Where is NYCCAT?

[Guest guest]

Dear CATs,

I am grateful for the outpouring of concern about the plight of those of us who took an alternate route to CAT training and are now full professional members of NYATA, AATA, and sister CAT organizations but are ineligible for licensing (grandfathering now via alternate pathway one or in the standard way in the future) because our Master's degrees are not in CAT.

I am puzzled, though, by the silence of the leadership of NYCCAT, NYATA, and the other constituent organizations, with the welcome exception of Joan Wittig. After all, NYCCAT was founded, in large part, to shepherd the licensing law through the state, and its mission is "ongoing legislative efforts related to professional licensure, regulations, and practices." It has a lobbyist and established contacts with legislators, regents, SED officials, and other key players. NYCCAT obviously has more clout in Albany than a small number of unorganized and inexperienced individuals.

I urge NYCCAT to step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary (changing the SED interpretation of the law or, if need be, amending the law) to remedy the terrible predicament that we have been placed in.

Brigitte Hammond

[Guest guest]

You all are missing something here that is very important: the board is not allowing masters degrees in other disciplines (education, art, recreation) because they can't. For someone with an unusual degree to be licensed, it has to be done on a case by case basis, based on individual applications. Please listen: Do not open this up. You stand to lose what you have gained so far.

Armeniox

Where is NYCCAT?

Dear CATs,

I am grateful for the outpouring of concern about the plight of those of us who took an alternate route to CAT training and are now full professional members of NYATA, AATA, and sister CAT organizations but are ineligible for licensing (grandfathering now via alternate pathway one or in the standard way in the future) because our Master's degrees are not in CAT.

I am puzzled, though, by the silence of the leadership of NYCCAT, NYATA, and the other constituent organizations, with the welcome exception of Joan Wittig. After all, NYCCAT was founded, in large part, to shepherd the licensing law through the state, and its mission is "ongoing legislative efforts related to professional licensure, regulations, and practices." It has a lobbyist and established contacts with legislators, regents, SED officials, and other key players. NYCCAT obviously has more clout in Albany than a small number of unorganized and inexperienced individuals.

I urge NYCCAT to step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary (changing the SED interpretation of the law or, if need be, amending the law) to remedy the terrible predicament that we have been placed in.

Brigitte Hammond

[Guest guest]

Hi Brigitte,

As a past memberof NYCCAT, I felt I needed to respond. I agree with you that this is of huge importance and needs to be addressed. However, I want to emphasize that NYCCAT is a volunteer organization. No one is paid for their service, tireless hours of work, etc. Those who want change make it happen. The only way to mobilize is through grassroots action - please consider volunteering and heading up a committe that will address this important issue. I'm sure the current NYCCAT members would welcome you and anyone else with great enthusiasm!!!

Kim

Galway, LCAT, RDT-BCTCreative Therapy and Learning Centerwww.creativetherapykids.com

Where is NYCCAT?

Dear CATs,

I am grateful for the outpouring of concern about the plight of those of us who took an alternate route to CAT training and are now full professional members of NYATA, AATA, and sister CAT organizations but are ineligible for licensing (grandfathering now via alternate pathway one or in the standard way in the future) because our Master's degrees are not in CAT.

I am puzzled, though, by the silence of the leadership of NYCCAT, NYATA, and the other constituent organizations, with the welcome exception of Joan Wittig. After all, NYCCAT was founded, in large part, to shepherd the licensing law through the state, and its mission is "ongoing legislative efforts related to professional licensure, regulations, and practices." It has a lobbyist and established contacts with legislators, regents, SED officials, and other key players. NYCCAT obviously has more clout in Albany than a small number of unorganized and inexperienced individuals.

I urge NYCCAT to step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary (changing the SED interpretation of the law or, if need be, amending the law) to remedy the terrible predicament that we have been placed in.

Brigitte Hammond

[Guest guest]

We have nothing to fear, but fear itself.

Dani Fraenkel

Larmeniox wrote:

You all are missing something here that is very important: the

board is not allowing masters degrees in other disciplines (education,

art, recreation) because they can't. For someone with an unusual degree

to be licensed, it has to be done on a case by case basis, based on

individual applications. Please listen: Do not open this up. You stand

to lose what you have gained so far.

Armeniox

-----

Original Message -----

From:

brigittemhammond@...

To:

NYCCAT

Sent:

Wednesday, May 10, 2006 8:22 PM

Subject:

Where is NYCCAT?

Dear CATs,

I am grateful for the outpouring of concern about the

plight of those of us who took an alternate route to CAT training and

are now full professional members of NYATA, AATA, and sister CAT

organizations but are ineligible for licensing (grandfathering now via

alternate pathway one or in the standard way in the future) because our

Master's degrees are not in CAT.

I am puzzled, though, by the silence of the leadership of

NYCCAT, NYATA, and the other constituent organizations, with the

welcome exception of Joan Wittig. After all, NYCCAT was founded, in

large part, to shepherd the licensing law through the state, and its

mission is "ongoing legislative efforts related to professional

licensure, regulations, and practices." It has a lobbyist and

established contacts with legislators, regents, SED officials, and

other key players. NYCCAT obviously has more clout in Albany than a

small number of unorganized and inexperienced individuals.

I urge NYCCAT to step up to the plate and do whatever is

necessary (changing the SED interpretation of the law or, if need be,

amending the law) to remedy the terrible predicament that we have been

placed in.

Brigitte Hammond

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

As a member of the NYCCAT board, I want to assure everyone we are doing the best we can at this time to work with the SED on the law's interpretation. We cannot do it alone, nor should we be expected to. When CATS ask us what we are doing to help them I need to ask what have they done to help themselves and further what have you done to help NYCCAT? We sent out a donation letter asking for volunteers and money to help keep us afloat. We sent well over a thousand and received exactly 30 responses.Only a handful of concerned CATS have held NYCCAT together by hook and crook for the last 5 years.

So where is the problem?

I urge the folks who are directly suffering from the recent events to get involved with NYCCAT today. As far as the lobbyist is concerned and our "clout", we share a lobbyist with the other disciplines eligible for licensure. We are only one of many, and the law is in the big picture a good thing for the majority of CATS in the state. That we have not been able to cast the net to accomodate everyone is painful; but we also have not had a lot of support. The national orginizations who recognize alternative track did not seem able to move Albany. We are only as strong as our active members. We seem to only hear from people when there is a crisis, and they demand to know what we are doing for them. I have forwarded the discussion to both Hamilton and Carr. Please, if you are truly concerned we welcome you to "step up to the plate" and join with us.

Alan Pottinger

Treasurer, NYCCAT

Where is NYCCAT?

Dear CATs,

I am grateful for the outpouring of concern about the plight of those of us who took an alternate route to CAT training and are now full professional members of NYATA, AATA, and sister CAT organizations but are ineligible for licensing (grandfathering now via alternate pathway one or in the standard way in the future) because our Master's degrees are not in CAT.

I am puzzled, though, by the silence of the leadership of NYCCAT, NYATA, and the other constituent organizations, with the welcome exception of Joan Wittig. After all, NYCCAT was founded, in large part, to shepherd the licensing law through the state, and its mission is "ongoing legislative efforts related to professional licensure, regulations, and practices." It has a lobbyist and established contacts with legislators, regents, SED officials, and other key players. NYCCAT obviously has more clout in Albany than a small number of unorganized and inexperienced individuals.

I urge NYCCAT to step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary (changing the SED interpretation of the law or, if need be, amending the law) to remedy the terrible predicament that we have been placed in.

Brigitte Hammond