewhere > while someone they supervise is. > > These aren't bad people, they just don't see their place in the > provision of health care as some of the rest of us do. Belonging to > the APTA is irrelevant to them, and reducing the annual fee wouldn't > get them to join. > > Therapy practiced by therapists with this attitude is the great shadow > of the profession, which is why we rarely see any discussion of it. > How large a shadow this is is a question I can't answer, but I suspect > it's not as small as we would like it to be. > > Barrett > <http://qin.com/dorko> This post really hit home with me. I see this attitude in (some) students as well, and it seems impossible to eliminate. One hopes that students will " grow into " their professional responsibility, but there are there are some who don't. We had to re-do a practical exam with a student the other day, and as we discussed our disappointment with his lack of knowledge of the healing process and his choice of the wrong program for a patient two weeks post-repair of the rotator cuff, I could tell he just did not get it. He felt that he " would know what treatment to do if we had told him what the healing situation was " , and that this level of performance was satisfactory. It seemed he felt *we* were being unfair - even though we had taught and discussed the very issues we were brnging up yet again. He also felt that it wasn't necessary for him to do a complete differential diagnosis after patient referral with a diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis since " the physician should know what he is doing " . A long conversation (not the first) about responsibility to the patient and to the profession looked like it was going in one ear and out the other. It can be very discouraging. I agree that this is a " great shadow " , and I feel like I'm contributing to it by letting students like this go through PT school and enter our profession. On the other hand, isn't it our responsibility as teachers to help these people learn to become professionals? But what if they can't? Can we " pull the plug? " How, if they are passing their courses and clinicals? .......I guess you can see there's been some discussion (understatement) about this issue before. Sandy Curwin ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 I totally agree with Ciolek's remarks. Because of my APTA membership and involvement with the Section on Geriatrics, I have gotten to know 's husband, Dan and have been helped through some difficult times due to Board of Directors of the SOG. It is because of the APTA, our salaries have been elevated to the amount both PT's and PTA's make at this time. It is not the APTA's fault that reimbursement by the insurance companies has declined or that the supply has caught up with the demand. In the late 80's when I graduated, PT's were making 20,000 a year. Today, PTA's are being offered up to 30000. Is this fair, maybe not but it was by the work of the PTA but the APTA that salaries have been elevated to this amount. When reimbursement shrinks, salaries are going to decline. I hope not to the level of the 80's,but unless PT's and PTA's work together and not argue about the cost of the dues we have to pay, we are all going to suffer the same fate. I have survived the cutbacks due to my loyalty to the profession and not selling out my ethics to allow the corporate giants to make a profit off of my skills. I have also become more involved at the district and state level as well as becoming a delegate to the Annual Conference. I am looking forward to working with all of you on the listserve and meeting some of you in person. Kim Longoria,PT Texas Chapter Delegate for the Central District ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 I guess I'd like to be one of those who defends that being part of the profession means that when I come into work each day I do the best job to the best of my abilities, uphold the standards of licensure and ethics, stays up on issues (as well as one can) But . . . . I do so with the very basics. I do so without being a member of the APTA, as criticized as I will be for saying so. When the dues renewal came to my home I asked myself what do I get? The times I attempted to get information or direction from the APTA and MPTA on issues I would leave messages and get no return phone calls; I was often referred to my state practice act (which obviously wasn't giving me the answers I needed or I wouldn't have called). The journals arrived in my home and collected dust. My hours outside of work are too few and the hours at work are too full. Am I less of a professional then? I do believe I have a right to ask what my professional organization has done for me lately. I work hard to earn that $500 and to give it blindly just because it's the right thing to do is not acceptable. I need more than " they're out there in Washington lobbying for our best interests. " Where are the APTA's successes? Not that there aren't any, but they are not marketed very well. Listing them out to the current members is like preaching to the choir. Give the non-members a reason to see a value to the money - yes, I think that is a fair expectation. I haven't been able to do it for myself and I was a member for 7 years. Please be gentle in your responses. I am not defending my lack of membership as much as I'm asking to be convinced on something other than " it's the right thing to do " . Truth be known, I've gotten more from this listserve in two months that any other source that is out there. Thanks ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 Sandy, Your post on the education of " difficult " PT students is very timely. Not having been in your situation, I have no idea how I'd respond to the examination of that student. I think I'd probably become extremely unpopular with the student body by failing him and having him repeat if necessary or drop out. I know.... easy to say.... but I really believe that PT education should be much more than the academics of PT, it should be about the ethics and professionalism. Maybe some time out to re-think his attitude would bring this student around, maybe not. It's a difficult situation, and a great challenge. This is why I have such high admiration of PT educators, and feel strongly that they should be supported more by CI's. Keep up the good work! Louie Puentedura, GDMT, PT, OCS Re: APTA membership/dues > This post really hit home with me. I see this attitude in (some) >students as well, and it seems impossible to eliminate. One hopes that >students will " grow into " their professional responsibility, but there >are there are some who don't. We had to re-do a practical exam with a >student the other day, and as we discussed our disappointment with his >lack of knowledge of the healing process and his choice of the wrong >program for a patient two weeks post-repair of the rotator cuff, I could >tell he just did not get it. He felt that he " would know what treatment >to do if we had told him what the healing situation was " , and that this >level of performance was satisfactory. It seemed he felt *we* were being >unfair - even though we had taught and discussed the very issues we were >brnging up yet again. He also felt that it wasn't necessary for him to >do a complete differential diagnosis after patient referral with a >diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis since " the physician should know what >he is doing " . A long conversation (not the first) about responsibility >to the patient and to the profession looked like it was going in one ear >and out the other. It can be very discouraging. > > I agree that this is a " great shadow " , and I feel like I'm contributing >to it by letting students like this go through PT school and enter our >profession. On the other hand, isn't it our responsibility as teachers >to help these people learn to become professionals? But what if they >can't? Can we " pull the plug? " How, if they are passing their courses >and clinicals? .......I guess you can see there's been some discussion >(understatement) about this issue before. > > >Sandy Curwin > >------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 , I admire your courage. I say that sincerely. And I agree with you that a physical therapist should be able to ask what he or she gets from membership. We should not be required to join the professional organization as a condition for membership in the profession. In our educational program, we do not require students to join the APTA even though some have argued that we should do so. Instead we give them the information they need to make an informed choice. Being a professional means making choices. We believe that our students should start having to make those choices right away. That is how they learn. That being said, the faculty argue strongly and passionately in favor of APTA membership, as many on this list have done. What we don't do is to pass judgment on those who choose not to join. Jim Gordon Gordon, EdD, PT Program in Physical Therapy New York Medical College Valhalla, NY 10595 FAX james_gordon@... > ---------- > From: Vinson > Reply To: ptmanageregroups > Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 12:16 PM > To: ptmanageregroups > Subject: Re: APTA membership/dues > > I guess I'd like to be one of those who defends that being part of the > profession means that when I come into work each day I do the best job to > the best of my abilities, uphold the standards of licensure and ethics, > stays up on issues (as well as one can) But . . . . I do so with the very > basics. I do so without being a member of the APTA, as criticized as I > will be for saying so. > > When the dues renewal came to my home I asked myself what do I get? The > times I attempted to get information or direction from the APTA and MPTA > on issues I would leave messages and get no return phone calls; I was > often referred to my state practice act (which obviously wasn't giving me > the answers I needed or I wouldn't have called). The journals arrived in > my home and collected dust. My hours outside of work are too few and the > hours at work are too full. Am I less of a professional then? > > I do believe I have a right to ask what my professional organization has > done for me lately. I work hard to earn that $500 and to give it blindly > just because it's the right thing to do is not acceptable. I need more > than " they're out there in Washington lobbying for our best interests. " > Where are the APTA's successes? Not that there aren't any, but they are > not marketed very well. Listing them out to the current members is like > preaching to the choir. Give the non-members a reason to see a value to > the money - yes, I think that is a fair expectation. I haven't been > able to do it for myself and I was a member for 7 years. > > Please be gentle in your responses. I am not defending my lack of > membership as much as I'm asking to be convinced on something other than > " it's the right thing to do " . Truth be known, I've gotten more from this > listserve in two months that any other source that is out there. Thanks > ! > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 Dick, You hit the nail on the head...enough said about the benefits/non-benefits of the APTA...somehow, if we had no organization, we would all discuss the sorry state of PT's and why they are not like other professional groups and have an organization! Don Walsh Quick! List all the organizations (of which you know) which have only the good of physical therapists as their reason for being... It's a very short list, isn't it. Dick Hillyer, MBA, MSM, PT Re: APTA membership/dues Quick! List all the organizations (of which you know) which have only the good of physical therapists as their reason for being... It's a very short list, isn't it. Dick Hillyer, MBA, MSM, PT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 's post spotlights two very good points. First, the membership issue may be far more about perceived value than it is about who's not behaving professionally. I believe the APTA has an image problem with many therapists (about 65%!) and the answer cannot simply be that all these people are not fully professional and not properly informed about and concerned with today's healthcare issues. Second, we are doing ourselves a huge disservice by allowing our frustrations to influence our language in the discourse on this matter. One should not have to ask for civility or gentleness in response to sharing one's thoughts in an open forum. It should not have to be a courageous thing to state one's viewpoint to one's peers. Otherwise, we'll kill the very dialogue we want to encourage, and end up talking to ourselves. Thanks, , for continuing the dialogue. My .02 Diffily, PT APTA # 6582 Manager, Physical Medicine Saint Clare's Health Services jdiffily@... > ---------- > From: Vinson[sMTP:vinsontm@...] > Reply To: ptmanageregroups > Sent: Friday, March 19, 1999 12:16 PM > To: ptmanageregroups > Subject: Re: APTA membership/dues > > I guess I'd like to be one of those who defends that being part of the > profession means that when I come into work each day I do the best job to > the best of my abilities, uphold the standards of licensure and ethics, > stays up on issues (as well as one can) But . . . . I do so with the very > basics. I do so without being a member of the APTA, as criticized as I > will be for saying so. > > When the dues renewal came to my home I asked myself what do I get? The > times I attempted to get information or direction from the APTA and MPTA > on issues I would leave messages and get no return phone calls; I was > often referred to my state practice act (which obviously wasn't giving me > the answers I needed or I wouldn't have called). The journals arrived in > my home and collected dust. My hours outside of work are too few and the > hours at work are too full. Am I less of a professional then? > > I do believe I have a right to ask what my professional organization has > done for me lately. I work hard to earn that $500 and to give it blindly > just because it's the right thing to do is not acceptable. I need more > than " they're out there in Washington lobbying for our best interests. " > Where are the APTA's successes? Not that there aren't any, but they are > not marketed very well. Listing them out to the current members is like > preaching to the choir. Give the non-members a reason to see a value to > the money - yes, I think that is a fair expectation. I haven't been > able to do it for myself and I was a member for 7 years. > > Please be gentle in your responses. I am not defending my lack of > membership as much as I'm asking to be convinced on something other than > " it's the right thing to do " . Truth be known, I've gotten more from this > listserve in two months that any other source that is out there. Thanks > ! > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 Way to go, Ken. On the same issue, decreasing APTA dues $ alone will NOT increase membership. What is the dollar fairness threshold for membership for all people? This is impossible to define for even the SAME person throughout life. It has been shown repeatedely in all businesses that what attracts customers is PERCIEVED VALUE. Would you attract new patients by just decreasing your charges? I have seen that people from all walks of life will pay high dollars for something they WANT. Our focus should be on helping the APTA discover and promote what the member constituency and the PT community at large value. _ Not what it costs! I'm ready for the barrage! Don Walsh, MS, PT, OCS Re: APTA membership/dues I would agree that PT membership is too high. In 1993 our rehab department surveyed our PT staff to see if they valued having membership in their professional organization. Up until then we paid for their dues + cont ed on top of it. When the response was that they did not value membership in the organization, dues were no longer paid for. Needless to say, we have very few PTs and PTAs that are APTA members. I no longer am because of what I perceived to be a lack of commitment on their part to customer service and concern about retention of long time members. If dues were lower I might reconsider. Vinson, PT Supervisor Ingham Regional Medical Center Lansing, Michigan >>> " Elmer Platz, PT " 03/18 9:44 AM >>> Fellow listmembers: On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. The original discussion was centered on the need to increase membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an increase in membership? Any thoughts? Elmer Platz, PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 1999 Report Share Posted March 19, 1999 : I would like to list some of the " successes " which are attributable to APTA. -CPT codes for evaluation and re-evaluation -increasing the Medicare cap from $900 to $1500 (granted, we would prefer no cap at all) -getting Michigan governor Engler to rescind an executive which order essentially delicensed PTs (and OTs) in the state -successfully overturning a Pennsylvania appeals court ruling which allowed Chiropractors to claim that " Physical Therapy " was a generic term not subject to regulation. This would also have resulted in de facto delicensure. -Placing two PTs (Steve Levine and Helene Fearon) in very influential positions with HCFA enabling them to have a profound impact on reimbursement issues. There are many more reasons than I could give proper credit for. These are just the issues which have National implications, I haven't even touched the State issues. As has been previously stated, there is one overriding reason to be a member of your professional association(AOTA and ASHA included), they are the ONLY body representing your interests. If non-members think that this is irrelevant, just sit and watch the end result. , I am not trying to " flame " you but, I would beg you, and others who feel as you do, to consider the consequences of isolationism rather than involvement. Those consequences can be severe indeed. Ken Mailly, PT Professional Affairs Representative aptanj President Mailly Consulting Inc./RPA Wayne/Orange, NJkhmailly@... Re: APTA membership/dues I guess I'd like to be one of those who defends that being part of the profession means that when I come into work each day I do the best job to the best of my abilities, uphold the standards of licensure and ethics, stays up on issues (as well as one can) But . . . . I do so with the very basics. I do so without being a member of the APTA, as criticized as I will be for saying so. When the dues renewal came to my home I asked myself what do I get? The times I attempted to get information or direction from the APTA and MPTA on issues I would leave messages and get no return phone calls; I was often referred to my state practice act (which obviously wasn't giving me the answers I needed or I wouldn't have called). The journals arrived in my home and collected dust. My hours outside of work are too few and the hours at work are too full. Am I less of a professional then? I do believe I have a right to ask what my professional organization has done for me lately. I work hard to earn that $500 and to give it blindly just because it's the right thing to do is not acceptable. I need more than " they're out there in Washington lobbying for our best interests. " Where are the APTA's successes? Not that there aren't any, but they are not marketed very well. Listing them out to the current members is like preaching to the choir. Give the non-members a reason to see a value to the money - yes, I think that is a fair expectation. I haven't been able to do it for myself and I was a member for 7 years. Please be gentle in your responses. I am not defending my lack of membership as much as I'm asking to be convinced on something other than " it's the right thing to do " . Truth be known, I've gotten more from this listserve in two months that any other source that is out there. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 20, 1999 Report Share Posted March 20, 1999 When PT's tell me that the membership dues are too high, this is how I feel and this is how I would like to respond: Do you want to stay a PT and do you want the PT profession to continue? How much do you make and do you hope to continue to make it? The dues are a small percentage of what you make and APTA works very hard for this profession. What do you think will happen to the profession if everyone felt the way you did? Supposedly, close to a 100% chiropractors pay their due to their professional organization. When I first became director of PT six years ago, 30% of my staff were APTA members. Now, six years later, I have close to 90% of staff that are APTA members. It can be done! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 1999 Report Share Posted March 21, 1999 I forgot to identify myself when I sent a message. Almas Dossa MS PT, MPH Director PT Boston VA Medical Center ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 1999 Report Share Posted March 21, 1999 I have been reading almost all mails concerning the " dues issue " during the last two weeks and have been left with little hope that any argument of APTA members or officials can convince those who refuse membership. I really believe it is not the money that keeps people from getting involved. It is rather a thinking " what do I get for my money " and under the bottom line they see too little that APTA does for them. As vice president of my national association (Austria) I can tell you that we have to deal with the same arguments given from Non-Members (I don't call them prospective members, because most of them are not convinceable to join regardless what you tell them of the work that is done also for them). It is always hard to find enough people for the board, especially in the provinces, but it is extremely hard to find people for special activities to promote the profession. An example, the OPV (Austrian PT Association) was invited to hold a workshop for GP's at a medical congress. There were three PT's who were talking about our work in special cases, one of them demanded $500 for that day as compensation for loss of income in her private practice that day. That is ok once, but a small organisation cannot pay for every PR action, but members are not willing to assist if they don't get paid extra money. PT's working in big hospitals are not becoming members because one of the team is and shares the monthly paper and gives them all information. They get paid their continuing education by the clinic, so they don't need the association's courses, they don't even think of becoming members because they are not interested in profession politics or in health politics or in politics at all. As long as the water doesn't reach their throat, as long as they can live on their earnings and have a job or enough patients in a private practice those colleagues will not come and join. They also don't see that then it might be too late. Sorry to sound so frustrated, I think I am only realistic and try nevertheless to speak for hours with students, colleagues, correspond via email with non-members. As Elmer said, there is only one organisation for PT's (APTA in the USA and OPV in Austria and of course all the national PT associations in all other countries) who cares that PT's can practice physiotherapy. I have been a member since I left school 28 years ago, was about to leave several times because I thought the association doesn't do anything for me personally, until I got involved myself some years ago. I found out that you can change things only if you go right into them. I got to understand that it is a hard job sometimes to be an official being held responsible for things that go wrong, being seen as a nuisence when I have to tell colleagues that something they are doing is a violation of the law and so on. Maybe the associations make clear too little how much they have achieved for all PT's, are they members or not. Even members are too little informed about our activities, as I can see from a feedback paper I asked to fill out at ou general assembly. Only one advice of a member: " members should have more chance to take part in actions of the association, instead of centralistic leadership " ! Who keeps that member to come to the meetings in the region she/he lives? Our regional officials always complain that there are seldom more than three or four people at the monthly meetings, they have to invite people personally through phone calls for a meeting to tell them what is going on, what plans the association has for the next year. Last week we had a " brainstorming meeting " for Physiotherapy Day in September - 5 people came, of whom were three officials. In Vienna, where we are 1.000 PT's. If not even the members are interested, how can I reach " prospective " members. On the other hand, last year I called for help organizing a Special Olympics Event - 97 came. Hoping not to have insulted anybody or given unwanted advice I stay with best regards from Vienna Hedi Binder h.binder@... -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- Von: Mount, Marilyn An: 'ptmanageregroups' <ptmanageregroups> Datum: Donnerstag, 18. März 1999 23:07 Betreff: Re: APTA membership/dues >In my 30 years of frustration over why therapists don't join the APTA, I >have formed the perception that the amount of money is rarely really the >issue. I suspect that even if dues were lowered $100, the same people would >say it's too expensive. The personal commitment to professional >responsibilities seems to depend more on where individuals rank what they're >willing to spend money and time on than on the amount of money involved. >When I hear therapists say they don't see where the money goes, it almost >always is those who haven't gotten involved enough to see what APTA does. > >(Obviously this is a soapbox issue!) > >Marilyn Mount, PT >Cleveland, OH >Pager #33889 (216 464-8410) > > > APTA membership/dues > > >Fellow listmembers: > > On the pther list a discussion began on 3-12-99 concerning > APTA membership and dues. To date there have been over 90 > posts many of which suggest that the APTA dues is too high. > The original discussion was centered on the need to increase > membership in the APTA in order to strengthen the organization > and make it more representative and responsive to the profession. > Would lowering or modifying the APTA dues structure result in an > increase in membership? Any thoughts? > > Elmer Platz, PT > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 1999 Report Share Posted March 22, 1999 After all the discussion on APTA, my conscience became too guilty to live with any longer..I joined the APTA this weekend.(On line) I really have no excuse for not doing it earlier.Thanks to the List for making me think about things a little harder! (Sorry, ...I joined the Geriatric Section instead of the Administratve ) Betsey Ennis,PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 1999 Report Share Posted March 22, 1999 Time to call the question. APTA membership application is available on line at <https://www.apta.org/sec-bin/Web_store2/web_store.cgi> To put this as simply as possible, Please consider joining - If you do not feel that you need us, OK but we need you, your dues and most importantly your ideas, energy and support. (BTW, join the Section on Administration too) Respectfully R. Kovacek, MSA, PT Email Pkovacek@... 313 884-8920 Visit <www.PTManager.com> TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 1999 Report Share Posted March 22, 1999 Congratulations!.....and welcome aboard. I for one am very appreciative of the committment you have shown. Thank you! Arslanian, MS, PT Dir. Rehab Services Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA > Re: APTA membership/dues > > After all the discussion on APTA, my conscience became too guilty to > live with > any longer..I joined the APTA this weekend.(On line) I really have no > excuse > for not doing it earlier.Thanks to the List for making me think about > things a > little harder! > (Sorry, ...I joined the Geriatric Section instead of the > Administratve ) > > Betsey Ennis,PT > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 1999 Report Share Posted March 22, 1999 Betsey, So glad you joined....WE NEED YOU! And thanks for joining the Section on Geriatrics. I think you will be glad you did! ( is a member as well...] Dale Avers President, Section on Geriatrics Dale Avers, MSEd, PT Faculty, Physical Therapy Department Mount St. 's College 12201 Chalon Road Los Angles CA 90049 FAX Doctoral Candidate Indiana University Instructional Systems Technology >>> 03/22/99 09:50AM >>> After all the discussion on APTA, my conscience became too guilty to live with any longer..I joined the APTA this weekend.(On line) I really have no excuse for not doing it earlier.Thanks to the List for making me think about things a little harder! (Sorry, ...I joined the Geriatric Section instead of the Administratve ) Betsey Ennis,PT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 1999 Report Share Posted March 23, 1999 Can you give us ideas of how you got your staff to pay the dues. I budget for dues for all my staff now --but I expect in 2000 budget it will be eliminated -- my fear is that most of the staff won't join on their own. I'd like to start planting the motivation seed now. Carolyn ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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