I thought I would share with the entire listserv the message I wrote to Dr. Grant-Ford yesterday. I hope it provides helpful information as background to the NATA: Involve & Evolve discussion.
Dr Grant-Ford,
I am the chair of the new Young Professionals Committee of the NATA and had significant involvement with the creation and implementation of the Involve & Evolve initiative. Thank you so much for your comments. As chair of the new YPC, I want to make sure that we are not making our "older" members feel alienated or that their opinion doesn't matter. You all are the reason I love athletic training, you have shaped our profession and encouraged me to try to do the same. What you said really made me think and I want to thank you for that. I also thank you for encouraging others to contact their district directors with concerns - they need to hear all sides of the story.
I view the NATA as a whole, not "us" (YPs) and "them" (everyone else). I would love it if we could all work together to advance this profession. I know that the decisions have been made, and I know some are not necessarily thrilled with the NATA's decisions. As a young professional, I can't help but be excited about the new changes. Have you seen the young professionals blog in the members section? If you have time, check out the "APTA: Our chance to walk the walk - be a revolutionary" thread. I hope it will encourage you as to the commitment and dedication of today's young professional athletic trainers.
Regarding your thoughts on the dues structure, I appreciate you pointing out the difference between dues in the '80s and dues today. What an eye-opener. I struggle myself with students and YPs saying that they can't afford it, or that it's not valuable. I somehow afforded it, and I find NATA incredibly valuable. I am not an economist by any means, but I'm wondering what's happened to the value of the almighty dollar in the last 30 years...could that be why students now "can't afford it," or I wonder if it's just a perception of not being able to afford it. With the dues decrease will actually come increased resources and services, which demonstrates that the NATA is acting in faith and depending on the younger members to wake up and get involved. I consider it my personal responsibility to not let the NATA down.
As far as socializing the students and YPs in professionalism, I couldn't agree more that this is lacking in our ATEPs and in our profession. I think that the approach of the NATA is to excite our young ATs and future ATSs so that they will get involved. Unfortunately, people in my generation do not do something because it's professional. We've grown up during a time when we have direct access to nearly whatever we want, whether it be via computer, our phone or PDA, or other means. I think it takes a lot more to get us excited than it did for the baby boomers as YPs, and that is no fault of ours - we are a product of the changes that have happened in our society. If you haven't read or heard about Sarah Sladek's book "The New Recruit," I'd strongly recommend it. I learned a lot about my own generation, and this book was the basis for many of NATA's decisions. It articulates the differences between our generations, and why NATA must morph to appeal to the youn
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I definitely agree that we are a product of your hard work and sacrifice. I think our lack of involvement can be attributed partially to laziness and unprofessionalism, but also because we have felt there is nothing in the NATA for us. There isn't much in the existing NATA that excites an 18-23 year old. Again, this is because of the society in which we were raised. So, if the NATA wants to maintain and grow its membership, it must adapt to the changes occurring in the membership. I think young professionals want to commit, we want to be involved, we just see no avenue to do it. By providing these avenues, I'm confident that in 3-5 years, the NATA will be stronger than it currently stands and young ATs will demonstrate a sense of professionalism and ownership that is currently lacking.
The sacrifices you've made and your commitment to our profession is inspiring to me. My NATA membership and professional involvement means just as much to me as yours did/does to you. I will never let my NATA membership expire, and I will always support the NATA. I hope to lead the young professionals in a way that we will develop that same passion and commitment to the NATA. Right now, it doesn't exist which is sad...which is why we need to make changes.
I hope you will feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions. As I said, this is not an "us" against "them" and I want to be approachable and open to all opinions and suggestions. I hope maybe I can be a resource for you with your concerns about the new NATA changes. As the chair of the Young Professionals Committee, I am dedicated to motivating, encouraging, and involving young ATs to strengthen the NATA and the profession. I really hope we don't let you down. I am dedicated to making sure we appreciate those who have come before us and their hard work, and to never ever take that for granted. I just wanted you to hear from me that I care what you think. I want to foster unity and involvement among all members of the NATA, not just YPs. Things may seem crazy and mixed up right now, but I think in the end we'll be better from these changes if we can work together. And thank you for listening, I hope you have a great day.
Kim Detwiler
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Kim Detwiler, MS, ATC, CSCS
Asst. Professor, Asst. Athletic trainer
Movement and Sports Sciences Department
University of La Verne
1950 Third St.
La Verne, CA 91750
(909)593-3511 ext. 4184
"IT IS FROM NUMBERLESS DIVERSE ACTS OF COURAGE AND BELIEF THAT HUMAN HISTORY IS SHAPED. EACH TIME A MAN STANDS UP FOR AN IDEAL, OR ACTS TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF OTHERS, OR STRIKES OUT AGAINST INJUSTICE, HE SENDS FORTH A TINY RIPPLE OF HOPE AND CROSSING EACH OTHER FROM A MILLION DIFFERENT CENTERS OF ENERGY AND DARING THOSE RIPPLES BUILD A CURRENT THAT CAN SWEEP DOWN THE MIGHTIEST WALLS OF OPPRESSION AND RESISTANCE." (Robert Francis Kennedy, South Africa, 1966).
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